Fjelltur: A Norwegian Adventure
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A Norwegian Adventure
Fjelltur is a film I made about a winter trip to Norway with two friends and the subsequent adventure we had.
“Fjelltur” translates literally to mountain trip or mountain tour. This was always the intention of our trip, for us to make a ski tour in the mountains.
Being a northener I appreciate the linguistic link between the Norwegian word fjell (and the Swedish word fjall) and the fells of my native north of England.
The area I chose for our trip was at the northern end of the Setestdal valley in southern Norway. In this area the Setesdal the southern rump of the Hardanger plateau in a massive T-junction of sorts. This was an area in which I had undertaken various trips in the past.
My friends, Henry and Stuart, had done some skiing before. Stuart had done some cross country skiing when he was a boy and some alpine skiing more recently. Henry had done some alpine skiing when he was younger but had never tried cross-country skiing.
So, we first had to make sure they had the requisite cross-country skills to undertake a winter trip in the Norwegian hills. We did this in the southern stretch of the Setesdal valley near to where my friend Brian Desmond lives. More on Brian shortly.
In terms of other relevant experience, Henry works with me at Frontier Bushcraft and has undertaken other remote trips and challenges. Plus he had climbed Kilimanjaro via the Western breach route shortly before this trip so was in good shape.
Stuart is very calm and collected (he’s an airline pilot) and as well as having done a good amount of bushcraft training over the years, he has undertaken several winter trips in the north of Sweden with me and a couple of other friends who like that sort of thing. Apparently not everyone does. I hear some people even dislike the cold…
My Norwegian Journey
My personal Norwegian adventure started in 2006. I joined an expedition following the route of the small group of WWII Norwegian saboteurs. Their story was a critical part of the wider action to prevent Hitler’s plans to produce nuclear weapons by destroying the heavy water plant at Vermork. These soldiers along with their comrades involved in the wider action became known as the Heroes of Telemark.
For that trip, we undertook a week of ski training in the south of Norway before transferring up to the Hardanger plateau for the main event. This trip was led by Brian Desmond who has since become a good friend. Brian previously served with the British military for 25 years. He also had an international ski career. He has represented Great Britain in cross-country skiing, ski orienteering and is a former British biathlon champion. Brian has lived in Norway since 1981 and is a BASI 1 trainer.
Prior to my first trip in Norway I had done some alpine skiing but I was never particularly taken with piste skiing. I don’t like crowds. I like being out in nature on my own or with a small group of trusted companions. I’ve done a lot of solo backpacking and I’m very happy with my own company. Nordic skiing fitted with my world view in this respect, in a way Alpine skiing never did.
I was really taken with nordic ski touring, Norway and the Norwegian hut system. Over the few years following my first foray, I visited Brian multiple times, both in the winter and summer. In addition to personal trips, which included skiing across the Hardanger plateau with a companion in 2008, I organised groups to train/tour with Brian and I joined some of these trips myself.
Until the trip that is the subject of the film above, I hadn’t been back to Norway since my last full ski tour there in March 2010. Between 2010 and 2014 all my winter trips had taken me elsewhere. So, I was keen to get back to Norway and get out on a tour again.
The above film is a document of the trip from start to finish.
Filming Fjelltur
Filming wasn’t without its challenges. Due to us having to be self-sufficient and carry everything in our backpacks, I could only take small, lightweight cameras on our main journey. Battery life was also an issue. During the second phase of the trip, my GoPro malfunctioned and fried one of the microSD cards I had with me. Thus I lost some footage and was down to only one camera for the remainder of the journey. The small camera I took does not accept an external microphone and I took no other sound recording equipment. All of this had some consequences but it was a lightweight, bare bones set up that would fit in my pack and would be relatively quick and easy to operate in poor weather conditions, while still allowing us to make good progress on our route.
The weather was bad, which in places, hampered the sound quality if not the epic look of the conditions. In fact it was the most consistently bad weather I’ve had on a trip in Norway. I’ve experienced truly appalling weather in the Norwegian mountains before and with much colder temperatures than during this latter trip, where the weather was very unsettled but relatively warm. On one trip in previous years after skiing for several hours through a blizzard, we made it to the hut then only to have to dig our way in (this is normal). The surprise was the temperature of minus 18 Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit) inside the hut. It took us three hours to warm the place up to a comfortable room temperature. On the 2014 trip, we just had unsettled weather from start to finish once we were in the mountains proper.
