Skiing step by step

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.