This week the construction of a climbing route up Hornelen in Western Norway will start. Most of the work will be completed in October. The plans for a via ferrata (Italian for «railway») up Europe’s highest sea cliff have been controversial for a number of years, and «adventurer and tourist» Stein P. Aasheim states that we «in the series of vulgar tivolification of Norwegian mountains are about to get a new tenant ». “Hornelen moves past both the bridge over Vøringsfossen and Romsdalsgondolen on Åndalsnes when it comes to transforming Norwegian nature into commercial amusement parks,” he writes on Facebook. – This is a circus initiative on a nationally important natural monument that we should be spared, says Stein Tronstad, who is president of the Norwegian Climbing Association. He adds that he is not a categorical opponent of via ferrataar, Sherpa stairs, trail strings and cycle paths, but that this type of facilitation “should preferably take place in places that are adapted for tourism from before”. – It is not about individual measures, but about the sum of all interventions and the view of nature that seems to be spreading in the tourism industry: That nature must be arranged as “destinations”, he says. – Destroys a historically important natural monument Christian Steel, Sabima – This is a very bad idea. Hornelen is spectacular nature without intervention. We can not install installations in such places. There is also construction in the beach zone, which is also prohibited by the Planning and Building Act. Too many exemptions are granted, and this must be one of the last places where such an exemption should be granted. Stein Tronstad, Norwegian Climbing Federation (NKF) – After a quarter of an hour, NKF has been in contact with many via ferrata projects. Many of them worry us little, but in some cases we have seen that there are such great values at stake that we have chosen to get involved. The two worst judgments we have seen so far are Andersnatten in Sigdal and Hornelen. Hornelen already has ordinary, simple hiking trails to the top, and is fully possible to visit on the premises of nature. The steep wall also has a certain value as a climbing challenge, in addition to the historical curiosity as «Norway’s first climbing route». Via the ferrata, nothing adds to this; the only thing that comes with it is the destruction of a historically important natural monument and a simplification of the nature experience for those who enjoy the area without intervention. Via ferrata tours, several dozen nature fairs can already be bought around the country, and it is not necessary to destroy an iconic mountain to achieve more of the same. In the Hornelen case, we also share the concern of the alpine rescue groups for safety. The top is located in a weather-exposed area, and the trail is also very long. It is not difficult to imagine that a small fall and a minor damage high up on via the ferrata can quickly turn into a very serious situation with a rapid change to wind and rain – something the west coast is not completely unknown for. When there is no flight weather, an evacuation will then be very demanding (something we have already seen in Stryn). Few, if any via ferrata owners have a good plan for such situations. In addition, there is the danger of rockfall, which is not possible to eliminate on an exposed mountain such as Hornelen. Hornelen is a famous landmark that rises steeply from the sea and reaches up to 860 meters above sea level. Photo: Mats Grimsæth – What will be next? Railings on the pulpit? Allegations of amusement and “Disneyification” of Norwegian nature have also been made in connection with construction projects at Vettisfossen, Vøringsfossen (see video below), Andersnatten and Nesaksla. The crucial point in all cases is what it costs to exchange the untouched for greater accessibility and security. One via ferrata means that ordinary hikers can follow a fixed climbing path, without making use of their own ropes, wedges and other safety equipment. The risk is thus less than with traditional rock climbing and rappelling. – What’s next? Railings on the pulpit? asked Vigdis Vandvik, who is a professor of ecology at the University of Bergen. On the climbing website Klatring.no, mountain guide and peak guide Sigurd Felde describes the planned climbing route in Nordfjord as a «circus trail». – Hornelen should get more respect, he says. Europe’s highest sea cliff is the subject of mythologisation, and in the saga of Olav Tryggvason it is said that the king must have climbed up the vertical wall, fastened his shield on top, and then prayed down a herdsman who had got stuck. The peak is also mentioned in the work «Norrigia Illustrata» (1651) where it is referred to as a «very awful high cliff, which no one can get up on». Devilish black, wild as a troll cathedral, sundriva, dark and gray, is how Sunnfjord poet Jakob Sande describes the mountain. – This is a circus initiative on a nationally important natural monument that we should be spared, says Stein Tronstad, who is president of the Norwegian Climbing Association. Photo: NKF – We must create “a reason to go” Hornelen is located in Bremanger municipality, which will own, but not operate the plant. In a public meeting in June, municipal director Tom Joensen explained that the project is well rooted in the local business community and that the municipal costs (NOK 7 million) are part of the strategy to increase investment in tourism as a business route. – It should be attractive to visit Bremanger. We must make sure to create “a reason to go”, he said. The background for the meeting was the criticism that had been raised against the project, including from Nordfjord Climbing Club, which describes the project as “a mistake”. “We understand the desire for activity. Nevertheless, we would like the initiators to investigate how this project would fit into the Norwegian climbing tradition “, they write in a reader’s post in Fjordenes Tidende. Mayor of Bremanger municipality, Anne Kristin Førde (Labor Party), tells news that she is “happy that we are finally getting to work”. – This will help give our tourism industry in all parts of the municipality a boost. Ho adds: – Then I understand that there are different opinions about this establishment. This will always be the case. Commitment is only good, and sharpens us on control and quality assurance.
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Sharp reactions on the “circus trail” up iconic Norwegian mountains – news Vestland