It was also an emotionally tough time for me. During the bus trip between the training phase in the southern Setesdal and starting our mountain tour in Hakeliseter, I casually phoned home to check in. I was informed my closest aunt had passed away. She’d had a long battle with cancer but had been given the all clear only a month or so before her death so it was a shocking turn of events. She was a character and had travelled extensively around the world. She would have wanted me to carry on the trip and we did exactly that. The above film is dedicated to her.
In fact this film became a bit of a labour of love. I did all the colour correction, editing, voiceovers, subtitles and grading myself in between teaching courses, undertaking trips and other projects. It took me much longer to finish than I anticipated, partly due to some of the technical constraints I had to overcome. In watching it I hope you feel like you have come on an adventure with us. If so, then my goal in putting this film together has been met.
I’m happy to answer questions about the trip via the comments below. If you are interested in our clothing and equipment, then an article is in the pipeline.
Music
Music is an important part of my life and while there isn’t much in this film, all the music featured is Norwegian. All of the tracks are from albums I own and really enjoy. Some of the tracks from these albums were going through my head repeatedly during the trip, particularly when I was into a rhythm on some of the more monotonous cross country sections when we couldn’t see anything.
Nils Petter Molvaer – Solid Ether
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81 thoughts on “Fjelltur: A Norwegian Adventure”
Hey Paul,
Thanks for taking the time to make this. Great stuff. Enjoyed it.
Nick
Hey Nick,
Nice to hear from you. I hope all is well.
I’m happy you enjoyed this.
Cheers,
Paul
Oh. Yes, forgot to offer my condolences too. Know the feeling. Hope all OK.
Film was long enough that I’d forgotten that I was going to mention that by the end – think it’s my age…
No worries Nick. I didn’t mention it to make people obliged to say something, only to express why it was important to me to get the film finished and do a good job of it.
Thank you though.
And I’m glad the film made you forget about what you were thinking at the beginning 🙂
Warm regards,
Paul
Really enjoyed that Paul, thanks for all the hard work you went through putting it together 🙂
My pleasure Steve. Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hi Paul
Thank you for such an entertaining film.
My condolences on your loss.
Regards
Martin
Hi Martin,
Thank you on both counts.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul
As always enjoyed this too. thanks for well made video and condolences to you and near ones during this time.
Sometimes grief and travel go hand in hand where its cathartic to be outside and about, and focused on task at hand . I loved Norway for trekking and from a family friendly point with young kids, so it was interesting to see from Skiing point of view. I would avoid getting out and that part of me gets to see the bits I have missed. Thank you for sharing your adventure. Much appreciated.
Hi Leena,
Nice to hear from you. Thanks for your thoughts.
It definitely was good to have something to focus on.
I’m glad you enjoyed watching this and joining us on our adventure.
Warm regards,
Paul
Really enjoyed watching this, especially since I’m sat in the warmth with a warm cup of tea!
The hut system really is fantastic, and all done on honesty.
Love the “help sticks”.
Super film, well edited and very nicely put together
Cheers
Thanks Paul. Warm tea always makes things better 😉
Yes the DNT hytte system is wonderful.
Glad you appreciated the film. Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers,
Paul
This is a really interesting and enjoyable film and a great insight into what’s involved in making a journey like this. I have wondered in the past what it would be like to ski tour and your film gives us a great insight. Thanks for sharing it.
My pleasure Steve. Thanks for your feedback on it. Glad you both enjoyed it and found it provided a useful insight into the practicalities.
Warm regards,
Paul
Enjoyed the new movie very much. Would have liked to have read the equipment list for the trip.
All best to you Paul.
Hey Ron,
Thanks for your comments – I’m so glad you enjoyed the movie.
There is a full listing of all the equipment coming on this blog, on Friday.
I knew someone would ask and I don’t think you’ll be the only one 🙂
Check back in on Friday. Also, there’ll be an email in your inbox.
Warm regards,
Paul
Really enjoyed the film.thank you for sharing
My pleasure Andrew. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your feedback.
All the best,
Paul
Thanks for sharing this adventure. Norway is trully a magnifivent place to explore. Have you hiked to trolltunga (Norway)? I live in Sweden so that chilli wind rang a bell… Awesome video!
