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Nordic Tours 2:
Hardanger Crossing: an inspiring traverse through a wild, sub-Arctic landscape
Skarvheimen Traverse: relaxed Nordic touring for 'intermediates'
Snohetta and Dovrefjell: hut-to-hut and day tours for adventurous skiers.
Trollheimen Triangular: a dramatic and engaging tour in a little-known area
The King's Trail: a husky supported tour through the mountains for Arctic Sweden.
See Nordic Tours 1 for more Nordic skiing holidays and tours:
Rondane Hut-to-Hut, Taivalkoski Husky Tour, Hardanger: Vidda Venture, Jotunheim: The North-West Passage, Skei and Espedalen
 NORWAY – Hardanger Crossing (HC) |
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Nordic Ski Touring: A traverse of the vast open spaces of the Hardangervidda plateau.
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE +
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A Nordic ski tour for those who have previous hut-to-hut experience and are looking for a longer, more challenging journey. |
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From Finse we link lodges all the way South to the road at Haukeliseter, skiing past the Hardanger Icecap, then across the rolling terrain of the central ‘vidda’ and finally across frozen lakes and through craggy hills, with a night at the wonderfully remote Hellevassbu on the way. |
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Daily distances 12–26 kms; daily ascents typically 2–300 m. Technically straightforward skiing but there are no rest days and the last two days are following an unmarked trail. |
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Accommodation in staffed DNT or privately-run mountain lodges – warm, comfortable, hot showers, convivial company; great environments for 'mellowing out' after a few hours skiing! Two nights will be at 'self-service' huts. |
TWO WEEK COMBINATION:
For a rarely done ‘super-tour’, start with the ‘Skarvheimen Traverse’ the week prior – a superb and very rewarding journey! |
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Crags, valley and lakes typical of the last two days of the tour.
Photo: John Eames
1st day out from Finse, Hardanger Icecap beyond.
Photo: Tom Higgs |
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COSTS INCLUDE:
7 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) on multi share basis, rail travel Oslo city – Finse, bus transfer from end of tour to Oslo, DNT membership, all coaching/leadership.
Flights from UK and airport – Oslo transfers not included.
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DATES & COSTS
05/04/08 – 12/04/08 £830
Cost with 'Skarvheimen Traverse':
30/03/08 – 12/04/08 £1425
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| NORWAY – Skarvheimen Traverse |
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Nordic Ski Touring: a delightful hut-to-hut tour for those enjoying a relaxed pace and not too long days!
LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY/INTERMEDIATE
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With appropriate ability, perfect as a first hut-to-hut tour or for those preferring a mellow and relaxed Nordic experience! The reappearance of our popular classic! |
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Starting from Breistolen we link staffed and unstaffed lodges over plateaux, through wide valleys, past steep, rocky hills and over ice-covered lakes, to finish at Finse. |
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Each day – except the last! – there is plenty of time to relax at the lodge or ski up a local peak for the view and practice a few turns. |
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We plan 5 days of Nordic hut-to-hut touring with 1 day based at a staffed lodge for local exploration and/or peak options … or for resting! Typical daily distances 12 – 16kms, 20kms on the last day. |
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We use DNT or privately-run lodges, either ‘staffed’ (five nights) or 'self-service' (two nights). Warm, very hospitable and comfortable places to ‘chill out’ after a day’s touring – and savour the remoteness and quietness of where you are! |
TWO WEEK COMBINATION:
This tour can be very easily linked to the ‘Hardanger Crossing’ to give a fantastic journey over 2 weeks. A rare chance to do such a continuous and rewarding ski traverse across a fair chunk of Norway!
GRADE: INTERMEDIATE+ |
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Arriving at Finse at the end of the tour.
Photo: Gerry Gosling
Day 4 climbing up from Lungsdalen.
Photo: Stefan Janik/Lisa King |
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COSTS INCLUDE:
7 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) on multi share basis, bus Oslo city – tour start, rail travel Finse – Oslo city, DNT membership, all coaching/leadership. Flights from UK and airport – Oslo transfers not included.
