Life in the old days

You may be wondering what life was like here in earlier times. In Geiranger, life was demanding, dramatic, and beautiful all at once. People lived close to nature, clinging to the steep mountainsides and relying on whatever the landscape could provide. Everything was transported by boat — food, hay, livestock, and people. During winter, the village could be cut off for weeks, and families had to manage with what they already had. Still, the people here were proud, and the sense of community was strong. If you look up toward the steep mountain walls, you’ll see some of Norway’s most remarkable mountain farms. Skageflå, Knivsflå, and Blomberg were built on narrow ledges high above the fjord, where families kept cows and goats and cut hay on the steep slopes. Reaching them often meant climbing by rope and ladder, and children were sometimes tied for safety. Today, Skageflå can be reached on foot, but it is hard to imagine what it must have been like to live there year-round — through storms, snow, and long stretches of silence. These farms tell a powerful story of courage, endurance, and the ability to adapt to the forces of nature.