New land lease agreement in Jämtland/Härjedalen
The new land lease agreement, has been developed in dialogue with the affected Sami villages. The agreement means that we have changed the food offerings, reduced the number of beds, adjusted opening hours, and closed down the Gåsen mountain cabin. We do this to minimize disturbances for the reindeer husbandry and contribute to sustainable development of the area while continuing to make nature experiences accessible.
On January 1, 2024, STF’s new ground lease agreement for the Jämtland Mountains and parts of Härjedalen came into effect. STF will continue to offer accommodation, self-catering facilities, and shops for mountain hikers and skiers, but we will change the food offerings, reduce the number of beds, adjust opening hours, and decommission one cabin location.
What’s happening at Blåhammaren?
The summer season begins on July 1 and ends on October 6. The restaurant is already closed, but self-catering facilities and a provision store will remain. The number of beds will be reduced to a total of 30 beds.
A part of the main building has been demolished. The part demolished is called the accommodation wing and consists of the corridor furthest west with a total of 12 guest rooms. STF has chosen to remove this part of the building because it is in such poor condition that we would have needed to demolish it and build anew if it were to continue to be used. The condition of the accommodation wing has been known for a number of years, and we have deliberately chosen not to invest members’ money here as there has been uncertainty about future ground lease. Contractually, we have until 2026 to make the physical changes at Blåhammaren, but we have chosen to make this change during 2024 to spread out work efforts and costs over time. This is to reduce the risk of too great an impact on the association’s finances. The new ground lease agreement entails several changes, and postponing all of these could have significant consequences for the rest of STF’s operations.
What’s happening at Gåsen Mountain Cabin?
Gåsen Mountain Cabin is already closed and will not accept any guests from 2024 onwards. To ensure mountain safety during 2024, the County Administrative Board has arranged for a small safety room to remain on site. This room is intended only for emergencies. If you wish to visit the area, you will need to bring a tent, supplies, and have (mountain) experience. The area is suitable for visitors who enjoy few human encounters in the mountains and who can take responsibility for their own safety.
See below for a map with safety information from the County Administrative Board of Jämtland.
Click on the map to open it in full screen mode.
No demolitions or relocations of buildings are planned for this winter, but internal renovations may be needed to prepare the safety room.
What’s happening at Sylarna Mountain Station?
The summer season begins on July 15 and ends on October 6. The number of beds is reduced by 25 percent but no buildings will be demolished here. The restaurant remains open and operates as usual in 2024 but is to be phased out by 2028. We have invested in new ventilation at Sylarna for several years, and during the winter of 2024, we will do some work related to this. So, the construction work that will be visible at Sylarna this winter is related to that.
What’s happening at Helags Mountain Station?
The summer season begins on July 1 and ends on October 6. The restaurant remains open and operates as usual in 2024 but is to be phased out by 2028. The ground lease entails no demolitions or similar at Helags.
What’s happening at Vålåstugan, Stensdalen, Anaris, Lunndörren, and Fältjägaren?
The summer season begins on July 1 and ends on September 22.
What’s happening at Skedbro and Rogen Mountain Cabin?
For the mountain cabins Skedbro and Rogen in southern Härjedalen, the County Administrative Board approved STF’s new land use application on July 4, 2024. The new land use agreement is valid until December 31, 2028, and entails unchanged conditions regarding beds, opening hours, and service level compared to the previous agreement.
Ruvhten Sijte, the Sami village that has its reindeer grazing in the area, is in an extremely vulnerable situation as they have lost grazing lands both in Norway and in areas of Härjedalen, and are fined every time their reindeer cross into the former grazing lands. After dialogue with the Sami village, we at STF realize how serious their situation is and have great understanding for it. We have communicated to the authorities and the government that it is necessary to find a solution. However, it is important to emphasize that it is the state and the relevant authorities that have the responsibility to support the Sami village and handle issues regarding lost grazing land.
According to both STF’s opinion and the County Administrative Board’s decision, our activities in the area do not constitute a significant inconvenience for reindeer husbandry. We will continue to work with consideration and dialogue with Sami villages and the local population and strive to operate in harmony with animals, nature, and the people who live in the area.
What’s happening at Storulvån Mountain Station?
The summer season begins on June 20 and ends on October 6. As STF owns the land at Storulvån Mountain Station, the accommodation is not affected by conditions according to the new ground lease agreement.
Facts about land leases on state-owned land in western Jämtland mountains and Härjedalen
STFs mountain cabins and stations exist to enable mobile outdoor activities in the area and contribute to mountain safety. It will continue to be possible to purchase provisions in the shops and prepare meals in the self-catering facilities.
The number of guest nights in STFs self-operated accommodations in Jämtland/Härjedalen mountains is approximately 50,000 per year.
The land lease is granted by the County Administrative Board, but according to the Reindeer Husbandry Act, it can only be granted if it does not lead to “significant inconvenience” for reindeer husbandry. In the current mountain area, construction and facilities can only be established under the Environmental Code if they are necessary for reindeer husbandry, the permanent population, scientific research, or mobile outdoor activities.
The County Administrative Board also owns and manages the state-owned hiking trails in the area.
Large parts of the area lack formal protection in the form of nature reserves or national parks, making it more challenging for the County Administrative Board to regulate human movement in the area. Vålådalens Nature Reserve includes some of STFs mountain cabins, and new reserve regulations have been developed by the County Administrative Board.
