Information about skitour in Norway

[fabian79]

Hi everyone,

I found this forum while searching for information for a skiing trip that is planed for end of February. As we do not speak Norwegean I sadly have to write in English or German...

It is not easy to find sufficient information about skitours in Nowegian mountains on German websites. I guess this forum is the reight place to learn more

Our idea is to go for a skiing trip of 4 to 5 days. Earliest possible day to start is February 16 th. But we definitely have to be back home till March 02.

As I found out the difficulty is to find a marked route with open cabins (staffed or unstaffed) during this time.

So far we would prefer to go to Jotunheimen because we love the landscapes of high mountain areas! Another idea is Rondane Nationalpark.

We already bougt hiking maps for Jotunheimen.

As we found out, the routes between Fondsbu, Olavsbu and Gjendebu will be marked from February 16th. Therefore we started collecting information about this area. But sadly it is only a 3 days trip - if everything works well. Another option could be to start at Gjendesheim from where we could get to Gjendebu by crossing the lake. But in this case would would have to cross the lake twice (there and back).

What do you think about the succested tour? Do you have any alternative suggestion?

We would prefer to stay in cabins and follow a marked route that is avalanche save! Nonetheless we will also bring our tent (if we feel like camping and as an emergency shelter) and would also follow unmarked routes if they are easy to find even under bad conditions.

Another issue is that we have to reach the starting point by public transportation. We planed to book flights till Oslo.

To let you know about our experiences and equipment:

We are experienced in outdoor sports as crosscountry skiing, mountaineering, trekking and climbing. Last year we did our 1st backcountry skitour with pulka in northern Sweden (Kungsleden from Abisko to Nikkaluokta). It was a trip of 8 days and around 120 km in total. The difficulty of this trip was perfect for us.

We are more or less full equiped (2 pulkas, stormproof tent, very good sleepingbags down to -30 °C...) but we need to rent (or buy used) skiing equipment. Any idea about prices for rental?

Lots of questions, I know...

Any comment is welcome!!!

Thanks a lot in advance!

Fabian

[squidman]

Hi everyone,

I found this forum while searching for information for a skiing trip that is planed for end of February. As we do not speak Norwegean I sadly have to write in English or German...

It is not easy to find sufficient information about skitours in Nowegian mountains on German websites. I guess this forum is the reight place to learn more

Our idea is to go for a skiing trip of 4 to 5 days. Earliest possible day to start is February 16 th. But we definitely have to be back home till March 02.

As I found out the difficulty is to find a marked route with open cabins (staffed or unstaffed) during this time.

So far we would prefer to go to Jotunheimen because we love the landscapes of high mountain areas! Another idea is Rondane Nationalpark.

We already bougt hiking maps for Jotunheimen.

As we found out, the routes between Fondsbu, Olavsbu and Gjendebu will be marked from February 16th. Therefore we started collecting information about this area. But sadly it is only a 3 days trip - if everything works well. Another option could be to start at Gjendesheim from where we could get to Gjendebu by crossing the lake. But in this case would would have to cross the lake twice (there and back).

What do you think about the succested tour? Do you have any alternative suggestion?

We would prefer to stay in cabins and follow a marked route that is avalanche save! Nonetheless we will also bring our tent (if we feel like camping and as an emergency shelter) and would also follow unmarked routes if they are easy to find even under bad conditions.

Another issue is that we have to reach the starting point by public transportation. We planed to book flights till Oslo.

To let you know about our experiences and equipment:

We are experienced in outdoor sports as crosscountry skiing, mountaineering, trekking and climbing. Last year we did our 1st backcountry skitour with pulka in northern Sweden (Kungsleden from Abisko to Nikkaluokta). It was a trip of 8 days and around 120 km in total. The difficulty of this trip was perfect for us.

We are more or less full equiped (2 pulkas, stormproof tent, very good sleepingbags down to -30 °C...) but we need to rent (or buy used) skiing equipment. Any idea about prices for rental?

Lots of questions, I know...

Any comment is welcome!!!

Thanks a lot in advance!

Fabian

I think you came to the right place! I've never attempted a journey quite like that, but have overnighted in tents in colder temperatures (-25), so I assume you know what's important (that you be able to set up your tent very quickly in a storm, are familiar with your stove, have 2 layers underneath your sleeping bag (whether one is inflatable and the other closed or open cell-foam ...bit of debate there). There are quire a few threads about this sort of expedition here, albeit in Norwegian, but if you like I'll have a go at translating them. One thing that concerns me tho is that Jotunheimen is pretty damn steep and not very pulk-friendly..usually the sort of pulk expedition you're talking about is crossing Hardangervidda either from N-S or E-West. And you may have to modify your pulks to add stability (alumium side-fins). Again, I'm only an amateur, but suffice to say if you get it wrong, the consequences can be pretty severe. Believe it or not most of our members actually speak passable english, and have loads more experience than me. They're just too embarassed to reply....! Almost like the french (not really, the french are a-holes!).

