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. Relevant experience is needed, please email us if you are interested in participating.
Join us in what is perhaps Norway's most beautiful spring ski trip! In three days we leave Finse, visit Demmevasshytta, and end in the Hardangerfjord - just in time for the fruit blossoming.
Highlights
- Hardangerjøkulen glacier and the Bergen Railways highest station
- Finse 1222
- Demmevasshytta; referred to as the jewel of cabins of the DNT cabins - the cabin is a glacier museum!
- Simadalen
- Hardangerfjord
Is this Norway's most beautiful spring ski trip? We start at Finse, The Bergen Railway's highest situated station. Traveling through exciting scenery on our way to Demmevasshytta, which is the Tourist Association's most spectacular overnight cabin, and end the tour at the Hardangerfjord - just when the fruit blossoms are at their most beautiful.
May is a fantastic skiing month and within three days we go from the winter landscape at Finse, over the Hardangerjøkulen, via the Demmevasshytta, and to the spring in the Simadalen in Hardanger. We go with a local guide and enjoy the beautiful winter landscape on the way to the green Simadalen and the beautiful Hardangerfjord. In Simadalen, we have the option to finish our trip with a bath in the spring-flooded river, before taking the minibus back across Hardangervidda to the station at Ustaoset.
There are few if any trips that will give you such a wide range of experiences like this, a warm welcome to you on our tour!
What's included
- Accommodation
- All meals as described in the program
- Guide
- Transport from Simadalen and back to Ustaoset Station
See more of what's included and not here.
Contact
Questions about the trip? Don't hesitate to contact our project leader below, or contact our office here.
Details
Difficulty
Level 3 out of 5. Please read more about our level of difficulty here.This is a fairly tough hike with two long ski days, which depending on route choices and snow conditions are between 15 and just over 20 kilometers. The stage from Demmevasshytta to Simadalen there is a steep descent on the trail if the snow has melted, or a snow-covered side down to the valley floor, approx. 900 meters of descent in 2 km. Depending on the conditions we might take the skis on our backpack and hike the rest of the trail. If you have been skiing in the winter and have gone from cabin to cabin in the mountains in summer or winter, this is a fantastic end to the ski season!
Preparations
You should have done some mountain skiing in the past and master day trips of just over 20 kilometers with a heavy backpack. In addition, it is advantageous that knees and ankles work well as the descent to Simadalen is steep.
What to bring?
Have a look at the full equipment list by clicking "Equipment list" in the menu above.
Accommodation
First night the accommodation is at Finse 1222 in part of a double room (single room supplement NOK 500). A three-course dinner is served on the day of arrival. Solid breakfast and packed lunch before march towards Demmevasshytta, where we spend the second night. Demmevasshytta is a cabin in the Tourist Association's cabin network with simple standard and multi-bedded rooms (bring a sleeping bag). Here we make shared dinner and shared breakfast/lunch pack.
Finse is only possible to reach by train. All trains on the Bergen railway stop at the station. Tickets can be purchased at www.vy.no. If you are a local in Oslo then it may be worthwhile to drive to Ustaoset or Gol, and take the train the last piece to Finse.
Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your trip. Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure is not responsible for any trip delays, injury, illness, loss of belongings, family emergencies, natural events or other unforeseen issues that may hinder your ability to complete a trip with us. Norrøna Hvitserk Adventure is an adventure holiday company, and with an active holiday, there is always a risk of something as simple as a twisted ankle to keep you from your vacation. With trip insurance, your flights, hotels and travel costs can be covered if an unforeseen emergency hinders you from joining our tour, as well as coverage to fly home if necessary. By purchasing travel insurance ahead of time, you can protect your trip and yourself from issues that prevent you from traveling, and rest easy to enjoy your vacation.
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 personal 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.
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.
Number of participants
Minimum: 4 people; Maximum: 12 people.
