03-16——03-18-2016

Before every self organized trip like always we have to prepare the plan what we are going to do, send it or show to professor Len if it’s possible and proper plan. This time our four members group-team (Me, Jonas, Michael and Mike) decided to go to Setesdal area and ski for 3 days from one DNT cabin to another (sleep over night in one of DNT cabins and the in the morning go to other). Our plan was approved so we started to prepare for the trip.

Like always for longer than 2 day trip’s I prepared my food and meal plan. First day breakfasts I had at my dorm. So I ate stronger meal-stakes with vegetables, because I needed a lot of energy for first days 20 kilometers of skiing, most of the time going up in to the mountains and caring with me 20 and maybe 20+ kilograms rucksack. While we will get to the place with the car, food will be digested and I will be ready for the trip. For second and third day breakfast’s I decided to cook some eggs, and eat some sandwiches with peanut butter- many calories, protein and energy for upcoming day. For all lunches I put only sweats (energy cookies, chocolate bars) because I didn’t wanted to overload the stomach and get lazy. For all dinners our team divided in to 2 groups, and we together in the groups cooked prepared some strong nutritious meals (rice with cheese, ham, vegetables, sauce and bananas, other dinner- pasta with sauce of tuna, corns, onions, spice, cream) with a lot of energy and some carbs to recover after hard day.

For this trip we are going every night sleep in to DNT cabins with full bedliner and kitchen stuff, but this trip was like last before big snow hole trip, so I wanted to carry with me full rucksack. I put in my rucksack my shovel, storm kitchen- for emergency case, thermo clothes, sleeves, ski clothing, extra clothing and jackets,  sleeping bag and sleeping mat, first aid kit, knife, rope and more stuff to make my bag heavier.

So first trip day on Wednesday was very beautiful, the Sun was shining and sky was blue without any single cloud. When we get to the planned place in Setesdal area and our starting point, we prepared our skis, waxed them with red wax, because it was very warm outside maybe +7or 8 degrees, snow was wet and for this case glister would been perfect solution, but we didn’t had it. When our team was prepared, we moved towards to our tonight’s DNT cabin which was 20,5 kilometers from us. It was not so easy to move, because we had much more and bigger up hills than down hills, and heavy rucksacks made it harder too. All day, while Sun was up in the sky it was really strange for me for one thing, because it was very warm, I was skiing with only thermo underwear on top, but at the same time around us was a lot of snow and frozen lakes. Also, while we were skiing around us was wonderful views of mountains, frozen lakes, rocks… good weather plus nice view- I just started to enjoy the life and forgot about that we need to do this trip for studies.

More over, I really enjoyed with skiing down the hills and skiing on the lakes, it was like a rest before another uphill. After some time of skiing we stopped for short lunch and break and after this I don’t know why but I caught bad wave, I started to fall down time to time. I noticed that all fall downs took from me a lot of energy because of every stand up with heavy bag. More, after every fall down I had to catch other team members and this stole from me some energy too. Later, because of my lost energy, I became slower and I fall behind other teammates ( but not so far). After every climb to uphill they were waiting for me and resting, and when I made to uphill I had no time to rest I just must all the time move forward, this thing burnt a lot of my energy too. We made mistake because we started our trip at 1 pm, so the Sun was going down while there were left 4-6 kilometers to the cabin. Because of this the weather get more colder and snow turn in to icy snow. I was tired, my legs was tired and icy snow made me to fall down much more. When there was left only 3 kilometer to the cabin, I relaxed psychologically, but that was another mistake, because those 3 kilometers were big and steep uphill, than smaller downhill and later big-steep uphill again. Before last uphill I just turn in to zombie, no emotions, no soul just my body without any energy and power left was moving and It was already dark outside. Finally after while we made to the cabin, I was energy out (maybe I was never so tired before), and proud of because I defeat myself and finished hardest 20 km.  of my life. Maybe I was a little bit disappointed about my social loafing when I lost my energy. But it was ok and after good dinner I went to sleep.

Next morning on Thursday, was very warm (we even were without any clothes on our upper body), sunny and beautiful again. In the morning we had some breakfast’s, than decided to play around, because we had all day ahead and only 10-12 km. to the next DNT cabin, and with only few high and steep up hills. Near us, where we were staying was lake. On the lake there was perfect conditions to skate, also around were a lot of peaks so we were skiing on it and later hiking on the top of some. The view was very beautiful again, and for some time we just lay down and enjoyed with it.

Later about 15.00 we cleaned the cabin, got some lunch and left to the next cabin. Before that we met with cabins workers and one of them showed how to use glister and tell how it’s working. While we were going to the next cabin, I just again was enjoying with the view and perfect weather conditions, because the distance wasn’t so hard for me like yesterday. When we arrived at the place, it was still bright outside and later we could see sunset

Last day on Friday we get up earlier than last two days, prepared our skis and ski back 22 km. to the place where we left our car but in different route. First few 3-5 km were more up hills than down hills and after while we get on the highest point in our trip, about 900 meters above sea. This day was dangerous to ski, because in the morning clouds covered the Sun and after night it was very icy. After few landings there was no more wax anymore on my skis. Also with heavy rucksack for me it was very hard to stop on icy snow. From almost all the down hills we skied down from side to side (zigzags), because it was too dangerous to land straight on steep and very icy snow. Of course I had some fallings, I think everyone had, and after few I even had to use my first aid kit, because I made mistake that I wasn’t wearing my gloves, and when I felt down I cut my wrists with sharp snow. After this of course I put them on my hands J. This day we had a big distance to go on ice, and because of weather conditions it was perfect for double pole skiing- and it was fast way to get back. After half of today’s way, finally Sun showed up and again combined with flowing rivers, frozen lakes and mountains it created a wonderful nature’s view. After while we made all today’s 22 km. get back happy to the car and went back to Kristiansand.

All in all, over 3 days we skied more than 50 kilometers of way with heavy rucksacks. I think it was a huge practice before upcoming snow hole trip in the mountains. Also, the company was perfect, we had a lot of fun. This trip first day was hardest, second was the most beautiful and relaxing, third the most bloodiest- but combined all 3 days and nature it was the one of best trips (maybe the best) I ever had.