At least 47,000 Norwegians are estimated to have headed ut på tur (out on a hike) during the weekend, as the Norwegian mountain trekking association DNT (Den norske Turistforening) organized its annual Kom deg ut (literally “Get yourselves out”) day on Sunday. It’s also known as Norway’s largest Sunday stroll.
DNT arranged special events all over the country to entice families and individuals to enjoy the great outdoors. It’s not all that difficult, with membership in DNT hitting record levels. The national organization also reported that its hytter (cabin and lodges located in scenic areas around Norway) were mostly full all summer long.
“Even with the weather changing all the time, we had 60,760 overnight stays at our 44 lodges and cabins that are staffed,” Mette Øinæs Habberstad of DNT told newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN). In addition come DNT’s 500 cabins without meal service, where visitors bring their own food and bedding. She could also report that DNT now has more than 300,000 members, an increase of 50,000 over the past four years.
Sporting goods stores in Norway are also reporting booming sales for hiking gear and other equipment for camping and being outdoors. “Folks’ active interest in enjoying the outdoors is what’s driving the growth,” Trond Evald Hansen, director of the trade association Norsk Sportbransjeforening, told DN. “DNT had a very good summer and we see the same in our sales.”
newsinenglish.no staff
