On Monday morning we started our journey to the TrollAktiv camp near Evje where we met Tim, the owner. Since the weather was too bad to go skiing, we started with some theory lectures. Due to the remaining bad weather conditions in the area, we went to Bortelit for the following three days, a skiing center 50 minutes away from TrollAktiv. Having arrived there, we found some pretty nice mountains up to 900 meters and hilly territory. Because of the attitude, the vegetation was limited to thin forests, as well as small bushes. The ground in steep areas there is so rocky that only bushes can grow. The area we went on friday was also hilly with many frozen lakes and with much more dense forests than in Bortelit.

The first day, we had really cloudy weather with some snowfall every now and then, but the weather got better and better during the week so that we eventually had a perfect sunny day on friday. The snow conditions also changed during the week but were always good enough that we didn’t have to use (clister). The first skiing day on tuesday a mixture of red and (violet) wax worked really good in the humid new snow while on the other days we could fortunately use blue wax.

The practical part with the technique tasks of the week was not new for me, however it is always good to repeat the important techniques to stay on top. I was really happy that Tim sometimes gave me the opportunity to leave the group with Martin to practice telemark skiing, what I had never done before. With Line’s helpful advice it worked out very well after the first day and I could improve my technique the next days. As a result, I already achieved my main goal for the week on the first day, what made me proud of myself. And I could also tick my second goal, to have fun on skis and help the others to improve their skills. After we did just a small tour with some off piste parts on tuesday we increased the length and the difficulty of our tours on wednesday and thursday. On wednesday we had some really steep up and downhill parts where some of the group had problems to manage. At the steepest uphill of the day, Martin and me tried to help Jill making it to the top, but in the end we had to wax her skis again, because she was just slipping backwards. Finally she made to the top very exhaustedly, where all the others were waiting for us. That day the whole group and also Tim had some problems with reading the map because we ran over tracks that were not marked on it. However, after some minutes of confusion we ended up on the main track that was marked on the map again.

On thursday, the map reading worked much better and everyone in the leading position for 1-2 kilometers was able to lead the group easily to the right place. That day we made the biggest tour of the week and went off piste as well as on the cross-country tracks. That gave me the opportunity to practice telemark skiing in deep snow, what was really difficult at the beginning. After the lunch break Martin and I digged a snow profile and Tim explained the group how to do it and showed us the different layers of snow and how and why  they stick together or not. After the theory session, it was Martin’s turn to jump on the snow profile with his skis to „release“ an avalanche.

On friday, the focus was on enjoying the weather and learning some things about the area. I described before that the area near Evje was totally different concerning flora from Bortelit, what was nice because we saw some other area and the possibilities it offers for skiing. Also the games we played at lunch break were prioritized.

The most challanging task over the whole week for me was to stay with the group nearly the whole time and not to run my pace on the cross-country tracks. But even if most of the trips were very relaxed walking on skis for me, I was really tired at night.

I was very suprised that my 20 liter daypack was big enough that all my daily equipment fitted in easily. With lunch, drink bottle, thermos bottle, first aid kit, snowshovel, compass, multitool and dry clothes I had everything I needed in my rucksack.

To Tim, our veileader for the whole week, I can just say: very well done. I enjoyed every day and he knew how to motivate the group even for the long tour on thursday. The first day he led us all way on the tour and made us good tracks through the deep snow so that it was easier for us to ski. In addition, he explained many important things about technique, snow and nature. The next days, he gave responsibility to one or two people to lead the group for 1-2 kilometers with the help of a compass and a map. He always demanded the group, kept a good pace and asked Martin and me to look for the others and help them by giving advices and motivate them.

The group, consisting of just two germans, brits, a czech and a icelander worked well together and everyone helped each other when there was a problem. At the technique tasks, we practiced well organized and always having fun. We tried to stay together, what meant that the veileader looked after the group that no one was too far behind. When we had time at the end of the day for skiing on the slope, everyone joined the group and we had pretty much fun together, especially when we built the parallel slalom and competed against each other. Just a reminder, Martin beat Len and I beat Tim…

Looking back, I enjoyed the week very much. I had expected it to be a little bit boring for me because of all the basic techniques that were on the agenda, but since I always had to look after the others and Tim gave me enough time to practice my telemark technique, I was never bored. I liked that Len and Tim let me and the others explore our limits(grenzen) on the jumps and off piste by motivating me to go down steep slopes. Besides the skiing we had much fun in our accomodation and in the group cabin , especially on thursday. And the best thing… everything without a sip of alcohol!!