Pictures can be found in the blog.

On this trip we were working on our abilities on Skis. Therefore we went to Trollaktiv, a Activity center close to Evje. While we were skiing during the daz, we had interesting lectures about packing a backpack, mountain safety and injuries, which can occur during cold weather.

On the first day we had some exercises to get used to get the feeling for skis. Our instructor Len gave us just the necessary information, to get going slowly from the easy to the difficult. As example: I asked him how I can break on skis and his answer was: “Just don’t break.” That was his way to go step by step to the unknown.

On the second day we were again in hetrogeneous group, what I couldn’t understand by that time of the semester. I thought the learning outcome of the better skiers if much lower than in a group with just advanced skiers. When I look back onto it now, I understand that it was also about learning to care about the others – especially about the weak group members and to adapt to a different pace than your own one. On this day we practiced a lot of turns and balance exercises.

On the third day we did a little ski tour to a radar station and practiced orienteering and map reading while in a winter environment. I found it mostly boring and got annoyed by the slow pace and the reiterated validation of the position. It was really fun after the break when it was going mostly downhill. To keep on your feet on the icy track at the end was quite a challenge.

The next day included a ski tour again but this time on the other side of the valley with some more up and down. At the end we joined the two groups together and our two instructors had to find a way down to the valley again. It was the first real downhill and really challenging for all of us. Included was the crossing of a frozen river (where the snow showel was handy for the first time) and also some spots were we had to jump and climb down. A real fun day, which brought the group together but also included a competition who could make it downwards without falling.

The last day was a great ending with a last skitour. This time mostly experienced skiers, Will was the exeption. But we had a faster pace than the days before and were sweating a lot due to great sunny weather.

It was a great first trip that couldn’t be better. Skiing in awesome conditions during the day, interesting lessons after dinner time and hanging out with a interesting group in the evening. Also the accomodation was great.