Jotunheimen Classic

Packing List - Summer Trekking in Norway

Proper equipment is essential for hiking in the mountains. The weather can be unstable and may change quickly, so it is important to bring warm clothes, raingear as well as shorts. Mountain boots are recommended, and they should be well broken in. Bedding, dishes and cutlery are available at all lodges. A sleeping sack and towel are necessary for all tours. Correct packing requires good planning. Your backpack should not weigh more than 8-10 kilos. We suggest you bring the following clothes and hiking gear during your summer hiking in Norway.

Clothing
wool, part wool or synthetic underwear
wool socks/stockings
wind jacket/anorak or all-weather jacket
mountain trousers
shirt or light sweater of wool or fleece
boots
rucksack

In pack or pockets
rain jacket (if your jacket isn't all-weather)
rain trousers (if your trousers isn't all-weather)
cap/hat
scarf/neckband
gloves/mittens
sweater/jacket, wool or fleece
wool, part wool or synthetic long underwear
shorts
T-shirt
sleeping bag/sleeping liner
first aid kit
indoor footwear
extra underwear (trousers, shirt, socks)
extra indoor trousers (optional)
toiletries
towel
toilet paper
suntan cream
sunglasses
insect repellent
map and compass
map case (with pencil and paper)
knife
headlamp/flashlight
boot waterproofing
lunch packet
thermos or water bottle
emergency rations
money

Total weight: 7 - 12 kg.

For tent camping you also need
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
cook set and fuel
food
cup
plate and cutlery
tent
you can leave out a thermos

Total weight can easily be 15 - 20 kg for tenting

Other useful gear
binoculars
camera
"Til fots i Norge" guidebook
transport schedules
glasses
medicines
tickets
GPS
book(s)
candle
firestarter paper
multi-purpose tool
sitting pad

In forests you can get along with less gear and need not have the quality needed for mountain tours. The same applies to sheltered areas along the coast.

Spring and autumn can have winter weather in the mountains, so extra warm clothing is essential.

Pack light and don't take too much!

Competence
The hikes have different degrees of difficulty and duration. Some areas are wilder and more challenging than others, and it is important that you choose a tour suitable to your physical abilities. You should be able to hike in different types of terrain, from relatively flat and soft to more hilly and rocky, carrying a backpack (weighing 8-12 kg), even in bad weather. We highly recommend that you do a couple of test hikes with the backpack you are going to use on the hike before you leave home.

Climate/vegetation
Norway shares the same latitude as Alaska, Greenland and Siberia, but compared to these areas Norway has a pleasant climate. However the weather in the mountains is quite changeable, so it is important to be prepared for all kind of weather. The temperatures in the mountains can be from around 5-20°C in the summer. Exceptional is frost or more than 20°C. The Norwegian mountain terrain differs from green areas to places with less vegetation. The high mountain passes and peaks are often covered with rocks and the trails are therefore less comfortable than in other mountain areas in Europe. The great variations make the mountains in Norway so fascinating.

Tour leaders
All the tour leaders for the Norwegian Trekking Association are volunteers with extensive mountain experience, and have completed either the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) special course for summer tour leaders or similar training. The tour leaders are highly valued members of the DNT family.

Cabins/meals
The DNT-cabins are known for their cozy and intimate atmosphere and good comfort. Three meals are included each day: Breakfast-buffet, lunch pack with a filling of thermos flask and 3-courses dinner. The first meal is normally dinner at the first lodge. The last day breakfast and lunch pack only. Accommodation will be in rooms with four beds or more.

The lodges are open to everybody, so at busy times you need to be prepared to share rooms with people you do not know. If the cabins are very crowded, it may even be necessary to sleep on mattresses on the floor.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. Please ensure that you have this organised as we will need to see proof of this upon issuing your tour documentation. Please contact us for a quote or visit http://www.suresave.net.au/

The tour leader will meet the group 20 minutes before departure. Time of departure and means of transport are specified for each tour. When departing by train: Meeting point is at Oslo Central Railway Station below the train indicator board at the exit to the platform.

When departing by bus: Meeting point is in the departure hall at the exit to the platform at the Central Bus Terminal, Schweigaardsgate 8-10. Check the monitor for the correct platform.

The Scandinavian Art of 'Hygge’ by Ivy Thompson

The Scandinavian term ‘Hygge’ is a word that’s hard to translate - in short ‘hygge’ means coziness. But it’s so much more. Some define ‘hygge’ as enjoying life’s simple pleasures, or the joy of creating a cozy environment.

As a born and bred Norwegian, my personal definition of hygge is the art of enjoying quality time by yourself or with family and friends. Hygge is as simple as the act of curling up under a blanket with a good book on a rainy Sunday. It’s peeling (and eating!) fresh prawns on a pier during bright summer-evenings by the coast with your relatives. Hygge is just as much the shared laughs, coffee and home baked cinnamon scrolls at your friend’s house.

‘Hygge’ brings back a concept we are losing touch with: to live in, and enjoy, the present. This is a balancing-act that Scandinavians are particularly good at: they value their ‘hygge’. Hygge allows us to take time out and create a setting that encourages either quiet reflection or shared conversation. Both are good for the soul. Could ‘hygge’ be part of the reason why Scandinavian countries keep topping the UN’s world-wide ‘Happiness Report’?

