Skiing step by step

In the city you look out to a rainy day and forget that it is snowing in the mountain, not far away. When temperature is lower during the night, you should know that more snow is coming even if you mostly have rain outside the window. "Redningshytten" , the mountain rescue huts, in Mountain Gullfjellet is reached in one hour from the car.

The small hut is coverd by snow high up by the wall. However we visit the greater main hut. When people are warming up the hut, the snow layer painted by the wind on the window (january, 27) begin to slide down like this:

But today (february, 1) the windows are completely frozen and covered by ice. Rain and wet snow from yesterday has frozen on it's way down and made ice figures hanging from the roof gutter. So we return to the car without entering the cabin this time.

Temperature is just a few degrees below zero Celcius, if the icecovered thermometer on the wall can be trusted. And there is plenty of snow.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Skiing in footpath

Sunday, it's time for a trip in the surroundings. The higher mountains seems to be covered by snow. Could there be an opportunity to go skiing? By car it's some minutes drive up the valley, and my guess was true. Here was enough snow for skiing, but other people had not noticed. They went on foot, step by step, and I had to struggle in their trails.

Walking with sticks without skis has become a commom way of mountain hiking during the last years. On the way upwars I was passed by this kind of hikers. I kept my spirit thinking about how much faster I would ski down the hill when returning.

A mountain rescue hut "Redningshytten" has been built for the safety of mountain hikers. In foggy and stormy weather it is neccesary to follow the stone cairns to find the right way.

The hut is open every sundays so people can come in and have a rest and get a warm drink. Inside the hut this sunday looked like this.

Finse station is a very popular starting point for skiers, but good weather forecasts is needed. Look at the webcam here. A crowd of skiers fill the platform. Thousands of skiers like to take part in the 37 km distance skiing race "Skarverennet". The skiers pass mountain "Hallingskarvet", here seen from the train window. Compare with the same view two month ago, on February 20th.

Further east along the Bergen railway some of the slalom tracks at Geilo are seen in bright daylight on the other side of the valley. Compare with the picture from the evening February 21th.

Today I can not use my skis the first half hour from the valley. Higher up there are enough snow for skiing, mostly on the shady side of the mountain. Some days ago fresh snow has come, and in the morning hours the conditions for skiing are good.

I follow the summer path (sommerrute) looking at the mountain "Gullfjellet" in background. Of course that path was a mistake. Summer path is for hiking, not for skiing. Nearing the piste signed by stone cairns along the top of the mountain I have to leave my skis on the ground and continue on foot.

The ground appearing under the snow still have the green colour from last year. Later on back in "My street" the first garden flowers have come.

When mountain roads are hidden under deep snow, a skier can have a good time. Of course he does not have to obey the traffic signs that happens to appear.

There are road signs to forecast car drivers about dangerous traffic or where to find a spot of snow for summer skiing. But now during Easter holidays the road is still closed for motor vehicles. There is plenty of snow for skiing everywhere in the mountains, not divided by roadlines.

A heavy job is waiting for the snowplough to remove the snow an find the roadway up here in some weeks. The sun also have to be helpful at this altitude, 1400 m above sea level.

Once again this winter we are cross contry skiing in the mountains around Bergsdalen between Bergen and Voss. This time we really need to cross the river on the bridge. The ice on the river is gone during the last 3 weeks.

Today temperature is high even if the sky is cloudy. The skis are prepared with paste to get better fastening upwards. One of us has skis with once and for all preparation that look like shells to avoid slipping on the way up. Others have to ski the fishbone-way like this.

Downhill we can run without restraining when snow is moisty and the skis are gliding slow. Some of us like to use the plough-brakes as usual even if it does no harm to tumble in the snow. Then we look like this.

At this time, when a lot of people are skiing in the mountains, the help assistance is not far away. And during Easter holidays they are well prepared to give assistance.

These equipments help, but I prefer to ski. The deers however have to wade in the snow looking for food. In newfallen snow we can follow their tracks. Here the deers have crossed a few hours ago.

Bark from young trees is one of their favorites now during the winter. They also graze in people's orchards, and they are not shy until they are disturbed by the owner. But sorry for the trees when damaged like this:

Other animals are less harmful, but they might have a hard time to jump around in the snow. You are fortunate if you meet the animal who has these footprints, the hare.

The home cat is more often to be seen, we all know its prints. But there are also really big bulls outside. I am happy that they seemed to be in a calm mood today.

This time I have hooked on a skilift that takes me to the top of the mountain. The way up takes a lot of time. The lift passes through a forest beside the slalom track. This morning just a few skiers have arrived.

