Overview
Note: This is a trip popular with Norwegians, so the main language on the trip is Norwegian, but the guide will speak English, so you are welcome to join as an English speaker. You need significant experience for this tour, please email us if you are interested.
Across Jostedalen Glacier is one of Norway's spring ski classics - and there are many good reasons why! In May we will have our own Hvitserk tour where we hope to experience all the reasons why this trip deserves its status as a classic.
Highlights
- Ski trip in the spring on Northern Europe's biggest glacier
- Beautiful views of green valleys and spectacular fjord landscape
We gather at Sogndal Lodge, located in the center of Sogndal. The skiing starts north in Jostedalen and we go to Flatbrehytta in Fjærland. If conditions are good, we can during the trip take detours to peaks such as Brenibba (2018 m), Kjenndalskruna (1830 m), Høgste Breakulen (1957 m) and Supphellenipa (1731 m). On the glacier, we stay for two nights in tents. Before the trip, we gather at Sogndal Lodge and prepare for the trip together.
Across Jostedalen Glacier is a tough but very nice ski trip - with daily stages of about 20 km. During the trip, chances are that the weather will change quite quickly, and it is not uncommon to experience both full winter and warm, scorching sun during the days of traveling across Northern Europe's largest glacier. On the way up and down from the glacier, parts of the walk will be on foot with the skis in our backpack.
We come down from the glacier at Flatbrehytta in Fjærland in the afternoon of day 4. We are transported back to Sogndal Lodge where the tour ends with a joint dinner. If you would like to stay at Sogndal Lodge after your trip, please contact us for pricing suggestions.
Guide/Tour Leader
This trip will consist of a small group from Norway with an experienced Norwegian guide from Hvitserk.
Physical Level and Risk
So that you can have a good experience, it is important that you choose a trip that suits your ability level. The scales for physical requirements and risk are general. Therefore, it is important that you read more about the difficulty of the specific trip under “Details”. This will help you to gain an understanding of the level required and the risks involved for each specific trip.
Read more about physical requirements and risk here.
Physical: 4
To participate on a level 4 trip with us, you must prepare well and be ready for a real challenge! The trips are often longer than at lower levels, and the accommodation is often of a simple standard. Along the way, it will be both physically and mentally demanding, and it presupposes that you are prepared for this. You should do targeted training well in advance of departure. If the trip includes technical elements such as kayaking, cycling, climbing, glacier, skiing / summit hiking, you should have good skills in the relevant activity. Read more about the grading on our trips here
Risk: 3
Activities / trips with some risk. Some incidents may occur, and they may be of such a nature that they require professional help. Read more about the grading on our trips here
What's included
- All accommodations
- All meals
- Norwegian guide
- All transportation within the itinerary
See more of what's included under the "details" tab
Contact us
Questions about the trip? Don't hesitate to contact our project leader below, or contact our office here.
Details
Difficulty
This is a fairly tough ski trip, where we walk with heavy backpacks and in sometimes steep terrain. The lower age limit for this trip is 16 years.
This trip can be rated at a 4 out of 5. Please read more about our level of difficulty here.
Safety
Safety is always the number one consideration on a trip with Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure. If there is an emergency on tour with us, help will be able to reach you relatively quickly. We have a 24-hour emergency hotline within our office and the guide will always have the ability to contact help. Norway has excellent search and rescue operations throughout the country with evacuations available via helicopter or red cross emergency teams.
Our guides have first aid training and have a selection of medicines and first aid equipment for the necessary treatment in the mountains. Hvitserk also has a partnership with Turlegen.no (Trip Doctor) who can be contacted if needed for medical advice.
If you are on prescribed medication, have known allergies or similar, you must always bring your medication.
Hvitserk plans the trip days based on the weather, conditions and the group. Our focus is to take care of each other and work together in one team. The guide will have the ability to make safety decisions for the group, although the decision-making process will be transparent and involve guests in the process.
We plan our trips so that we do not expose ourselves to unwanted risk. On this tour, we will always be close to each other, and if an unforeseen situation occurs - the guide will be present quickly to handle it.
Languages
This is a trip popular with Norwegians, so the main language on the trip is Norwegian, but the guide will speak English, so you are welcome to join as an English speaker.
Accommodation
Prior to the trip, we are staying in a double room at Sogndal Lodge in the center of Sogndal. While on the glacier, we stay in comfortable tents of the same type we use on our Greenland crossings.
Climate
Want to see the weather forecast for the next few days? Check www.yr.no and fill in your destination.
Equipment
Hvitserk provides the necessary general equipment such as tents and primus.
