Finse Circular

Type of skiing - Nordic Touring

Day tours, coaching sessions or multi-day tours using cambered, metal-edged skis and leather or soft plastic touring boots. Waxes are usually used and skins only for bigger climbs. Terrain is gentle to moderate, depending on the week. Skiing is usually on way-marked routes but sometimes through untracked snow. Only the easiest tours have machine-prepared trails.

Level

Skiers with previous Nordic skiing experience, able to travel over undulating terrain and to ski down moderate slopes at the most, in a variety of snow conditions. A confident snowplough and the ability to traverse are the minimum downhill technique requirements. Some tours are in more remote areas, usually on un-tracked snow and with some long days. An appropriate degree of self sufficiency and stamina will be expected. On this trip we will need to be flexible in our planning with respect to weather and snow conditions.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

From Finse travels north-west through the Hallingskarvet mountains via the dramatic Kyrkjedori or ‘Church Door’ and down in to the wild terrain of frozen lakes and craggy hills to the north of the hills. Plenty of downhill leads into a deep valley and mountain hotel for the first night.

Day 2

Starts with a long climb to a dramatic pass and extensive views to the south and finishes with an exciting – and rewarding! - long downhill to our roadside hotel.

Day 3

After 2 quite demanding days, Day 3 comes as a bit of a respite, just 12kms up onto the Hardangervidda to a charming lakeside lodge; the afternoon can be used for local skiing or some skills coaching – or resting!

Day 4

Although not a long day again, is marked by a strong feeling of heading off into a real wilderness, leaving the luxuries of the staffed lodges behind and enjoying empty rolling landscapes with views beyond to the snowy dome and glaciers of the Hardanger icecap. We overnight at a ‘self-service’ lodge, a bit more spartan than the previous nights’ accommodation but everybody really enjoys the sense of being somewhere very remote, but very warm and comfortable!

Day 5

Is the biggest day of the tour, travelling northwards over frozen lakes, followed a climb to cross the watershed by a narrow defile through the hills. Deeply crevassed glaciers showing the deep blue of the ice coming of the icecap are very close now as the terrain flattens off and a big panorama is revealed to the north. From the watershed some long downhills lead to Finse! After the harder work of the morning now time to point the skis straight, tuck low and let the skis run down some long - but not too steep! – slopes that run out onto the frozen lake right below the lodge at Finse – for hot showers and beer!

Day 6

Is a bit of a buffer day; depending on weather and snow conditions we might need that day during the tour or we could use the day right at the start for a ‘warm up’. As a spare day at the end we will be able to do the classic circular day tour up onto the Hardanger icecap (approx 1850m a.s.l.) with its superb 600m descent - there are easier or steeper ways down so all abilities are catered for! A superb and very fitting ‘finale’ to the week.

Further Information

This programme is intended as a guide and many other options exist. We have to consider weather, snow conditions and the abilities & ambitions of all group members. Flexibility is essential when considering the safety & enjoyment of a group in the mountains & all participants should be aware that ski-touring is more serious & committing than skiing based at a resort. The final decision remains with the group leader, for the safety and enjoyment of all.

Leadership

The tour leader will be British Association of Ski Instructors Nordic qualified and also have the appropriate experience/qualification for winter leadership in remote areas. Coaching will be given, as necessary, to improve your technique and competence while touring but you should already have the level of experience described above. More intensive instruction in downhill and touring techniques, leading to even greater improvements, is available on our instructional trips.

Accommodation

This will be in Den Norske Turistforening 'hytta' for all 7 nights or private lodges or mountain hotels of at least a similar standard. The 'hut' at Finse is about ½ mile from the station and approached on foot or ski. 'Hut' is a bit of a misnomer as the Finsehytte is more like a hotel with shared 4-6 bedded rooms (twin rooms are available, at staffed lodges only, for a supplement). All meals (excellent in quantity and quality!) are provided and you make up your packed lunch from the breakfast buffet. There are hot showers (10 kroner), drying rooms, a shop and bar. We will also be using a 'self-service' lodge for 1 night; these are excellent timber-built buildings set in remote surroundings, with bunk rooms, fully-equipped kitchens, wood-burning stoves, a stockpile of wood (ready for chopping!), chemical toilets and food in store. As a group, we will share the tasks of wood-chopping, water collection, cooking, clearing up, etc. If required, we can arrange reasonably priced accommodation in Oslo at the start or end of the trip.

What to bring

A full equipment list will be sent to you on booking. Generally, outdoor clothing, metal-edged Nordic touring skis, 75mm bindings, 75mm norm leather touring boots (with vibram soles), touring poles and climbing skins are needed. It is not possible to hire equipment in Norway for this trip. We can advise you about equipment hire in the UK. If you wish to hire skins (£25 for the tour), please indicate on the trip booking form. Maps can be bought for the area, if you wish to buy one we will send you details with the full itinerary.

Full Package & Travel Arrangements

• The Full Package includes rail travel in Norway, 7 nights full-board accommodation as described below, instruction & leadership, DNT annual membership.
• If you have your own DNT membership, save £60 on the tour cost on production of a photocopy of your membership card at time of booking.
• Airport to/from Oslo Central railway station transfer is not included. Details for this will be included with your joining information.

Flights

• Flights need to be arranged via the internet or with ‘cheap flights’ companies or a travel agent. Visit www.travelsupermarket.com or www.ryanair.com (Oslo Torp or Oslo Rygge) for options.
• Check the airlines for skis-on-flight charges and extra time needed for ski checking-in procedures!
• Flights can be to either Bergen or Oslo Gardermoen. Arrival times should be approx. 2hrs. before train departure time (on the 14th) and return flight departure time should be approx. 2 hrs. after train arrival time in Bergen or Oslo on your return date.
• Train departures on 14/04/12: from Bergen: 15:58 from Oslo: 16:07
• Train arrivals on 21/04/12: in Bergen: 14:22 in Oslo: 14:32
• Please confirm these train times before booking your flight.
• Flights should not be booked until this trip is guaranteed to run
• Please let us know your flight details once you have booked.
• N.B. If you choose to fly to Oslo Torp or Oslo Rygge with Ryanair please allow more time either way between Olso city centre and these airports. Transfer details via the Ryanair website.
• We will book your train tickets and seat reservations for return travel between Oslo and Finse.
• All travel details will be included with your joining information.
• Travel via Bergen SAVE £60 off tour cost.

Exchange and Finance

There are exchange facilities in Oslo Airport but it would be best to obtain Norwegian Kroner prior to your departure from the UK, to save time and for convenience once we are on tour away from banks! Not a great deal of extra money is required but allow for the following: personal expenditure on drinks, postcards, trolls, etc. 6 nights are at staffed lodges/mountain hotels with shop & bar – also showers at 10kr. Airport transfers to Oslo centre - allow £12 each way (trains every 20 minutes/ takes 22 minutes).

Insurance

A reminder that you need to arrange this independently at the time of booking; holiday insurance with special cover for touring is required. You need to be covered for ski touring and skiing on piste, in-track and on way marked trails. If you need more information, please contact us.

Minimum Numbers

This trip requires a minimum of five clients to book before it can be guaranteed to run. We usually take a maximum of 10 clients for a hut-to-hut tour. If this number is exceeded then two leaders will run the trip rather than just one.

These arrangements and services are provided by The Telemark Ski Company, our partners in Norway.

Geilo & Finse

Geilo & Finse Telemark Skiing

Cross country and Telemark Skiing, Norway

Telemark Ski Lessons - Norway