You've obviously checked out the following links...http://www.turistforeningen.no/, http://ut.no/ and the relevant topo maps form ut.no here....http://ut.no/map/page/maptool/153155.

Bit zonked, will rely on fellow forum-members to correct me and fill in the details..just got back from the hills myself...so far not enough snow, very icy lots of places, bit of crust with 2-5cm on top. Didn't have time for a simple shovel test or rutschblock this time, but apparently it's stabilized a bit..

Avalanche danger and route planning here...http://varsom.no/ and maps og possible avvy danger areas here...http://gis.ngi.no/skredkart/

other english speaking links here: (various from equipment to knowledge)... http://pistehors.com/, http://www.wildsnow.com/ etc.

Travel: skyss.no, tide.no (from bergen)...bit too tired now to give you a route! You can work it out...either local busses or nor-way express (http://www.nor-way.no/).

Budget airline in Norway....Norwegian.no...or Ryanair, but only to selected airports.

What's expensive...food and drink and tobacco...I mean really ridiculously expensive ! 3x Euro prices....buy booze and tobacco and meat before you arrive...

Camping...sometimes open....from 350kr for a cabin to 600 kr a cabin iff they're open...

Good luck! don't forget http://www.summitpost.org/ and ors...lots of resources out there...

[REs]

One very popular trip is from Haukeliseter to Ådneram. Specially at Easter. You can come to Stavanger by plain or train and take a bus up to Haukeliseter. Then it will take about 4 or 5 days to go skiing south to Ådneram. When the lake Blåsjø is frosen you can pas two cabins and save one or two days, and south of this lake there is a lot of cabins and you can make your trip as long or short that you like.

Of course you can go the opposite way as well, but I am not sure about the bus between Ådneram and Stavanger.

Stavanger Turistforening can give you all the information you need for this trip. How to get there, when the tracks are marked and what maps you need.

Here is some links for information.

http://www.stavanger...istforening.no/

http://www.turistforeningen.no/

http://ut.no/

And a link to a trip somebody did in April 2007

http://paatankestadi...eli-dneram.html

(You might be able to translate it to understandable english or german on Google translate.)

I do not think it will be too easy to rent skiing equipment for a trip like this. The equipment you can rent is mainly alpine equipment meant for downhill skiing. For this trip I would recommend back country skis with steel edges, solid shoes and mountain sticks.

If you are pulling a pulk you might also need a pair of “feller” for your skis.

http://www.oslosport...CFaF7cAodbTUAIQ

http://www.friluftsn...&side=stighudar

http://www.utstyrstest.no/?p=522

I hope you have some experience with Norwegian mountains and the weather you can get.

A lot of people think they are experienced, but they have their experience from other parts of the world, and that might be a lot different from Norway.

Here is what happened in 2011. These people said they were experienced skiers, but you can se what happened to them.

http://www.trailspac...pics/85123.html

http://www.thelocal....ml#.UPpQCh12Sbs

http://www.dagbladet...nriks/15482995/

As you can see the low temperature combined with strong wind might give you a very low temperature and in February you might very easy find yourselves in the dark blue area.

http://om.yr.no/forklaring/symbol/effektiv-temperatur/

[fabian79]

Hi again,

thanks for your answers and the links you posted.

In the meantime we made more detailed plans. As it is difficult to get to Gjendesheim we will start from Tyin (bus from Oslo).

We plan the following route:

Tyin - Tyinstolen - Fondsbu - Olavsbu - (maybe a daytrip from Olavsbu) - Gjndebu - Fondsbu - back to Tyin by weasle.

Does anyone know the route at winter time and can share experience? Is it a problem to do it with pulk and how do you rate the danger of avalanches on the way?

Thanks for the warnings. We know about the dangers on such a tour. Thats why we want get as many information in advance as we can get!

Fabian

[Tristein]

I don't want to overemphasize the risks of avalanches, because on the type of trips you plan to do, you rarely set off avalanches (mainly because you don't go in slopes steeper than 25 degrees.)

BUT there are MANY ways of setting off avalanches and the risk for avalanches changes constantly over time, and can also change drastically during a single day.

