Jølster, the glacier district

In Jølster you can see Jostedal Glacier from both the main road E39 in Kjøsnesfjorden, and i Stardalen. In 1890 the Norwegian Trekking Association decided to appoint guides with exclusice rights on certain routes over the Jostedal Glacier. Since then there have been several guides with exckusive rights in Jølster for the routes Lunde to Fjærland, and from Fonn to Veitastrond. In olden times people only ventured on to the glacier when this was necessary. But from the 19th century onwards traffic increased. Tourists also found their way up on to the glacier. Only in Jølster were these patent guide traditions carried on as day trips with experienced glacier guides on the Haugabre Glacier.