Hi Ric,
Thanks for your comments on the video. I hope you enjoyed joining us for a short while on this adventure.
I have yet to hike up to Trolltunga. I need to go back to Odda one summer….
Yes Norway is magnificent but I also love Sweden. I hope to be back there before too long.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for making this and allowing us to view. Great video. Now I’m hungry for a Norway adventure!
Hi Dan!
Good to hear from you. I’m still grateful for your introducing me to the music of Mariee Sioux.
I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
Norway is a great place for adventure.
I hope you manage to get our there at some point.
Warm regards,
Paul
Thank you Paul. It came across as a great account of a real adventure. We are off to Finland in ten days to have a go at cross country skiing, so this was well timed. I agree with your comments in the introduction, I think I will prefer the experience of travel through the countryside, and the excitement of discovery, to piste skiing; but it looks hard work!
James
Hi James,
Very nice to hear from you. I’m happy to read you are off on adventures again soon.
I think you’ll really enjoy cross country skiing. Yes it can be physical but it’s also a wonderful way to glide near-silently through the forest.
Enjoy!
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul.
First of all may I offer my condolences for the loss of your Aunt.
I really enjoyed the movie and certainly felt like I had been along on the adventure with you guys, great work for capturing so well the essence of what any adventure movie should portray, especially given the limited equipment used to capture this footage, but equally maybe that is, in part, how the film comes across with such realness as to help you to feel there..
Well done and thanks for all the effort so that we people can enjoy some fantastic outdoor filming, love the tunes too, great choice of/taste in music.
Hi Alan,
Thanks for your comments. They are much appreciated.
I’m very happy you enjoyed the film so. Now that you mention it, I think you are correct that the raw nature of some of the video capture fits the raw nature of the conditions. Had it been more polished, perhaps you would have felt more isolated from the wind, snow and other elements.
Glad you enjoyed the tunes too 😉
Cheers,
Paul
Fantastic documentary on your Norwegian trip, that’s made me very jealous, fantastic insight to the weather conditions and the bunk houses.
Think ill have to take a look at this for a trip soon.
Cyril
Hi Cyril,
Thanks for your feedback on the film. Glad you found it inspirational. Let me know if you have questions about the practicalities of a trip like this.
Warm regards,
Paul
A great piece Paul which brings home the need for training and competence with skis, navigation and fitness..a real eye opener and I’m sure, a source of real satisfaction. That goes for the film making skills too..!
Hi Paul ,
Really enjoyed the video,looks like you had a great time.Navigation skills are very important I can see (or maybe not) in the white out conditions.
Looking forward to your next adventure,I’ll be having my own mini adventure this weekend sleeping in my hammock somewhere on the northdowns.
All the best Andy.
Paul, how wonderful, it brought back times of my adventuress days when I spent 3 months in the back country, Snow Shoeing, before skis where popular in the US, the flood of memories where making me go do it again . . .
Thank you Again
Hi Paul
Thank you for sharing this video. I really enjoyed watching it makes we want to visit Norway.
Ron
Glad you enjoyed it Ron.
Hello Paul –
What a great trip you must have had. Beautiful footage. I just snowshoed up a local mountain with my 6-year-old son today. We found ourselves in the midst of a sudden snow squall, which was very short and beautiful, but unexpected. Certainly doesn’t compare, but it sort of relates… nature throws us curves which at times end up being real gifts. I hope the same can be said of the rather hairy weather you experienced…
Thanks for the video!
Thanks, Paul. I really enjoyed watching your film, sitting in a warm house with only a light dusting of snow outside. I always enjoy your films and articles but I think this was the best so far. The music in this one seemed appropriate and I realised why when I read the credits: local music inspired by the land.
I’m sure your aunt would have approved of your decision. It gave me a jolt to note that she was younger than me. It should be a timely reminder to your followers to get their adventures in while they are still young and fit enough. The memories gained are a great comfort in later life.
Thanks for your kind comments Antony. They mean a lot to me 🙂
Warm regards,
Paul
Paul,
What a wonderful adventure. Thanks for the video and bringing it into our homes. It looked amazingly cold there in Norway. I have a couple of the Helle knives made there and love them. Take care and stay warm.
Thanks Steve,
Glad you enjoyed taking this journey with us.