I don't know the specific area good enough to give you a specific advice, but here is a couple of sites you should check out.

http://gis.ngi.no/skredkart/ is a map over potential avalanches, if the conditions are right. Zoom into the area you are interested in. Then you check the box "skred oversiktskart"(avalanche overview map) and the box "bratte områder" (steep areas). I usually take print-outs over the areas I'm skiing. It's not fast, but it's worth the wait

http://www.varsom.no/ gives avalanche forecast. Use google to translate.

I hope you have had a course in avalaches, or at least has read a book about it. Everybody should have probe and shovel as personal equipment. (If you can borrow Avalanche transceivers that would be a huge advantage.) Know how to use your equipment.

Forgive us for beeing so cautionary, but we don't want our guests to die

I hope you'll have a great trip, and wish you all the best!

[Lompa]

Hi again,

thanks for your answers and the links you posted.

In the meantime we made more detailed plans. As it is difficult to get to Gjendesheim we will start from Tyin (bus from Oslo).

We plan the following route:

Tyin - Tyinstolen - Fondsbu - Olavsbu - (maybe a daytrip from Olavsbu) - Gjndebu - Fondsbu - back to Tyin by weasle.

Does anyone know the route at winter time and can share experience? Is it a problem to do it with pulk and how do you rate the danger of avalanches on the way?

Thanks for the warnings. We know about the dangers on such a tour. Thats why we want get as many information in advance as we can get!

Fabian

It is impossible to predict avalanche danger now. It will depend on snow and wind conditions. You will have to move in semi-steep slopes a few places where avalanches may occur. It may be dangerous, or it may be totally safe.

I would recommend you to follow the winter routes, even if they will not be marked at the time you will be there. They are placed in the safest possible terrain.

[fabian79]

The way that we will take will be marked from 16.02. That makes things much easier. Only the way from Tyin to Fondsbu will be unmarked during the time of our tour. But orientation shouldn´t be a big problem because we will follow the road at lake tyin or go across the lake.

Do you know if Tyinstølen Turisthytte will be open on February 23 and is it a private or DNT cabin? We found different information about Tyinstølen so we are not sure.

Thanks again!

[Tristein]

Call or send them an e-mail if you found different information: http://www.tyinstolen.no/kontakt.htm

[Skaaningen]

As you arrive in Oslo, and will take bus: The shop that sells backcountry skiis and boots, closest to the central station, and main bus terminal, is probably Oslo Sportslager www.oslosportslager.no. Sometimes a bit on the expensive side, but lots to choose from. Go to 1st floor; they keep regular crosscountry skiis on ground floor.

NB. Not associated with any shop. Sportsnett.no is as good for backcountry skiis, but location is slightly less convenient, given bus terminal location on Oslo.

[fabian79]

Very good info again

I wrote to Tyinstolen get to know if the cabin is open.

We changed our plans about equiment. We are going to buy backcountry skiequipent at home. As we found out it is bit chaeper here. Last year we rent all the stuff in Sweden and renting again is almost like buying Hopefully we will go for some more trips in the future.

I have one more question:

Do you know where we can get liquid fuel for our stove? Oslo Sportslager would be a good option. But we will arrive at oslo late in the evening and plan to take the bus at 8:30 am. Do you know if we can buy fuel in Tyin or - if there is no other chance - in Fondsbu?

Regards

Fabian

[Lindap]

Hi.

I would recommend you to rent your ski's in your own country (Germany?). They probably rent out stuff like that in your country. I have several times tried to rent broad cross-country ski's with iron sides for guests here in Noray, and it is just impossible to find on the internet. Although there was one hotel in Rondane that had some.

If your arrive at Oslo airport Gardermoen, then going to Rondane will save you a lot of time, because it is logistically easier. For a marked route, you could consider "Trolløypa" through Rondane. I have understood that it is even prepared from February, but not very often, so you need broad ski's anyway. If you don't want to go in the prepared trail, you can probably go beside it. That route is passing not too long distanse from mountain hotels and self-service mountain huts. The first part from near Hjerkin can be dangerous for avalaches (as I have understood from the internet), but the rest of the route should be save. Please get some more information about these avalanches from other sources.

What kind of stove do you have? If you need petrol (benzin), then you can buy it at a petrol station. Some stations sell clean petrol (miljøbensin) in plastic bottles. But then you must make sure that your train stops at a place where you can buy this.

Linda

[Lompa]

Very good info again

I wrote to Tyinstolen get to know if the cabin is open.

