To The Start Line

16-18th February 2025 and we have been in Oslo sorting stuff out. We collected our new pulk/sled (Pulky 3) from the inimitable Trond, bought a few final items like fuel and polar bread.

We brought a lot of expedition food (freeze dried meals etc.) with us. Including things like nuts. I didn’t think it wise to pack them before we left the UK in case customs wanted to look at anything. So that meant a certain amount of food packing in our hotel room

Mrs P going nuts in Norway

On Monday night we met a couple of lovely guys from The Netherlands who had just skied over the Hardangervidda in the opposite direction to us. They had amazing weather, beautiful snow and even saw the northern lights. They showed us some wonderful photos.

We may not be so lucky with the weather, as the first 4 days of our trip looks quite grim. Only time will tell.

We spent a great evening with Thomas and Bart, eating pizza and discussing such skiing nerd things as the weight of pulks (sleds), best sleeping bags and what to prime stoves with. We really know how to live it up.

Despite their ridiculously young age Thomas and Bart were both really experienced in the outdoors. Do checkout Bart’s web site and blog - https://www.seekingtrails.com/ and his instagram page https://www.instagram.com/seekingtrailsblog?igsh=MWN5cTB2bmMzNWU0Ng==

No photos of our new mates, but I did chat with one of the locals. Though he was a bit stony faced.

Today, Wednesday 18th, we have dragged all our kit to the bus station and are now on the bus to our start point at Haukeliseter. If it isn’t packed now it’s too late.

Much as we love Oslo, we need to get going and are glad to be finally heading for the start. A good friend always talks about how people underestimate the amount of effort it takes to get to the start line. He’s not wrong. This day is the culmination of a LOT of hard work and planning. It has been a long time coming.

Tomorrow morning, 19th Feb we head up into the wilderness and onto the Hardangervidda, Norway’s largest national park at 3,422 square kilometres.

All the discerning traveler needs for 6 weeks in the Norwegian winter wilderness (I hope!).

Keep your eyes peeled on Instagram for more pictures (once we get started) and follow here for updates.

Arriving at Haukeliseter. Temperature -15°C.

The mountain we have to climb in the morning. That’s about 250 metres of the total days climb of 500 metres.

We will be out of signal for at least 4 days and as much as 7. So tune in next week and wish us luck.