It wasn’t horrendously cold when we were there but boy was it windy at times!
Helle knives are good although some of them are tempered quite hard. Don’t try and bend them too much. I’ve seen a few break!
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for taking me on the trip, never got cold once, sitting in my lounge. It was snowing here in Middlesbrough whilst I was watching your adventure, added a bit of reality. I did some cross country ski training in the Hartz mountains whilst in the British Army and your movie brought back some great memories, thanks. Please accept my deepest condolences for your recent loss.
Stay safe,
Denis.
Hi Denis,
Thanks for your comments. I’m glad we were able to transport you along with us a little way. I’m sure the snow outside your window helped a little.
There’s something special about cross country skiing and it’s good to have that connection.
Warm regards,
Paul
Thanks Paul, I know first hand how much time goes into editing this amount of video so great work. I know also how hard it is to talk to a camera when you’re feeling numb from the day exertions so again well done. It’s good to see the human side of a expedition and expressions on the faces! I enjoyed all of this film. I’m sure it’s coming but how many batteries did you take for this trip as I take it none of the DNT cabins had electric charge points. Excellent work, Hamish
Thanks Hamish, your comments mean a lot.
I took three batteries for the compact camera and four for the GoPro. The GoPro died though. I have an external battery which will give 4-6 charges. I work on the basis of one battery per day of filming (and that’s only snippets here and there, not hours and hours).
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul
Fantastic film. Very professional. One for Discovery Channel I think
Keep up the good work
Jeremy
Thank you Jeremy.
Glad you think it is worthy of wider distribution.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Having just come back from wonderful 24 hours camping trip to wales where the snow lay a few inches, I sat down and watching your film of your cross country skiing adventure. I was completely blown away by it! I really got the sense of the light and the cold and that strange slightly surreal feeling that hits you in a white out when there is not differentiation between ground and sky. ( well on the very few occasions I have been in a white out, it felt pretty surreal to me!)
I loved seeing the inside of the cabins, where your satisfaction of getting out the cold and ‘bugging in’ for the night, exhausted but feeling a great sense of accomplishment really came across in the film.
One quick question, one one stretch near the end there were out of stick markers on routeand it seemed like a white out. How did you get your bearings as to know where to head for to stay on track? I presume a compass but how would you pinpoint where you were on the map or did you keep a continous track on your map every 100 metres or so anyway? Just wondering?
I would love to go to Norway one day and have a go but realistically with damaged knees I think it would be foolish to even attempt it. So Paul, I will have to experience it vicarioiusly through watching your films of your adventures, so please make more!
Thanks again it really was a treat to watch.
Best wishes,
Vee
Hi Vee,
Thanks for your comments. It sounds like your camping trip in Wales was perfect timing for hitting the snow.
I’m glad you enjoyed this film so much. It’s feedback like this that will motivate me to make more films of this nature in the future…
And yes we were certainly very glad to reach the cabins on a couple of particular occasions which are still very clear in my mind.
Regarding your navigation question: I like to know where I am at all times. If you don’t know where you are, you are effectively lost and have to re-locate. A key thing to do is look at the map and work out what you expect to see along your route, in what order and at what distance. As you then encounter these things, you tick them off your mental ticklist. And if things don’t transpire as you expect, then you quickly know something has gone awry. You can then correct before mistakes get more difficult to reverse. I break my journey down into sections with ticklists like this. This helps me keep track of where I am. It’s harder, of course in low visibility as there is less to check against and the shape of the land is less distinct in winter anyway as terrain features are smoothed by the covering of snow. I do use compass bearings, then to make sure we are on track. And again, we often break things down into legs.
