Skarvheimen Nordic Ski Tour

Overview

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Hut-to-hut skiing through the Skarvheimen mountains north of Finse

Introduction

Now you've been on several winter trips already, and simply love being in stunning high mountain scenery. Skarvheimen, an area located to the north of Finse in between the Hardangervidda and Jotunheimen mountains, is on the watershed of the central spine of mountains running through Norway - dropping down to the fjord coastline to the west, and towards Oslo to the east. We'll be skiing the 60km journey off-track and above the tree-line the whole route.

This trip is ideally suited to those who like to 'travel light', are keen to learn more about skiing with a lightweight pulk, using skis with half skins?and are happy to 'overnight indoors' in a wide variety of mountain cabins and lodges with good wholesome food. It is suitable for those who have never done a ski hut tour before - skiing from one location to another each night.

Start pointint: Oslo, Norway
Grade: 3B

Experience Required

The trip requires some previous experience of cross country skiing, although you don't need to be proficient in these skills. You need to have a reasonable fitness level (for example, a regular hillwalker able to carry a day rucksack for approx 5 - 6 hours on several consecutive days). The fitter you are, the more you will get out of this course. You do not have to have experience of skiing with a pulk.

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Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Norway on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• International flights from London to Oslo (unless joining ‘Land Only’)
• Return train ticket from Oslo Gardermoen Airport - Geilo
• Bespoke bus transfers: Geilo - Aurlandsdalen, and finish point back to Geilo
• 6 nights in accommodation as detailed in the day-to-day itinerary
• All meals from evening meal on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7
• Loan of mountain skis, boots, ski poles
• All leader costs (1 guide per 6 team members)
• All communal equipment, e.g. sledges, shovels, emergency communications and medical kit
• Jagged Globe kit bag

What the price does not include

• Personal clothing and sleeping mat (an equipment and clothing list will be sent to you on receipt of your booking deposit)
• Excess baggage charges
• Bar bills and laundry
• Travel insurance
• Optional trips
• Tips
• Single and 2-3 bed room supplement, subject to availability

Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1:	Travel to course base in Norway Fly to Norway. Arrival in Norway at Oslo Gardermoen airport. Train transfer into the mountains (approx 4 hours) to the log cabin in Geilo, where we overnight the first and last nights in 2-3 bed rooms with shared facilities. Three out of the six nights' accommodation on this trip are on a self-catering basis - all food is included from arrival at the Geilo cabin, and we all help with food preparation and clearing away (except Days 2, 3 and 5). Evening: dinner and itinerary briefing.
Day 2:	After breakfast, we put into storage anything we're not taking with us 'on tour', sort the skis and pack our pulks - then we're on our way! Bespoke bus journey is approximately 1 hour to our starting point at the top of Aurlandsdalen. Today will be mostly about refreshing ski skills on the 5km journey to the fully-catered DNT Geiterygghytta. Accommodation in mixed 4-6 bed bunk rooms. Evening: information about the Norwegian hytte system, and other places where you can stay in the mountains.
Day 3:	Today we take a day ski tour, ascending across the undulating mountain scenery and Kyrkje-lake towards Kyrkjedoren (church door) - a narrow high mountain pass, which leads to Finse and the Hardangervidda to the south. How far we go depends on the weather and our ski skills - we'll practice our downhill ski technique and learn about winter navigation as we go (approx 12km 5-6 hours). Overnight DNT Geiterygghytta in mixed 4-6 bed bunk rooms.
Day 4:	Today we will ski 12km (approx 5-6 hours) to Kongshelleren hytte - a small self-catering basic cabin, where we work together in the small space with whoever else is staying the night - that's the way it works in the mountain hyttes. Accommodation in mixed 4-6 bed bunk rooms.
Day 5:	The fully-catered DNT hytte at Iungsdalshytta is our goal for tonight. 14km (5-6 hours) of skiing over high open mountainside, before descending to the hytte at the end of the lake. Accommodation in mixed 4-6 bed bunk rooms.
Day 6:	Our final day on skis,we will cover approx 13km (4-5 hours) to the Storestolen road for our bespoke bus pickup, which takes us back to the Geilo cabin. Sort all of the equipment, take a well-earned shower, and celebrate our achievements over our final dinner. Evening: 'What's next'? regarding future trips and expeditions.
Day 7:	Travel home Morning transfer by train back to Oslo, for onward journey to Oslo Gardermoen airport. (Please note, you make this journey back to the airport with other participants from the course unaccompanied by the guide, who remains at the cabin at the end of the course).

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