About the course
To travel through an ever-changing winter landscape is a majestic experience. Its always changing moment by moment.
Winter time in Norway is special, the landscape is can often be a brutal cold beauty and then suddenly as the weather changes a dynamic swirling majesty!
In recent years there has been a shift from what has been knick-named “Instagram steep” to a more realistic approach to ski touring and matching the skiers, their abilities and terrain to match for the safest and most enjoyable experience, rather than following other people ideals. There are loads of mountains in Norway, and often when the weather is poor you can enjoy lower level tree skiing at angles that even the most modest skiers feel they can master and enjoy.
Our ski touring courses follow in two forms, pure ski-touring and ski touring with winter skills.
In essence, the ski-touring with winter skills involves learning essential skills to make your tour enjoyable and safe. We hear a lot about avalanches these days and with careful planning, knowledge and having a sense for winter we can reduce the chance of being taken by an avalanche markedly.
The course will focus heavily on what is called “the human factor” and “self-reflection” both these area are turning out to be vital in avoiding being caught in an avalanche.
The main focus is on gaining knowledge and learning, therefore, the tours are not technical or demanding and will suit all abilities of ski competence.
We keep our groups small with the focus on good communication and learning environment.
Course objectives:
- Having a sense of snow
- Basic understanding of Avalanches
- Decision making and risk management in avalanche terrain
- Give instruction and exercises that are practical and useful for group travel within avalanche terrain
- Buddy rescue
- Ski touring discipline, skiing up and skiing down
- Human factors – group dynamics
- Navigation
- What to wear and what to carry
- Equipment and how to use it
- How to use a rope for crossing glaciers and buddy rescue
- Howe to use a rope to aid going up and going down
- Using crampons and axes in steep terrain
Combine it with other courses
This course can be combined with ski-touring and winter skills to make a package.
Accommodation
Accommodation is available on our farm from 250 NOK per person per night. Find it out more here.
Flights, train and getting there
From the Airport, you can take the “
flytoget” which is an express train to Oslo central station. From there it is a short walk from the bus station. You can take the
Valdres Express bus From Oslo central to Fagernes Skysstasjon which is about 20min from my house. The bus is comfortable, has free wifi and takes about 3 hours. I like taking the bus to Oslo as I can look out the window and see all the waterfalls and dream about ice climbing 🙂
Nearly all participants on previous courses have travelled by the above method, and they have described it as straightforward and easy.
Equipment hire
If you need to rent equipment, that is no problem, just let us know in advance. You will receive a list of required items upon booking.