If I’m struggling to confirm my location, then I’ll pull out my GPS and obtain an accurate grid ref. Funnily enough, later on in the section of our route that you refer to was a section along a small lake that I refer to in the paragraphs regarding GPS use in my Norway kit article. I’ve reproduced the relevant passage below for ease of reference:
“I believe in strong map and compass work combined with maintaining an awareness of your surroundings. Only a couple of times on the whole trip in 2014, which we filmed for Fjelltur, did we need to use the GPS. One of these occasions was quite amusing to me. I’m good at relating the shape of the land I can see to the contour lines on the map but the map I was using had a 20 metre (20 yard) contour interval. I thought we were towards the end of a lake where it should narrow and we needed to head off up the right bank. The light was flat, visibility low. We were in the cloud and it was snowing intermittently. Everything looked a grey-white colour and we could not make out any contours. All I could make out was a black rock wall about 10 metres (30 feet) away to our left which seemed to be part of a set of cliffs rising up from the edge of the small frozen lake were were on. But the map did not show any cliffs at the location where I thought we were. I strained my eyes and then I could just make out the top of the cliffs. They were maybe 8-10 metres (25-30ft) high. The reason they didn’t show on the map was that they fitted between the contours. So this, the only discernible feature I could make out through 360 degrees around us, didn’t register on the map. Here, a quick judicious use of the GPS quickly told us that we were where I thought we were. We were then able to proceed on a bearing in the direction we needed to head.”
Hope this helps.
Warm regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply my question about navigation. It is very helpful and have taken note of what you have said, partucularly getting a good feel of the landscape before you walk out and taking note of features to tick off of just being aware when walking in terms of where you are in general. Interesting about the cliff face not showing on the contour lines. Glad you got your bearings that day!
I intend to do some more extensive solo walking in Wales this year, and will make sure I practice these location/navigation skills.
My best wishes,
Vee
Hi Vee,
You’re very welcome!
Navigation practice is always time well spent.
Warm regards,
Paul
I don’t know how you do it, but you always seem to be that one step ahead of me with your adventures. I plan a trip to Canada canoeing – you run a course. Last year I started to learn how to cross country ski – you do the trip I’d love to do. Not sure if I’m going to be able to progress with the skiing this year as dogged with new injuries. But your video really inspires me to what I could be achieving in a few years time.
My navigation will need a lot of improving first too.
Maybe I’m sending you subliminal messages Jack. Or maybe the other way around… you’re sending me subliminal messages about what you want to do and then I go do it? Or have I just been watching too many strange sci-fi shows recently? 🙂
I’ve been ski-touring in Norway since 2006 so, probably neither of the above is true. I’ve posted a few photos on Facebook in the past but never written anything about my experiences there. I thought I should do something about that and get some material up here on my blog in the hope that it would help others with their own winter adventures.
It sounds as though this will be helpful to you at least 🙂
Where have you been learning to x-country ski?
Navigation is certainly a key skill for the winter mountain environment. And it’s not easy when the weather craps out.
Warm regards,
Paul
Lol, or we both share similar interests.
I’ve been going to San Cassiano in the Italian Dolomites for a few years now skiing. We did go to Serbia once, now that was an eye opener. Did some snow shoeing a few years back and loved it. Walked through the trenches from WW1 and had a day to myself tracking some wolves, inadvertently (but thats a story for over a brew). Been trying to convince the group I go with to try it for some time. finally managed last year, but think I will be on my own doing it this year, that’s if am ankle will let me. Managed a year of training and 4 mud runs including Tough Mudder without an injury. But go for one post event warm down run at the end of the season with the group and end up with a severe sprain to the ankle. Been out of action since the beginning of November.
That’s tough luck Jack. I had something similar happen back in 2011 when I badly sprained my ankle. I was setting up camp for a course. I’d thrown a rope over a branch to hoist up the parachute and the end of the rope was just out of reach. So, I jumped up to grab hold of it and when I came down, I landed on a small, exposed tree root and cockled my ankle. There was a nasty crunch and I went down lack the proverbial sack of ****
Of all the stupid things to do and benign places to hurt myself so badly!
That was one of the factors that contributed to me not skiing for a few years. It took me a good couple of years to get the stability back.
So, I do really sympathise Jack!
I found hiking really helped tighten it up again but only once it had started to improve on it’s own. I’d exacerbated it a few times by turning it over again (the worst one was a small pothole on a poorly lit residential street).
Those wobbly rubber cushions that are designed to improve your stabilisation are good too.
Warm regards,
Paul
Funnily a night in the woods followed by a day clearing the woodland helped. I’ve got a wobble board that I use , that helps too.
If you ever find yourself with time on your hands West Sussex/Surrey way and fancy a brew (or pint) drop me a line
Hi Paul,
As far as logistics go on your trip, you flew in to Norway and took a bus to The Sedtestdal valley. Were there any baggage limitations on all the kit you brought on the plane or on the bus? Was there an extra fee for kit and skis? If so was it expensive? and did you have to pre book extra baggage before the flight. Just curious, as a diver I found it expensive at times taking kit on flights and wanted to know how you faired on your trip to Norway.