We changed our plans about equiment. We are going to buy backcountry skiequipent at home. As we found out it is bit chaeper here. Last year we rent all the stuff in Sweden and renting again is almost like buying Hopefully we will go for some more trips in the future.

I have one more question:

Do you know where we can get liquid fuel for our stove? Oslo Sportslager would be a good option. But we will arrive at oslo late in the evening and plan to take the bus at 8:30 am. Do you know if we can buy fuel in Tyin or - if there is no other chance - in Fondsbu?

The best place to buy fuel is on petrol stations (Miljløbensin 4-takt/"environmental petrol" 4-stroke. Not the 2-stroke, with oil in it!). You get it in 1 or 4 litre cans, but need to be put into better containers. There is a gas station (Statoil) less than five minutes walk from the bus station. The bus also stops at Fagernes, but I don't know if it will be there long enough to run (5 min each way) to the station to buy.

Good call to buy skiing gear in Germany. It would have been difficult to get the bindings mounted in such short time, anyway..

[fabian79]

We will bring 2 stoves. One is the MSR XGK EX. This is our better stove. I wouldn´t use it with with normal petrol from the petrol station to keep it clen. The 2nd is an older Primus Varifuel that I used several times with petrol from the petrol station. To use miljøbensin 4-stroke is a very good advice. We will try to buy miljøbensin in Oslo!

We ordered our skiing gear at www.globetrotter.de. It might the most popular equiper in Germany. We decided to take Fischer E99 skis Rottefella bindings, Alfa Skarvet boots and Colltex skins...

[Lindap]

We ordered our skiing gear at www.globetrotter.de. It might the most popular equiper in Germany. We decided to take Fischer E99 skis Rottefella bindings, Alfa Skarvet boots and Colltex skins...

Sounds like a good choice of equipment. Remember also skiwax (the type that gives grip), in case the circumstances are not ideal for skins.You can buy that at every sports shop in Norway. And remember gaitors (gamaschen).

http://www.swix.de/e...=6373:0:24,3416

http://www.swix.de/e...:0:6378:1:::0:0

0

And on the last link you find also instructions on how to use it. You can also use another brand than Swix.

[fabian79]

We will take non-wax skiis with the so called crown technology. Those are more common here.

We will definitely bring our gaiters. Thats important!

I tried to find out how good the connection for mobile phones is in Jotunheimen. I guess it´s not the best... Am I right?

[Lindap]

Hi.

You can never count on a good phone connection in the mountains, and on some places also in the forest 35 km outside Oslo (where I live). Check with which Norwegian provider your provider cooperates in Norway. Maybe with both.

http://www.telenor.no/privat/dekning/dekning_data.jsp

https://netcom.no/dekningskart

Maybe it is a good idea not to use wax. Makes it less complicated.

Linda

[+ost]

Hi.

You can never count on a good phone connection in the mountains, and on some places also in the forest 35 km outside Oslo (where I live). Check with which Norwegian provider your provider cooperates in Norway. Maybe with both.

http://www.telenor.n...ekning_data.jsp

https://netcom.no/dekningskart

Maybe it is a good idea not to use wax. Makes it less complicated.

Linda

If I were you I would only believe I had a small chance of mobile phone connection around the larger staffed huts or at best; outside the mountains. When you area out skiing you will most probably have no mobile coverage at all. Infact, you should behave as if there is no such thing as a mobile phone.

[OttoStover]

I agree with ost. According to Murphys law, a disaster happens only at the worst possible moment, in this case when there are no cellphone coverage in an area with rather good connection elsewhere. In my area you are lucky to have cellphone coverage more than two kilometres off the roads. But if you know the area there may be some strange spot in the mountains which has coverage. These places are marked in most huts close by.

One word of warning. Turn off the cellphone when not in use. The roaming for coverage eats battery, and could drain the phone totally.

Otto

[squidman]

Iff you haven't set off on your epic trip yet, suggest a SPOT or iff you're feeling flush with cash, buy or rent an iridium extreme sat-phone.  There's almost guaranteed no cellphone coverage where you're headed. There should be some Iridium gadgets that have better coverage than SPOT/Globalstar  on the market by now. Again, don't forget map and compass, don't rely on the electronics.  Iff your route goes through avvy country, again, don't forget the basics (probe, beacon, shovel).  Better yet would be a guide (IFMGA etc.) but that becomes ridiculously expensive very quickly.

 

Best of luck! Don't forget to put up a post or a blog-site to let us know how you fared! I'm sure the members are very curious....