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Adventure1 Nordic ski touring & skills, based in the Bykle Hotel in Setesdal

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Ages from 14 and up, mixed age groups including families catered for

 

Your course will take place on the typically Nordic skiing terrain of Hovden and Bykle in Setesdal in southern Norway, it has a population of just under 1000 during the low season, but expands to around 4000 in the high seasons. It has over 160kms of Nordic ski trails, which are perfectly groomed during good and marginal weather patterns but there are many trails close to our base that can be utilized during poor weather. There are several mountain huts in the are that you can visit, each with beds, duvets, pillows, some with full size and well equipped kitchens.

 

Once arrived at the Base camp in Bykle, you’ll be given your skis, boots and ski poles, followed by a briefing on what’s to take place during the following week. You’ll also receive a briefing on safety in the winter environment, particularly regarding to the local area. After a hearty meal, we will discuss the equipment and expedition phase, if you’re on that course, and perhaps properly introduce you to your skiing equipment. Over next three days, apart from checking that you have all of the required clothing and personal items, you will learn the basic skiing and emergency techniques necessary to equip you with the skills to negotiate any type of track, but if you’re on the touring course, it will be enough to get you through a two day one night, or a three day two night ski tour to your overnight camp and hut destinations just 12km and 26km respectively, from our lodge accommodation in the Bykle Hotel. 

 

During your learning and build up training, you will learn about:

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  • Snow structure

  • Avalanche awareness and how to avoid an incident

  • Lost or injured person emergency procedure

  • Bad weather procedures for navigation and short term/overnight shelter

  • Crossing streams, rivers and lakes safely

  • Repairing damaged or replacing lost items of equipment

  • Managing a group effectively if on tour

  • Route planning and decision making for yourself and others

  • Skiing skills for both on and off the prepared tracks

  • How to pack a rucksack for both day and multi day tours

Price: £1295 

 

Outline Itinerary:

 

Touring course only:

 

Day 1: Fly to Norway, transfer to Bykle just 3 hours from Kjevik airport near  Kristiansand.

Day 2-3 or 4: Training for the expedition phase as per the Heroes of telemark course including basic skiing techniques in how to negotiate variable terrain, avalanche awareness and practical avalanche rescue and navigation techniques plus how to build a basic emergency shelter out of snow, similar to a 1 or 2 person igloo.

Day 5-6/7: Expedition phase entailing a daily 12-14 km each day, which includes an overnight in a snow hole and a night in a mountain hut complete with beds, duvets and a log stove. Following the end of the expedition there is an evening of viewing photographs and a consolidated video of the week's events and then a hearty dinner and social evening.

Day 8: Return to UK.

 

Skills course only:

 

Day 1: Fly to Norway, transfer to Bykle.

Day 2-7: Daily skills and mountain awareness training as per the above course Possibilities of sleeping in an igloo and or a mountain hut during a mountain ski tour.

Day 8: Return to UK.

 

Notes:

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  • Transfer by coach to Bykle in Setesdal is included.

  • Accommodation in 2 person rooms, shower, toilet. In the mountain hut there is a wood burning stove (wood provided) and self catering kitchen with gas cooker and utensils. There are plenty opportunities to have free tea and coffee in your apartment daily.

  • Typically Norwegian local sourced food consisting of dinner on arrival, smorgasbord breakfast, self made packed lunch and thermos, dinner each day, except for when on expedition in the mountains when you will prepare your own meals will be either in the snow hole or mountain hut. On early departure say, earlier than 0700, you will be given a packed breakfast of sandwich, fruit, biscuit and water. On departures later than 0700 you will be given breakfast and you can prepare a packed lunch. 

  • Skiing equipment, including skis, poles, boots and wax. There will also be emergency equipment such as a rope, satellite telephone, phone recharging packs, pulk (sledge) for emergency equipment, cooking pots, cooking gas, stoves, equipment repair kit, first aid kit and spare ski poles.

  • Lectures each evening on mountain hazards, weather, avalanche awareness and rescue, emergency shelter construction.

  • Maps if required.

  • Skiing instructor/guide for each day, including the expedition.

  • GoAdventure1 achievement certificate, for those seeking Continuous Professional Development accreditation.

  • Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health of climbers can all contribute to changes. The Expedition Leader and our local agent will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy going nature will be an asset!

 

Not included:

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  • Flight to Norway, there is a possibility of group flight prices with name changes. Please contact us for details.

  • Transfers in UK.

  • Any over the counter beverages or food

  • Food for the night in the snow hole or tent, for which dinner, breakfast and lunch is required; you will be given the opportunity to source meals from the local shops.

  • Personal travel and activity insurance  

 

 

Dates for all courses are for your choosing, but normally run from a Friday, Saturday or Sunday for 7 nights from the beginning Of December until the end of April.  

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