Norway and bust

[Sickboy]

Just got back from my trip to northern Norway's Setermoen area, was supposed to be away for 2 weeks but to be honest the cold and constant snow that i hoped i would miss came in with avengence and kicked my v cold bottom into touch, causing a very long and cold walk out too civilisation. The scenery was fantastic and the people very friendly and helpfull. The fishing was appaling, not helped by the very cold weather arriving with me. Feel the ice drift pass your waders :11doh:
I'll do a kit review in the kit chatter but i think the photo's would be better here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15287361@N04/1601120003/
You should be able to flick through my album from this link, if someone could let me know

 

[tommy the cat]

Great pics fella! Yes no probs seeing them all.
How'd you get on with the hammock with the cold?
Is that the home made underbalnket?
I love snow. D

 

[Sickboy]

No under blanket, just a 3/4 thermarest which turned out to be rather cold, using a down bag made it very noticable when your feet (or anything) touched the outer fabric of the hammock as it caused 4 layers of pertex to be the only insulation between foot and cold mountain air
This really was as cold as i would want to use a hammock, i'd rather bivi in a snow grave or use a tent for this kind of thing. Point being i was rather hoping to get in and out before the snow arrived, but stupidly delayed my departure by 3 weeks as a favour to a work mate, never mind!

 

[Shewie]

It`s a shame it was too cold for you, it looks an awsome place.

Did you get to have a night in the Lavvu and get warmed up ??

 

[Sickboy]

Unfortunatly not, broke camp in the morning and found it about 30 mins later, grrrrr Tempting for sure.......

 

[pothunter]

That looks like wonderful country. I think you have reached the limit of sensible hammocking in weather like that no where to defrost yourself. Ive felt wind off snow covered hills in Scotland when stalking and wildfowling I guess that it was a few degrees cooler where you were.

Liked the TP was their anyone home?I guess you will be planing to go back a bit earlier next time.

Pothunter.

Da. Just read Shewie's post and had my question answered!

 

[w00dsmoke]

Respect to you bud, that's a great test and you learned a lot! I think Norway in this weather would be a real test of character, esp on your own. Love the pics, maybe we should open an extreme hammocking thread with pics

 

[Tor helge]

Hi.
Hope you had a great stay even if the weather was a bit on the wrong side.
This year the first snow came late. You could actually got snow even if you came three weeks earlier . One never knows.
Great pics. Were did you camp? East of Setermoen?

Tor Helge

 

[Matt Weir]

Looks like fun . No underblanket? You were brave eh?

 

[Sickboy]

Started in Setermoen, then gradually fished and camped my way back to Bardufoss, nasty slog to finish at the airport it must be said
Rekon a few weeks later and it would have been snow hole time

 

[ddokkum]

I really love Norway in the winter. Also a great area where you stayed.
Nice pictures.

 

[Sickboy]

Thanks, no photographer for sure
Will defo return, maybe in the spring and slightly further south, then again Sweden looks just as good!? Although saying that if you book early canada's pretty cheap to get too, hmmmmmm

 

[merttu]

Oh man! That made me so home sick!!! I love that time of the year in Scandinavia... snow on the ground but not "real winter" yet. You can actually do a lot of things still that you can't when the winter really sinks in and it will be 30 below. I rather have that any time than rain and snowless ground in fall. When the snow comes it's always twice lighter even during the night... looks great to me!

 

[Biddlesby]

*drools* :tongue-ti

 

[Greg]

Lucky you didn't have to do this! Your pics bring back fond memories of the five full winters I spent over there.

Your a braver man than me using a hammock in that weather!
Better luck with your next trip fella!

 

[Timinwales]

Cracking pics, I'll look forward to the gear reveiws,
Greg: those pics bring back memories of a long time ago I'm sure more than one of us bounced when we hit the water though (all beit in slow mo)
Cheers Tim

 

[crazyclimber]

That looks stunning! Very envious!

 

[Sickboy]

Thanks for the comments about the photo's, photography isnt one of my skill's but stealing the good ladys camera for the trip helped
It's true that snow is easier to deal with than rain, but having geared up for the wetstuff rather than the white caused a few problems, but it's all good as they say..
As for Greg's photo's i thought the locals did that everyday by choice? they do in Denmark anyway
I'll start a review asap of all the kit that people may find usefull, i'll drop a link here when it's done.
Just got back from the woods and i must say, fire in under 30 seconds with char cloth and twigs, just a dream in Norway

 

[rik_uk3]

Great pictures, but I have to ask why on earth you did not take a tent, if hammocks were any good in winter, surely the locals would use them instead of great big, warm, tents? Like your billy cans by the way

 

[Sickboy]

Until last night i hadn't spent a night on the floor for over a year (sober anyway) and the weather up until i arrived was looking good, also i love my hammock and thought i'd give it a proper testing out for you guy's and gal's :11doh:
Those mess tin's are cheapo aluminium job's and are excellent, only had the medium size one with me but gave the smaller 14cm job a go last night, the bigguns still not been used yet