Quarantine Camping
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28-29/03/20
Local ski-camping in the time of corona.
Having spent two weeks in quarantine (as we had been travelling abroad just as the CoVid-19 restrictions came down in Norway), we were eager to take advantage of the local guidelines that encouraged activities in the local area. We were lucky to have good snow conditions just outside of town - but we had a challenge: there was about 6 km, and 300 m climb between our flat and ski-able snow. Without being allowed on public transport, and not owning a car, we realised that the only way to get there quickly was going to be on bikes. That meant packing in backpacks rather than the pulk, and strapping skis to our bags for the cycle up to the snow.
Having cycled to the edge of the woods, we discovered that there was still not quite enough snow to ski on, so hiked the first couple of km with skis on our back, until we had managed to gain enough altitude to find a more consistent layer of snow. While the snow conditions were not great for the first few km of skiing, we were relishing being able to be out and enjoying the nature and exercise, aware that many across the world were locked indoors. We did slightly question why we had skis on, as others around us were mostly walking or jogging along the same trails, however we were having fun. As we climbed, the snow conditions improved, and we started to feel that we did have the correct tools on our feet.
Just past Tømmerdalen we left the ski trail that we had been following to take the back-country route round the north of Herbernsheia and then up Stadsheia. For this we switched to short skins, having been using wax on the more compacted snow earlier. The ski round to Herbernsdammen was very nice in the more open areas, but there were some more narrow sections, where the spring melt and open streams meant that snow shoes might have been a more effective mode of transport. Overall though the ski was very nice, with great views. In the ski up from Herbernsdammen to the saddle between Stadsheia and Herbernsheia was very steep, forested and with knee to thigh deep powdery snow. After struggling and floundering for a while, I realised it was foolish not to swap to my full-length skins - unfortunately Amy did not have any, and was struggling more. In an attempt to give her the grip she needed we put my short skins (which are a little longer), and I tried a trick I had heard of when staying in a hytta on a previous trip - wrapping the glide areas of the skis in sports tape, and taping on some twigs for even more grip. I managed to get sports tape on both skis, but ran out of tape after taping twigs onto only one ski.
With the added grip from the sport-tape hack, Amy was suddenly able to push ahead at good speed, no more herring-boning required. While I finished off putting my long-skins on, Amy pushed ahead and ploughed great tracks for me to follow - the effect of the sports tape was transformative. On the flat and downhill it would have been hopeless, but during the steep ascent we had not use for glide anyway.
We were planning to meet another couple atop Stadsheia, where we planned to camp, but as we reached the saddle, we received a text from them to say that the wind on top was to high for them to be able to camp there. Given we had a great view, and were in relative shelter, I suggested we met on the shoulder and camped there. I used my InReach to send them our exact location (much faster than describing the location by text on my phone with a T9 keyboard!), and they skied down to meet us.
We set up our tents, and built a wind shelter in the snow, where we planned to have a bonfire and spend the evening. We had carried many logs of firewood each in our backpacks (never again!) so were able to enjoy a bonfire late into the evening, and Kj and Ka even used it to cook their food (we opted for pasta and a cheese and leak sauce cooked on my primus). Having been confined to our flat for the last few weeks, it was wonderful to be able to spend a night with our friends - even if we were sitting slightly more distantly than normal.
We awoke to low grey cloud, wind and snow. Last time we used my new tent (Hilleberg Saivo) in wind and snow, the porches had filled with snow. This time I had piled snow along all the edges of the tent when pitching it, and I was very pleased to find that the porches were snow free, despite a lot of snow having piled up on the outside of the tent. I was very relieved, as this was my main concern after the initial test of the new tent. I was very happy with the performance of the tent again on this trip - though the porch is a little less roomy than on my old Vango Vortex 3000.
We gathered in the snow shelter for breakfast, but while Kj and Ka chose to pack up tent and head home, Amy and I were enjoying being out of our flat, and decided to hang out in the tent, and enjoy being outside. We hoped that the weather might improve, and were in no great rush to return to the confines of our flat, so stayed at camp until we had eaten our lunch. A lot of fresh snow had fallen over night, and I very much enjoyed pushing through the snow, down to the prepared ski trails, as the weather gradually lifted. When we got to the trail which had been freshly prepared the day before, they were covered in deep snow - something that I was actually very happy about - as (when I have my fjellski on) I very much enjoy pushing a tracks through fresh powdery snow. As we descended, the weather continued to improve to a lovely sunny day, and warmed up significantly. The new snow over night had also fallen at lower altitudes, and were able to ski all the way to the bikes.
We had a great weekend - and it was such a relief to be able to be out of the quarantine of our flat and into nature again.