I have passed the forest and the upper point appears.

Total elevation difference back down to the the lower station is said to be 551 m. Now there is no other way down than the steep slalom track. The big challenge.

This run was enough for me today. Then I practised nordic skiing.

"Bergen Turlag" is the name of a lokal member association for mountain hikers, a part of The Norwegian Trekking Association - DNT- Norway's biggest outdoor activities organisation.

We start from a narrow road between Dale and Voss at about 580 m level.

A bridge has been built so hikers can cross the river in summer. Today we can trust the ice. The snow is very suitable for skiing, but the sun is hidden behind clouds. The track was waymarked last week, so it's easy to find the right way. We have passed the border of a lake and move upwards through the sparsely mountain forest.

The distance to the cabin is about 7 km. People are moving to and from, following the waymarks. At a distance they look very small, but after a few minutes we meet and new skiers appear in the track.

In winter the track has to be signed with poles. In summer the painted "T" on a stone show the pathway as seen in the right corner of the picture.

After one and a half hour the cabin can be seen some hundred meters away. A group of people have stayed here from last night, but most of us only have a daytrip to find the location.

There is room for 30 people to sleep inside. And there seems to be plenty of wood, so boots and wet clothes can be dryed. Dinner can be made on gaz in the kitchen corner, but I suppose that the wood oven under drying clothes also is used for cooking if nesessary.

"Vending" is the name of the cabin, located by a small lake with the same name at 820 m level. Near the cabin is built a smaller cabin for safety and supplementary use.

You should come and enjoy a trip in this mountain area.

The first steps when skiing downhill has to be taken carefully. To wear the ski dress and ski outfits migt be a strange experience. Normal walking is nearly inpossible. Then you must be helped up to the top of the field by a lift. The simplest way is to put your skiis on a rolling band like this.


When you have practiced in this way for a while, it is time to move to the skilift. At first just ski down the gentle slopes, later when you have got necessary skills, try the steeper tracks.


In the evening, if you don't prefer to join the after skiing parties inside the hotels, you can continue practising in the illuminated tracks.

.. .. or relax and look over to the slalom track from a distance like I did.

Farming in the mountains has been the way of living for people during the centuries. The buildings on the farm-yard are rather small and made by timber with separate barns for different animals: sheephouse, cowhouse, horse stable and so on. In addition there are dwelling house, storehose for food and sheds for storing wood. Today some of these farms are museums or they are models for modern mountain cabins and cottages. Here is a part of the Geilo Farm, now a museum.

At the border of the mountain forest there has been built a cottage belt. From the train window it look like this between Haugastøl and Ustaoset stations. Hallingskarvet mountain in background.

This winter there is a lot of snow up here, so the owner of this cottage palace have to dig deep into the snow to find the entrance door.

Some of the cabins are very private, so keep yourself away at a safe distance. Other cabins near the crowded skitracks and ski-lifts are built for commercial purposes, but still there is a cottage atmosphere.

The owner gladly want to decorate his cottage, his second home, where the famliy can relaxe and have a pleasant time. So the birds also get a bit of wealth. But for som of us the cottage is just an investment, where the mony can grow for some years.

Higher into the mountain there are only a few small farmer cabins. Remnants of former traditions can still be seen. In the mountain farm milk from cow and goat has been used to make butter and cheese. A hiker might have a taste in summer. The sign on the snowcovered wall announce that cheese has been for sale, last summer or some years ago?

Sometimes you really have to stop and a have a closer look. After more than an hour in the wild mountain skitrack this tall building appeared. What could be the mysterious purpose of this statue of a building?

It's late in the afternoon, and I have to turn back to civilitation before dark.

Nordic or cross country skiing is an easy way to move long distance, specially if there is a signed track to follow.


Skiing from cabin to cabin is a popular way to get far into the mountains. Anyway a backpack containing extra clothes and food is necessary. And the signs mounted on a pole by the track help to show the right direction and distance. It's early winter, and my first trips are rather short, this time in the neighbourhood of the skiing village Geilo.

Here is av part of the map. Signed skitracks are shown in red lines.

Friday, February 9, 2007

Skiing uphill - running downhill

Before you start skiing, be sure that the skis are prepard for uphill walking. Anyhow you sometines have to do "fishbone" walking as shown on the picture. More professional skiers use skating even upwards, and at a much higher velocity.

When snow is deep, Telemark skiing is a popular way to run downhill. Then the skitrack may look like this.