Hygge happens in all our very defined Nordic seasons, but is even more special in the cold, dark winter-months of November through to February. Hygge creates the perfect balance with the sometimes harsh environment outside, and the comfortable feeling of being snug and cosy inside after a day spent in the snow.

In my mind (and experience!), hygge often goes hand in hand with a nice bite to eat. Nordic cuisine is simple, tasty and honours local produce and seasonal availability. Make sure you try waffles with sour cream and fresh strawberries, a variety open top sandwiches or smoked and pickled fish as part of your Scandinavian experience- I have no doubt you’ll find it both enjoyable and ‘hyggelig’!

We can’t talk about hygge without mentioning Christmas- the possibly most ‘hyggelig’ (cosiest) time of year in Scandinavia! This is where the epitome of hygge really shines: Christmas is about family, catching up with friends, celebrating the end of another year, food, festivities, candles, open fires and spending time in the countryside (it's common to own a family cabin in the forest or the mountains).

Take a Hike: The Berries of Scandinavia by Ivy Thompson

Scandinavian summers are magic. With their long, bright days and midnight sun you have the amazing opportunity to experience Nordic nature at it’s best. What would it taste like if you could bottle some of that magic?

To me, the taste of Scandinavian summer is found in the abundant wild, seasonal berries. They ripen throughout early summer till late autumn and are an important part of Nordic cuisine. Best eaten fresh straight off the bush- but also lovely as jams, jellies, cordial, juice, pies and cakes- or my favourite: sprinkled on top of freshly made waffles.

One of the greatest joys of hiking in Nordic forest and bush-land during the summer-months is without doubt the berry-picking. Like most Scandinavians I’ve enjoyed it since I could barely walk. It's a wonderful way of fuelling long hikes whether you’re going at it hard and fast, or slow and leisurely. Here’s everything you need to know about the delicious berries of Scandinavia:

Wild Strawberries
Season: early June till July

Wild strawberries are tiny but incredibly sweet and flavourful. You’ll be lucky if they last till the end of your hike - these are like nature’s own lollies! In Norway we serve them crushed/ stirred as a sugar-free alternative to traditional jam. It’s amazing topped on anything from buttered toast to pancakes and waffles. Another summer dessert-favourite is simply wild strawberries topped with a dash of cream.

Blueberries
Season: Mid-July till August

Unlike the oversized store-bought, pale-fleshed blueberries we get at the supermarket; Scandinavian blueberries are small and deep purple all the way through. Their low-growing bushes cover entire forest floors during summer. Eager locals get in early to fill their buckets with fresh berries, ready to freeze them for later in the year. Wild Nordic blueberries are tart but more flavourful; they taste absolutely amazing topped with cream and a sprinkle of sugar. They’re also beautiful in a pie or a berry-crumble. Wild blueberries pack a serious antioxidant-punch too; eat till your heart's content.

Raspberries
Season: Mid-July till August

It’s not unusual for us to find wild raspberry-bushes next to a bus-stop or on the side of a quiet residential street. It’s always a pleasant surprise; wild raspberries are tasty although slightly less sweet and smaller than their farmed, store-bought relatives. My kids all love them and eat them up on the spot. These are commonly found growing on the edges of forests and fields.

Lingonberries
Season: Late July till September

If you’ve been to IKEA you’re probably familiar with their meatballs and side of lingonberry-jam. Lingonberries are quite sour and the jam is made with large amounts of sugar to make it more palatable. In Scandinavia you’ll find the homemade jam-varieties are less sweet. Lingonberry-jam offers an amazing balance to rich red-meat dishes such as meatballs, venison-roasts and meatloaf. Don’t knock it till you try!

Gooseberries
Season: Late July till September

Gooseberries tastes similar to kiwi-fruit and look like a small, somewhat hairy grape. They commonly grow in Scandinavian gardens as the bush does well in cooler climates. They might not grow abundantly in the wild but if you see them at a local grocer or on a cafe-menu, give them a go. Gooseberries have a grape-y, floral-like flavour, and taste best when ripe.

Black/ Red currants
Season: Late July till September

Black- and red currants can be quite sour but really makes a dessert, pie, cake or jelly “pop” with their refreshing fruitiness and flavour. Commonly used as a base in both home-made and store-bought cordial-mixes In Scandinavia, currants remind me of the picnics, warm toddies and long summer-nights of childhood. They commonly grow in gardens but you can also find them in the wild in and around residential areas.

Cloudberries
Season: August till September

Cloudberries look like small orange raspberries, and are often called “Mountain Gold” due to their golden skin and expensive price-tag. They grow in mountainous areas spanning from from mid-Norway/ Sweden/ Finland all the way up north towards the Arctic. They are notoriously fussy and a good cloudberry season depends on many, many factors. A typical Norwegian Christmas-dessert is cloudberry whipped cream piped into “krumkaker”; a light, crisp waffle shaped into a cone. Cloudberries are considered a Norwegian delicacy, and if you are lucky enough to come across them during a hike or trek, make sure you try them for yourself.