Insurance
You must have adequate health and accident insurance that will also cover any repatriation. Remember to bring proof of travel insurance on your trip.
Some general things to be aware o:
- Some insurance companies use the number of meters above sea level as a criterion for what the insurance covers and whether they call it an expedition or not. Pay special attention to this - and check it carefully.
- Some insurance companies require an extension if the individual journey goes beyond a certain duration.
- Make sure the insurance covers the selected geographical area.
- Some insurance companies have an upper limit on their cancellation and sickness insurance.
We recommend that you check that your insurance covers the following:
- Cancellation insurance - must be taken out at the time of booking the trip. Check that the total amount of the cancellation insurance covers the total amount of your trip. If it does not, you should purchase additional cancellation insurance that covers the remaining amount.
- Luggage
- Responsibility
- Delays
- Lost the purpose of the journey. (For example, you can travel to Africa if you break your arm before departure. But it may not be possible to climb Kilimanjaro and sleep in a tent. Therefore, you should have insurance that covers the loss of the purpose of the trip.)
Changes may occur
We reserve the right to make changes to the program, and the price. The day to day program is indicative, and changes may occur. Please have a look at our terms and conditions.
Price includes
- An overnight stay at Sogndal Lodge in downtown Sogndal, with dinner, before going to the glacier
- Transportation from Sogndal to the starting point of the ski trip
- Hvitserk guide
- General equipment such as tents and primus
- All the food while on tour
Price does not include
- Transportation to/from Sogndal Lodge
- Drinks on the day of arrival
Other information
If it is close to departure, please contact us. Maybe you will be able to join anyway.
Day by Day
day
1
Arrival in the evening
We meet at Sogndal Lodge for dinner at 6.00 PM. Dinner will be served later, but first, we will take a look at the equipment to be used on the trip while also doing some training on how to use burners. Sogndal Lodge is located right in the center of Sogndal, and this is also the place we will come down to after crossing the glacier. It is possible to leave extra clothes/equipment at the lodge and park a car here until we return.
day
2
Up Fåbergstølen Glacier to the Glacier Plateau
After a good breakfast at the lodge, we drive a minibus into Jostedalen. Here we take the skis on the back and hike into the valley and up to Fåbergstølbreen where we will start the skiing. We take it easy, we have the entire climb today - a challenging climb of 1200 altitude meters. Up on the glacier we set up camp. Depending on the weather, snow conditions and wishes of the group, we will explore the possibilities of taking an evening trip to Brenibba (2018 meters above sea level).
day
3
Over Høgste Breakulen to Bings Gryte
If we did not visit one of the surrounding peaks the day before, we will see if we can do that today. We continue to ski up the glacier plateau with great peaks on all sides. We make the trip over Høgste Breakulen (1957 meters above sea level) where we will enjoy the view of the beautiful nature that surrounds us! In the area around Bings Gryte, we establish a tent camp for the evening.
day
4
To Flatbrehytta and down from the glacier
This is the last day on the glacier and after the morning coffee we go down to Supphellebreen and Flatbreen. We stop at Flatbrehytta with spectacular views towards the Fjærlandsfjord. From the cabin we continue skiing or on our feet - depending on the snow conditions - to the bottom of the valley where maybe a bath in the fjord is tempting? We are transported back to Sogndal Lodge where we end the tour with a joint dinner.
It is possible to stay overnight at the lodge when we come down. Contact us for the pricing.
Equipment list
Take a good look at this list, and make sure you bring everything you need. We encourage you to use what you have for this trip and purchase items if you're missing something important on the list below. We have divided the gear list into three categories:
- Required: If you do not own this gear, you must acquire it for your trip.
- Recommended: Gear we suggest to be comfortable, but it is not imperative.
- Optional: Fun, additional luxuries.
Layering is extremely important in a variable climate like Norway. This list will guide you through the essentials. Remember the Norwegian saying "There is no bad weather, only bad gear", and prepare appropriately for any weather. You can read about the weather where you're traveling here
The video below if for SUMMER trips, but you can still get some good tips for Winter! Welcome to Norway!
Advice on other essentials to pack in your pack from Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure on Vimeo.
How to pack for your trip to Norway from Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure on Vimeo.
Please contact us at hvitserk@norrona.com if you have any questions and check out our gear page to learn more.
We always recommend wool in the Norwegian Mountains, but if you already have synthetic layers and don't want to buy new ones, synthetic is okay.
