At the weekend I had the chance to add a couple of days exploring onto the end of a business trip to TromsØ. For info the return flight to/from Edinburgh was £200, so so may well take the opportunity to repeat for a longer holiday at some point, seems like good value and I Like to try to do stuff without spending a fortune!
The forecast was for sunshine and light winds, temps around -2C to +5C (woohoo!) so I could travel light and cheap - I only brought hand luggage, which meant no tools (other than a SAK classic) or stove (Just a crusader mug with the intention of making something when I got there depending on what fuel I could pick up). Took with me a 20L rucksack, thermarest, 3 season sleeping bag, tarp, plastic spoon, a few items of warm clothing and a 1st aid kit.
Was fortunate to borrow a bike (with rack) off someone I met, which extended my range and was able to pick up a pack of hexi (for about £7!!!!) for cooking, a simple, reliable option. Spent about £40 on supplies (food and a couple of beers), for the ~36 hours I had to play before I had to get my flight back.
Set off early Saturday across to KvalØya, with the intention of getting as far west and away from the city as possible in the time I had.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@69.6094615,18.5273652,10z
Cutting through the middle of the island about 20km I was soon into the mountains, loads of snow, every inch of it covered in tracks (the Norges certainly love their backcountry skiing!).
Passed some glorious looking cabins. Lots of nice birch trees around, so fuel supply and camp structural material was looking hopeful.
Quite soon I was into Nordfjorden getting onto the west of the island.
Stopped to make my first brew. Generally my attempts at makeshift stone stoves weren't as effective as my usual hexi-cooker, and attempts to supplement it with dry sticks just didn't work as well as what I was used to from my kelly kettle or bush cooker. Limited to just 1 pack of hexi (it was expensive!) I had to ration it carefully (dinner, breakfast and a couple of brews) which meant I never really got a boil and had to be content with warm enough. Nevermind it was an experiment, and I was happy enough.
Amazing scenery, every inch of it
Conditions were great, and I made it out to SommerØy where I was rewarded by even more spectacular scenery.
Decided to head back the way I came, and bivvy for the night at a nice spot I passed on the way out near Otervika bay. Conditions were calm and clear, I pitched the tarp mainly to provide some shade from the 24hour light. Although it was calm there were frequent random gusts of wind which would fill my bag with cold air. It was like sleeping in a nice warm bed with the covers getting ripped off every 20mins -however it was too warm to properly tuck myself in the bag. Next time I will bring a lighweight tent instead of the tarp. Ho-hum... I survived the night and it allowed an early start as I was a long way from the flight I had to catch and wanted to allow for the possibility of the bike breaking (although I never go so much as a puncture).
So for next time, I'll take a tent and a better stove. This will mean taking a bigger bag, and paying extra for hold luggage - no tent pegs in hand luggage and I don't know what security would make of a stove so wouldn't want to risk getting it taken off me, but also means a decent blade (cutting cheese/meat with a SAK classic is naff!). This extra cost could be offset against filling the bag with food bought here - that £40 shopping bill I could have got for about £15 at home, and don't get me started on the price of a beer!!
Great place, loads to explore!
The forecast was for sunshine and light winds, temps around -2C to +5C (woohoo!) so I could travel light and cheap - I only brought hand luggage, which meant no tools (other than a SAK classic) or stove (Just a crusader mug with the intention of making something when I got there depending on what fuel I could pick up). Took with me a 20L rucksack, thermarest, 3 season sleeping bag, tarp, plastic spoon, a few items of warm clothing and a 1st aid kit.
Was fortunate to borrow a bike (with rack) off someone I met, which extended my range and was able to pick up a pack of hexi (for about £7!!!!) for cooking, a simple, reliable option. Spent about £40 on supplies (food and a couple of beers), for the ~36 hours I had to play before I had to get my flight back.
Set off early Saturday across to KvalØya, with the intention of getting as far west and away from the city as possible in the time I had.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@69.6094615,18.5273652,10z
Cutting through the middle of the island about 20km I was soon into the mountains, loads of snow, every inch of it covered in tracks (the Norges certainly love their backcountry skiing!).
Passed some glorious looking cabins. Lots of nice birch trees around, so fuel supply and camp structural material was looking hopeful.
Quite soon I was into Nordfjorden getting onto the west of the island.
Stopped to make my first brew. Generally my attempts at makeshift stone stoves weren't as effective as my usual hexi-cooker, and attempts to supplement it with dry sticks just didn't work as well as what I was used to from my kelly kettle or bush cooker. Limited to just 1 pack of hexi (it was expensive!) I had to ration it carefully (dinner, breakfast and a couple of brews) which meant I never really got a boil and had to be content with warm enough. Nevermind it was an experiment, and I was happy enough.
Amazing scenery, every inch of it
Conditions were great, and I made it out to SommerØy where I was rewarded by even more spectacular scenery.
Decided to head back the way I came, and bivvy for the night at a nice spot I passed on the way out near Otervika bay. Conditions were calm and clear, I pitched the tarp mainly to provide some shade from the 24hour light. Although it was calm there were frequent random gusts of wind which would fill my bag with cold air. It was like sleeping in a nice warm bed with the covers getting ripped off every 20mins -however it was too warm to properly tuck myself in the bag. Next time I will bring a lighweight tent instead of the tarp. Ho-hum... I survived the night and it allowed an early start as I was a long way from the flight I had to catch and wanted to allow for the possibility of the bike breaking (although I never go so much as a puncture).
So for next time, I'll take a tent and a better stove. This will mean taking a bigger bag, and paying extra for hold luggage - no tent pegs in hand luggage and I don't know what security would make of a stove so wouldn't want to risk getting it taken off me, but also means a decent blade (cutting cheese/meat with a SAK classic is naff!). This extra cost could be offset against filling the bag with food bought here - that £40 shopping bill I could have got for about £15 at home, and don't get me started on the price of a beer!!
Great place, loads to explore!
