ON FINN

Flato Summer Farm

High up in Gravsetåsen, above the Ålstveit farms, lie four former home summer farms in a row. Thanks to its sunny location, Gravsetåsen enjoyed an early spring and fertile south-facing slopes. Although the terrain is steep, this was no obstacle. Good grazing land and hay fields were essential resources.

These summer farms were used during spring and autumn. The visible foundations show that each site once included both a cowshed and a mountain cabin. It is believed they were in use throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and into the early 20th century. Summer farming here may even date back further.

The name Finn comes from the Old Norse word firn, meaning wilderness or remote, inaccessible land.

You are now standing at the former summer farm belonging to Flato (Farm No. 55, Holding No. 7). The remains of three buildings can still be seen here, most likely a cowshed, a cabin and a hay barn.

Illustration by Anders Olav.

ON FINN

Rundtop Summer Farm

You are now standing at the former summer farm belonging to Rundtop (Farm No. 55, Holding No. 13). The photograph shows the cowshed that once stood here. It is the only known photograph of the summer farms on Finn.

Photograph of the former cowshed.

SLÅTTENE PÅ FINN

På 1700- og 1800 talet var det neppe noko særleg skog i denne delen av Gravsetåsen. Beiting og slått heldt skogen nede. Slåtten var utmarksslått med ljå eller liknande på områder med god grasvekst. Det er vanskeleg å sjå dette for seg no med stor skog alle stader.

Det vart sett opp løer for å lagre foret til utpå vinteren. Foret vart så dratt ned til gardane, eller bunde saman i ballar og rulla ned på skaren. Dette er ei løe som delvis står enno, løa til Flato ( 55/7)

Tufter i området syner at det har vore fleire løer her.

Bilde av den halve løa

THE HAY MEADOWS OF FINN

During the 18th and 19th centuries, there was probably very little forest in this part of Gravsetåsen. Grazing livestock and haymaking kept the woodland from spreading. Hay was cut in the outlying fields using scythes or similar tools wherever the grass grew well. Today, with dense forest covering the area, it is difficult to imagine this open landscape.

Hay barns were built to store fodder until winter. When snow arrived, the hay was either transported down to the farms or tied into bundles and slid downhill across the frozen snow.

This is the remains of one such hay barn, belonging to the Flato farm (55/7), which is still partly standing today. Foundations in the surrounding area show that several more hay barns once stood here.

Photograph of the remaining hay barn.

NASABØLE

In the southern part of Gravsetåsen, the farms Markegård and Langehaug had their home summer farms. Nasabøle was a large holding belonging to Søndre Markegård. It has also been suggested that people may have lived here permanently during the 18th and 19th centuries, much like at Halle during the same period.

This would explain why both Markegård farms established several additional summer farms in the area. When Halle and Nasabøle became permanently inhabited, new summer farms were developed, including Lislelie, Dekkane and Lusestølen nearby.

Nasabøle belonged to Søndre Markegård (Farm No. 54, Holding No. 1).

The foundations reveal the remains of a substantial building, most likely combining living quarters and a cowshed under one roof.

Illustration by Anders Olav showing the combined dwelling and cowshed.

THE SUMMER FARMS ABOVE INTELHUS

North of Finn are the remains of several former home summer farms. The farms Intelhus and Bakko most likely also had summer farms here in the hillside.

This also explains why Finnstigen continues northwards, joining the old route through Ulsålskaret and onwards to Fekjan. The Intelhus farms had their high mountain summer farms at Løkenstølane, making this a natural route between the home summer farms and the mountain pastures.

It is also possible that access to these farms was from the trail leading up from Løken, as the cliffs below these sites are particularly steep.

You are now standing at the former summer farm belonging to Nordre Intelhus (Farm No. 57, Holding No. 1).

Photograph taken by Hans Petter during trail clearing.