Required:
|
UNDERWEAR |
We recommend at least one wool boxer shorts for both men and women. Men can advantageously have one with Windstopper in the front. For women, bra/sports top in wool is also recommended. |
|
2 SET WOOL BASE LAYER |
It is wise to use wool underwear that is not too thick, rather use several layers. |
|
FLEECE JACKET |
This is very good to have, a warm wool sweater can also be used. |
|
SHELL / RAIN JACKET |
Gore-Tex or similar is mandatory. Extremely important in Norwegian climate. The jacket must be waterproof, have a hood, and make sure you don’t get wet even if it rains all day. We recommend jackets with pit zips for ventilation. |
|
SHELL PANTS |
Waterproof shell pants. Gortex is best. We recommend heavier duty pants to keep you warm with zips for ventilation. |
|
MEDIUM INSULATED JACKET |
Use a synthetic or down jacket that fits over your base layer and mid-layer, yet underneath your rain shell. It should be comfortable with the full range of movement when all layers are on. |
|
GLOVES & MITTENS |
1 thin pair of wool gloves to protect your hands. 1 pair of over mittens for additional warmth with windproofing. 1 extra pair of thick mittens in case yours get wet. 3 in total. |
|
SKINS |
Short or long for your skis. |
|
SKI WAX |
Pack efficiently, look at the weather forecast beforehand to pick the right wax. |
|
GAITERS |
Full-coverage gaiters (Berghaus Yeti, etc.) are excellent. They both keep you warm and protect you from the snow. |
|
SOCKS |
4 pairs, we recommend wool, above the ankle or higher. 2 thin. 2 thick. We recommend a 5th pair that are extra thick for evenings. |
|
CLEAN CLOTHES |
Nice to have at hand after finishing the trip. |
|
SLEEPING BAG |
Should withstand -10 celsius. Make sure you have something waterproof to wrap it in. |
|
SLEEPING PAD |
Inflatable. It is important to sleep well, but you do not need the top model. |
|
HAT/CAP |
Nice if it's windproof, but if it's not you should wear a hooded jacket. |
|
BALACLAVA AND BUFF |
A wool layer to protect your neck and face. |
|
SUNGLASSES |
UV rated, we recommend a strap to keep them in place and so they don't get lost. Bring dark lenses with plastic frames, not metal. |
|
GLASSES FOR ALPINE SKIING |
This is needed in snowy weather and strong winds. It also provides good protection against cold. |
|
HEADLAMP |
Make sure you bring extra batteries as they die faster in the cold. |
|
LARGE BACKPACK |
Good and spacious bag with good hip belt, chest buckle and padding. A sack of 65-85 liters with the possibility to attach the skis is recommended. |
|
WATER BOTTLES |
Insulated water bottle, 2-liter capacity. Do not bring a camelback bladder, this will freeze in cold temperatures. |
|
TOILETRIES |
Personal basics: shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, etc... |
|
PERSONAL MEDICATIONS |
Make sure you bring any personal meds you need on your trip and ensure the Hvitserk office is updated on your allergies or needs. |
|
COMPRESSION BAGS |
To reduce the volume of down jacket etc. The bags also help you keep everything dry and keep track of the equipment. Plastic bags w/Ziplock can also work. |
|
EXTRA BATTERIES |
Fro camera, headlight etc. |
|
LUNCHBOX, CUTLERY, CUP, PLATE |
For eating each day. |
Recommended:
|
THERMOS |
We recommend a thermos for hot drinks to have with you all day. We suggest a large, 1 liter thermos. |
|
FIRST AID KIT |
If you have certain hiking aids specific to you: i.e. blister care or ibuprofen, etc... |
|
CAMERA |
Be prepared for the cold. Insulating your camera will keep it working for the entire trip. We suggest bringing an extra battery pack. |
|
CASUAL CLOTHES |
Cozy clothes to wear when we are not participating in activities and eating dinner. |
|
SITTING MAT |
Strongly recommended to insulate you from the ground. |
|
SWIMMING SUIT OR SHORTS AND BRA |
For a possible swim in the fjord at the end of the trip. |
Optional:
|
ANTI BAC |
If you need it for the bathroom or lunch. |
|
WET WIPE OR TOILET PAPER |
If you have a bathroom emergency while hiking. We use "pack it in pack it out" ethics, so you will need to carry out your used items and throw them away later. |
|
EARPLUGS |
If you're a light sleeper. |
|
JOURNAL AND PEN |
In order to take notes and write about the trip. |
|
SNACKS |
Chocolate, nuts or energy bars if there is something particular you enjoy eating. You will have the opportunity to buy snacks on your trip. |
|
HEADSET |
If you would like to listen to music or an audiobook while skiing. |
