Norwegian Mountain Touring Association
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The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (In Norwegian, Den Norske Turistforening – DNT) is a Norwegian association which maintains mountain trails and cabins in Norway. The association was founded on January 21, 1868 with the scope "to help and develop tourism in this country". Today the goal is to work for simple, secure and environmentally friendly outdoor activities. DNT has currently more than 200.000 individual members. The secretary-general of the assosiation is Kristin Krohn Devold, the former defense minister of Norway.
The mountains of Norway have always been utilised by the Norwegian people since the first Norwegians followed the reindeer when the ice cap retracted ten thousand years ago.
DNT's first hut was Krokan by the Rjukan waterfall. The waterfall was later harnessed for hydropower production and the hut was sold. Today it is re-opened, situated by the main road from Rjukan (Tinn) to Vinje. Together with local organisations all over Norway, it operates more than 400 cabins in Norwegian mountains and forest areas.
Olav Thon, a Norwegian real-estate investor, has donated many million NOK to the assosiation. The money has been spent to build new and refurbish existing cabins. Thon spends quite some time hiking in the Norwegian mountains himself.