Gåsen mountain hut

Gåsen mountain hut (Swedish: Gåsen Fjällstuga or Gåsenstugan) was a mountain lodge operated by Svenska Turistföreningen (STF), the Swedish Tourist Association, in the Jämtland mountain region of Sweden. For over a hundred years it served as a crucial link in the Swedish mountain trail network, connecting the western mountain stations with the huts in the Vålådalen nature reserve. The hut was built next to the mountain of the same name and was long a key junction for hikers and skiers crossing the Jämtland mountains. The first hut was planned in 1923 and built in 1925 at an elevation of 1,238 metres on the slope of Mount Gåsen. At the time it was the third-highest building in all of Sweden. However, the location proved impractical because very little water passed the site in summer; the only water source was a snowfield that melted away quickly. In the mid-1960s a new hut was built somewhat lower down and next to running water. This model, known as the Abrahamsson or '65:an', had 20 beds. It was around this time that STF began stationing a hut warden on site, who also looked after the old small hut at 1,238 metres. In 1983 the large hut was built, a corridor-style building with 32 beds. As a test, it was equipped with gas heaters instead of wood stoves in the bedrooms. That same year the very first small hut (the one at 1,238 metres) was moved to Lunndörren, where it is still used as a warden's cabin and safety room/dog room. At Gåsen there were two guest buildings with a total of 52 beds and a warden's building that also had a well-stocked shop. The guest hut '65:an' had two 10-bed rooms, one of which was a safety room/dog room with an emergency telephone, and a larger guest hut with 32 beds spread over eight rooms with four beds each. Due to new land-use permits in Jämtland and Härjedalen, Gåsen Fjällstuga closed on 1 January 2024. It is now described as a former STF mountain hut, closed and abandoned. The closure marked the end of a century-long role as a crossroads in the Swedish mountains.

The history of Gåsen mountain hut spans a full century, from its planning in 1923 to its closure in 2024. It was established by Svenska Turistföreningen (STF), the Swedish Tourist Association, which has operated a network of mountain huts and stations across Sweden since the late 19th century. The first hut was planned in 1923 and built in 1925 at an elevation of 1,238 metres on the slope of Mount Gåsen in Jämtland. At that time it was the third-highest building in Sweden. The site was chosen for its proximity to the mountain, but it soon became clear that the location was problematic: very little water passed the spot during summer, and the only source was a snowfield that melted quickly. In the mid-1960s, STF built a new hut somewhat lower down and next to running water. This building, known as the Abrahamsson model or '65:an', had 20 beds. It was during this period that STF began placing a hut warden on site, who also took care of the old small hut at 1,238 metres. In 1983, the large hut was constructed—a corridor-style building with 32 beds. As an experiment, it was fitted with gas heaters instead of wood stoves in the bedrooms. That same year, the original small hut was moved to Lunndörren, where it continues to serve as a warden's cabin and safety room/dog room. At its peak, Gåsen had two guest buildings with a total of 52 beds and a warden's building that included a well-stocked shop. The guest hut '65:an' contained two 10-bed rooms, one of which was a safety room/dog room with an emergency telephone. The larger guest hut had 32 beds in eight rooms with four beds each. The hut was a vital link between the western mountain stations and the huts in Vålådalen nature reserve, enabling long-distance treks across the Jämtland mountains. In the early 2020s, new land-use permits in Jämtland and Härjedalen led to the decision to close Gåsen Fjällstuga. The hut closed on 1 January 2024. It is now classified as a former STF mountain hut, closed and abandoned. The closure ended over a hundred years of continuous operation as a crossroads in the Swedish mountains.

• 2024

  Gåsen Fjällstuga closes on 1 January 2024 due to new land-use permits in Jämtland and Härjedalen.

• 1983

  The large corridor-style hut with 32 beds is built, with gas heaters as a test; the original small hut is moved to Lunndörren.

• 1960

  Mid-1960s: a new hut, the Abrahamsson or '65:an' model with 20 beds, is built lower down next to running water; a hut warden is stationed on site.

• 1925

  The first Gåsen hut is built at 1,238 metres elevation, then the third-highest building in Sweden.

• 1923

  A hut on the slope of Gåsen is planned by STF.

A historic, remote mountain lodge in the Swedish alpine trail network, operated by STF as a non-profit membership association.

• Gåsen Fjällstuga (main hut)

  Two guest buildings with a total of 52 beds and a warden's building with a shop.

• Hut '65:an' (Abrahamsson model)

  A 20-bed hut built in the mid-1960s, with two 10-bed rooms, one being a safety room/dog room with emergency telephone.

• Large guest hut

  A 32-bed corridor-style hut built in 1983, with eight rooms of four beds each.

1. 1Gåsenstugan - Svenska Turistföreningensvenskaturistforeningen.se
2. 2Gåsen mountain hut - Wikidatawikidata.org