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DATES & COSTS
30/03/08 – 06/04/08 £795
Cost with 'Hardanger Crossing':
30/03/08 – 12/04/08 £1425
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| NORWAY – Snohetta and Dovrefjell |
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Nordic Ski Touring: boldly going where few have been before!
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
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A great chance to tour in a very rarely visited area and do one of Norway’s more well-known & very shapely peaks - and yet just a train ride from the airport! |
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Herds of Musk Ox are often seen in the National Park area of Dovrefjell. |
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The route links 3 self-service lodges for ‘hut-to-hut’ touring with 2 days for peak options/day tours. The ascent of Snohetta (2286m) is the main objective! On the last day there is the chance to go piste or track skiing at Oppdal. |
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All the DNT lodges in this area are 'self-service'. The first and last nights are in hotels. |
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The tour is suitable for those who are familiar with travel in mountainous terrain & who are reasonably self-sufficient when it comes to longer days, variable snows and the vagaries of weather. |
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Longest touring days 24 kms, typical daily ascent 400 m, 900 for the ascent of Snohetta – this will vary with peak options on day tours. |
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Touring amongst the mountains of the Snohetta range – and having it all to yourselves!
Photos: Stefan Janik/Lisa King |
COSTS INCLUDE:
7 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) all on twin/multi share basis, rail and bus travel between Oslo Gardermoen Airport and the touring area, DNT membership, all coaching/leadership. Flights from UK not included. |
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DATES & COSTS
23/03/08 – 30/03/08 £745
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| NORWAY – Trollheimen Triangular |
Nordic Ski Touring: dramatic and engaging mountain touring in the 'Home of the Trolls'.
LEVEL: ADVANCED +
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For those looking for a more challenging hut-to-hut experience in a wonderful and 'special' corner of Norway. |
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These mountains are not as high as the Jotunheim but are just as shapely with some very dramatic 'corries', ridges and deep valleys. |
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The route is 'triangular' with one day a very spectacular crossing over the main range. 2 (optional) peak ascent days, including the impressively shaped (strangely named) Snota. |
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5 hut-to-hut days and 2 day tour or peak ascent days, staying at DNT self-service lodges. |
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For touring days expect distances of 22–23 kms with approx 3–400 m of ascent each day (biggest single day of 900 m). Approx. 1100 m ascent on optional peak days. |
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High and wild! Day tour to the peaks.
Photo: Tom Higgs |
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COSTS INCLUDE:
6 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) and 2 nights half board in hotel, all on twin/multi share basis, train and bus travel to/from the touring area, DNT membership, all coaching/leadership. Flights from UK not included. |
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DATES & COSTS
30/03/08 – 06/04/08 £840
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| SWEDEN – 'The King’s Trail' |
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Nordic Ski Touring: by ski through the highest mountains of Sweden – with the company and support of huskies!
LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY/INTERMEDIATE
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A chance to ski with huskies and sledges through the grandeur of the 2000 m plus Kebnekaise mountains, well North of the Arctic Circle. |
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Revel in these dramatic mountains, enjoy the camaraderie of remote lodges, savour travel with huskies and the essence of the Arctic. In addition, the Northern Lights are a likely bonus! |
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The route is ‘point-to-point’, from the railway at Abisko to the roadhead south of Kebnekaise; Typical touring days are 12–20 kms with the longest at 25 kms; climbs are relatively small and gentle … and the huskies will help! |
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Six nights staying in staffed lodges and one night ‘self-service’; main loads carried by sledge; saunas often possible; Northern hospitality guaranteed! |
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COSTS INCLUDE:
7 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) all on twin/multi share basis, bus travel to/from the touring area ex Kiruna airport, 1 husky and pulk for 2 persons, all coaching/leadership. Flights from UK not included.
DATES & COSTS
06/04/08 – 13/04/08 £825
Main pic: Dramatic scenery to enjoy – and technically straightforward skiing!
Left inset: The lodge below Kebnekaise.
Right inset:
The view as we leave the mountains.
All photos: Barbara Willen |
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