Cyril
Hi Cyril,
Yes, we flew to Kristiansand. The buses run up and down the valley.
I keep my skis, poles, boots and some other basic kit in Norway.
My friends hired their kit locally from my friend Brian who has an business there, providing outdoor training, tours and accommodation:
http://www.destination.setesdalnett.com/
With my trips, I often have to pay for extra baggage, particularly if I am responsible for taking group kit (as I usually am with client trips).
It’s not normally overly expensive, maybe £25 – £50 each way depending on how far (I’m including Canada in this range too).
Taking skis on planes in not normally overly expensive as lots of people do it every year with skiing holidays so the pricing is competitive. Canoe paddles on the other hand are a different story…
The main thing I will say Cyril is that if you do not have experience in cross country skiing, learn the basic technique first and do some lowland skiing. And if you head into the mountains, make sure your winter navigation is very good.
It’s a great adventure to travel there in winter but there are serious consequences if you get it wrong.
If you need further advice or contacts, get in touch.
Warm regards,
Paul
Thanks for that Paul, sounds quite reasonable all things considered, I was beginning to wonder did you hire skis, but even so its not too expensive to take your own.
I have the navigation down even in winter, but have little cross skiing experience, after watching what can happen a boot its time for cross lessons before I try that one. I have a few mates in Norway I used to live with in Spain a few years back … So I will give them a call and see what they think … Could be a future adventure a year or so from now.
Quite a task navigating without many landmarks. Especially in white out, definately nice to have GPS confirmation of your location from time to time and hitting the hut spot on aint easy either especially when it’s half burried … Great video and truly inspiring.
Cyril
Hi, Paul,
A great film of what was obviously a great adventure – thank you very much for sharing it. It has reinvigorated my determination to get out to Norway and do something similar in the coming year. I think I might have to sign up for a Frontier Bushcraft bonanza, assuming you run trips like this…
Inspirational! Many thanks again.
Richard
Hi Richard,
It’s very good to hear from you – it’s been quite a while. I hope you are well and getting out and about regularly.
We don’t run trips like this but you should speak to my friend Brian at Destination Setesdal.
http://www.destination.setesdalnett.com/.
All the best,
Paul
Brilliant, Paul, thank you very much. I will get in touch with him soonest.
Things are plodding along. Last year, I didn’t get out nearly as much as I wanted – it was a bit of a come-down after three weeks in Greenland the previous year. So, 2015 will become ‘Year of the Outdoors’ for me; it is, after all, where I’m happiest!
Very best,
Richard
Great stuff Richard. Here’s to a year of adventures!
Warm regards,
Paul
Absolutely awesome trip. I am going across Hardangervidda this winter so lots of interest from me to see how you did…
Wonderful!
Best regards!
Susanne
Hi Susanne,
It’s good to hear from you. I’m glad you enjoyed this.
When are you crossing the vidda? Finse to Haukeliseter?
Warm regards,
Paul
Really enjoyed watching Paul. I don’t think I’ll ever get to do a trip like this. Or even a canoe trip to the bloodvein. Can’t ski, never canoed!…But never thought I would feel the way you describe at the end of your trips, after sleeping in my first leaf litter shelter after preparing rabbit and eating it in the wilds of Sussex..sounds like it doesn’t compare?. I would like to say you and your team have given me skills, knowledge and most of all confidence and inspiration. Cheers guys. Immersed myself in this brilliant film and it was even better for me to see you and Henry out there alone just doing your thing. Thanks for being brilliant Paul and for another inspirational share. Best wishes guys 😉
This was an absolutely epic video, by far one of the best i’ve seen to date. Full props to you guys for not only completing this journey but also for video documenting it, not easy by any stretch so a sincere thank you for taking the time to record, edit and share this Paul. One major thing im working on this year is my fitness as being honest it is poor at the moment, and this video highlighted why me working on my fitness levels is so important. You have genuinely inspired me with this video as this is something im wanting to do, if im realistic though I dont think it will be for at least a year as I have my fitness and skill sets (skiing, etc) to work on. A sincere thanks once again for sharing this video Paul ~Peace~
Hey Zed,
Thanks for your comments and feedback. You’re very welcome. I’m glad you managed to watch the film and you found it inspirational. Let’s hope you get to undertake some of your own ski adventures in due course.
