Scandinavian Mountains over 2000 metres - James Baxter

Areas › Memuru Veo Massif › Detailed Information

The Memuru-Veo is a large and diverse heavily glaciated region in central Jotunheimen. The massif is bounded by Gjende lake to the south, Visdalen and Urdadalen to the west, upper Veodalen to the north and Russvatnet to the east. There are 13 mountains in this area with another 17 secondary peaks and some 6 major glaciers in the massif.

There is one large glacierial complex, namely Heillstugubreen-Vestre Memurubreen which almost divides the massif into two halves. To the west of this glacier is a long alpine ridge with 6 mountains and 4 secondary peaks along its angular length. To the east is another, more convoluted, S-shaped ridge which has a further 7 mountains and some 13 secondary peaks along its length and on the odd outlying ridge.

History

Historically the massif has always been a remote icy world well beyond the useful summer pastures found lower down in the valleys away from the massif. Some of the valleys like Visdalen would have been occasional routes between the upper Gubrandsdalen and Valdres or the west coast but other routes were more hospitable. Along these occasional routes there were rustic hostelries at Spiterstulen and Memurubu in the early 19th century. In 1880 Memurubu was visited by three Englishmen who spent the summer there living an eccentric outdoor life. Their account of this summer was published in 1882 and later became a classic called “Three in Norway by two of them”.

Access

During the winter/spring there are numerous access points to the massif, notably Memurubu, Glitterheim and Spiterstulen lodges, although it is only possible to drive to the latter. There are many fine ski routes between these lodges over the glaciers with the classic ones being marked in the spring, and from these ski routes some ski ascents can be made. In the summer access is slightly easier from these lodges but using the glaciers for access is limited to more experienced parties. However most of the mountains can be climbed without going onto the glaciers at all.