A Winter in the Wilderness?

Jotka fjellstue - Jotka Mountain Inn, the first checkpoint of Finnmarksløpet needs your assistance from now on and through the winter. Training dogs and running the Inn will be the main tasks. If you, for a period of time, would like to do something very different in fantastic surroundings, then this is perfect for you.

Jotka fjellstue - Jotka Mountain Inn - is one of the three last Mountain Inns owned by the state. The Mountain Inns were established in 1840 mainly so that state employees such as the priest, the district sheriff, the doctor and the treasurer had a place to stay during their trips across the mountain plateau. The daily stretches between each Mountain Inn were approx. 30 km due to the time it took to walk on foot, or travel by horse and carriage. Reindeer were also used as a means of transport. Jotka fjellstue was not burnt during WWII and still consists of the old buildings. The oldest buildings are from 1878. The person who runs the Mountain Inn is called oppsitter - leaseholder or tenant farmer - and this is a position that runs in the family from generation to generation.

The leaseholders today are Steinar Kristensen and his wife Lisa and their three children, Ulrikke born -97, Peter born -98 og the youngest Elisabeth born -08. Lisa's sister Lena also works there when the Inn is at its busiest. Lisa and Lena grew up at the Inn.

Steinar says to www.finnmarkslopet.no that they need help throughout the winter to train dogs that are going to race Finnmarksløpet, and that much of the time will be spent with the dogs. - We also want help with running the place in general when the tourists start arriving. Guiding and other exciting experiences might be part of the job, says Steinar.

There is no road to Jotka fjellstue, but one may walk there on foot or get there by boat across Jotkavannet - the Jotka lake. During the winter most transport is done with snowmobiles. - Jotka fjellstue is paradise for anyone who likes dogs and horses, hunting and fishing. We call this place an oasis in the wilderness and whoever thinks this sounds interesting should get in  touch with us, Steinar Kristensen says.

You may contact Jotka fjellstue - Jotka Mountain Inn - via telephone or e-mail.

Phone (landline): +47 78 43 45 54

Mobile phone: +47 906 36 290

E-mail: jotka@c2i.net

Homepage: www.jotka.no