Time spent on fitness is always well spent. A combination of good cardio vascular fitness and strength is a valuable assets outdoors.
Take care,
Paul
Completely enthralling video.
Thanks Andrew.
Hei Paul,
What an amazing film – you really captured the mood of such a journey! And despite the harsh conditions you and your friends kept on smiling, and this is how it should be!
Congratulations and all the best for your future trips in my new home-country!
Take care,
Michael
Hei Michael,
Thanks for your comments. Yes, it’s always good to keep smiling 🙂
Norway is a great country for outdoor life. I hope you enjoy it very much.
Where did you move from?
Warm regards,
Paul
Hei Paul,
Thanks for your reply!
I try to enjoy it as much as possible, but of course not as often as I would like to. But I guess that’s just how it is. At least there are a lot of possibilities to get out and do something in nature, and that’s just great!
I’m actually from the southern part of Bavaria (Germany), so I’m used to an alpine environment with lots of snow (at least we had that when I was a child…). Therefore I did quite some alpine skiing, but as you, I didn’t really like it.
I have a Norwegian girlfriend and her family has an old alpine cabin in Trollheimen where we spend our Easter and summer holidays. To be allowed to join her on these trips I had to buy my first pair of “fjellski” (lit. mountain skies) because you wouldn’t come very far in your snow boots when the snowmobile strikes.
The biggest difference between the Alps and Norwegian mountains are that there are no people in the latter! You can go hiking for days and days here and you don’t meet another soul – I think that’s just great, it’s real freedom! At the beginning it was a bit scary, but now I love it!!
All the best to you, and I’m looking forward to see and hear more of what you are doing!
Take care,
Michael
Thank you, we enjoyed that. I am a reasonably seasoned alpine tourer but have started getting into nordic skiing with the family in recent years. Our 8 year old will now happily clock 15 km days in the leups given good weather and ‘fuel’. Next challenge is to shift from classic skis to nordic mountain skis and get one or two easy overnight hut stops under our belts. Difficult finding any instructors who can help children make that transition to nordic ‘off-piste”.
Hi Paul,
Thanks for an enjoyable video. I love how you were able to benefit from the Hytte system there, and all run on goodwill and trust. That was some feat building the snow “palace”, but I could clearly see the benefit when you panned outside. With both of you in there it must have been quite a feeling, knowing that you were working with mother nature, to cope with the blizzards she was throwing.
Condolences on your loss, however the film you managed to make,despite losing the Go-Pro footage, is a credit to your perseverance and generosity.
All the best, Dave.
Hi Paul,
I was listening to a recent podcast in the car last night when you talked about this film, so having a bit of time to myself tonight, settled down to watch it. I really enjoyed it and could see myself enjoying doing doing something similar sometime. I was wondering if you have thought of leading a small group on a trip sometime – I’d sign up tonight if you did!
Please keep me posted.
ATB
Mark
Fantastic trek! I dream of adventures in Scandinavia still, that was a very enjoyable film, and possibly a bad influence as well!
Bugger… something else for the bucket list! Getting longer since I’ve started browsing this bloody website!
hahaha. Glad to provide some inspiration… 🙂
Best,
Paul
Great looking trip. Reminds me of much more modest ski tours I did too many years ago in the NW USA except there were no huts or nearby villages. I like your approach better! Keep the adventures rolling.
Hi Tom, thanks for your comments. I’m glad this brought back some memories of your adventures. I’m also glad you found it useful to have an insight to my approach. Keep the adventures rolling – indeed, same to you my friend.
Warm regards,
Paul
What time of the year was your trip? I’m from Australia and plaig a ski touring trip to Norway in Feb or March 2024 – Just interested in trying to work out what weather conditios to expect.
What time of the year was your trip? I’m from Australia and planning a ski touring trip to Norway in Feb or March 2024 – Just interested in trying to work out what weather conditions to expect.
It would be great if you could upload this to YouTube. Due to the nature of the video and it’s length, I would much rather watch it on my TV but there is no way to watch vimeo on my TV. I think this sort of video definitely deserves a big screen.