NEW: Lille Skrehelle is one of this year’s new tops in Titopper´n.
Photo: Roger Gundersen
What started with a small group of friends from the hiking environment at Ulvskollen in Skien has turned into a long and rich tradition. This year, thousands of top enthusiasts will once again gather for a common goal: To reach the peaks in Grenland!
– 20 years is a long time and it shows that simple measures can work well, says Roger Gundersen, who is the prime mover for the tour offer in DNT Telemark, in a press release.
Back in 2004, he got a couple of other hiking buddies with him, and started the first sprout of the Ti-Topper’n.
– When we started, people’s travel habits were more different than today. People were more location-bound and mostly stayed in their usual places. We gave people a push to get around new places, a goal for the trip, says Gundersen.
The intention with Titoppern is quite simply to entice people to choose different and new hiking destinations than the ones you usually go to, as well as to tempt new, inexperienced people on a hike.
– Some of the best feedback to get was from first-time users. People who had rarely or never set foot in a show before, but had now been hooked through our offer. This gave us an early understanding that the Ti-Topper had a function, says Gundersen.
Thousands on tour
There is no doubt that Ti-Topper’n tempts people out on a trip. The highest number of registrations via the summit tours website is 42,451 ascents in one season. At most, 7,213 participants have been active in registering trips during the six months. Not everyone ends up completing the race completely by becoming part of the finisher list on the website. It is all the more important to be able to highlight other aspects of the figures as well, says Gundersen. – The statistics are consistently high on total participation, from just under 6,000 to just over 7,000 each year. This shows that we achieve one important thing, and at the same time: Getting people out on a trip.
A giant of a small top
This year there are 5 new destinations on the list. The Skrehelle area is back, but this time with a new destination. This year the trip goes to Lille Skrehelle, which in the opinion of many is one of the best viewpoints in Grenland. This is a relatively short trip, but you have to do some work uphill, but no worse than that it is considered a child-friendly peak.
New this year is also Tvittingen in Gulsetmarka. Admittedly, it has been there once before, but since the last time the gapahuk has been restored, so the place has been given a boost. This headland at Tvittingen is really a little gem, Gundersen believes. The water is remarkably calm, and for those who want to spend the night with a hammock, this promontory is particularly well suited.
Go for a walk for better health
When Ti-Topper’n starts up on 1 May, it’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved. Take your family and friends out and enjoy a healthy trip, is the call from Ti-Topper’n Grenland.
Today, it is obvious that physical activity promotes good physical and mental health, provides energy and reduces stress.
– Walking is a simple activity with an exclusively positive effect that requires little preparation. Moving out in the terrain and up hills is in a class of its own, Gundersen believes. Ti-Topper’n is nothing less than a good opportunity to get in better shape and get to know new hiking areas. And best of all, you run the risk of meeting many nice hikers on your way.
This year’s top list
1. Blåfjell 2. Fantekjerringkollen 3. Hørsfjell 4. Jypleviktangen 5. Kattøya 6. Kjerkeåsen 7. Hvitsteintjenn Gapahuk 8. Melakollen 9. Nare 10. Piggen 11. Sandseterfjellet 12. Valås 13. Vestre Vealøs 14. Øvrumskolen 15. Årdalsåsen
New on the list
16. Fjerdingen (new this year) 17. Geitebuvarden (new this year) 18. Lille Skrehelle (new) 19. Tvittingen Gapahuk (new this year) 20. Valleråsen (new this year)