Price includes:
- Accommodation at Finse 1222 - including three course dinner, breakfast and lunch package
- Accommodation at Demmevasshytta - including dinner, breakfast and packed lunch
- Transport from Simadalen and back to Ustaoset station
- Local guide
Price does not include
- Transport to Finse on arrival and from Ustaoset on the return day. (Finse is only accessible by train. All trains on the Bergen Railway stop at the station. Tickets can be purchased at www.vy.no)
- Single supplement at Finse 1222, 500,- NOK
- Drinks and snacks
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 Finse
We meet at Finse 1222, the hotel at Bergen's highest situated station in the evening. The afternoon trains from Oslo and Bergen both arrive at 20:00, just in time for dinner at 21:00. Finse is only possible to reach by train (or ski ..!) In winter, and if you do not take the train from Oslo, there are good parking opportunities at Ustaoset and Geilo. We eat a good dinner, get to know each other and meet the guide. We go through the tour and get ready for the morning before getting a good night's sleep in the traditional hotel.
day
2
Finse to Demmevasshytta
We get up early and have a good breakfast and make our packed lunches. After distributing the shared food, we tighten the ski boots and begin to cross the Finsevatnet - hopefully in the brilliant sun. The skiing goes over Hardangerjøkulen and to Demmevasshytta, referred to as the Tourist Association's jewel. The little cabin is spectacularly situated on a mountain ledge by the Rembesdalskåkji firearm - and the view from the outside is a bit striking! The skiing itself is about 15-20 kilometers, and we take a lunch break along the way. Depending on the weather and snow conditions - and the route we choose - the skiing takes between 5 and 9 hours. At the lodge, there is a rich and exciting alpine mountain sports library and after we have fired up the stove, we make a good communal dinner. Accommodation takes place in a dormitory room - and we have to bring a sleeping bag.
day
3
Demmevass to Hardanger
We make and eat breakfast together at the cabin and find a safe route across the glacier. From there, the hike from white winter landscape goes in the direction of the bright green Simadalen and Hardangerfjord. Today's skiing runs from 1307 meters above sea level to the fjord and is about 15 kilometers long. It has some steep altitudes down the Simadalen as we walk. We have sturdy hiking shoes / heavy running shoes in the bag and the toughest of us take a bath in the spring-flooded river in Simadalen. In Simadalen we meet the mini bus that takes us back, first up past Vøringsfossen and then across Hardangervidda to Ustaoset. Here the tour ends and we reach the train departures from Ustaoset after 18.30.
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.
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 is for SUMMER gear, but you can get a lot of great tips for winter hiking as well! Welcome to Norway!
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.
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SKIS, BOOTS, POLES |
Durable skis, leather clip in boots, and backcountry ski poles. |
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SKI WAX AND SKINS |
Blue and green rating |
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BASE LAYER - 2 SETS |
2 sets of wool long-sleeved top and bottom. Warm, Extra Warm or Expedition thickness is recommended. |
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MID-LAYER |
A medium thickness wool or fleece top to go over your base layer. |
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INSULATED JACKET |
A thick, warm, insulated jacket to put on during breaks. We recommend a puffy jacket with down or synthetic. |
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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. |
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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. |
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EXTRA TOP LAYER |
Bring an extra medium-thick layer to add underneath your medium insulated jacket in case you get cold easily. |
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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. |
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HATS |
2 warm hats. 1 thick, 1 thin. Make sure at least one has a windproof lining. |
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HIKING 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. |
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BOOTS |
Bring lightweight boots for when we are not skiing. |
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BACKPACK |
Backpack, 30-40 liter capacity. |
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SUNGLASSES 1 & 2 |
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. Bring a second pair of Alpine Glasses, these cover more of your face in case of strong winds. |
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SUNSCREEN / CHAPSTICK |
Make sure the Chapstick has UV rated sunscreen in it. |
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WATER BOTTLES |
Insulated water bottle, 2-liter capacity. Do not bring a camelback bladder, this will freeze in cold temperatures. |
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TOILETRIES |
Personal basics: shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, etc... |
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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. |
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SHELL PANTS |
Waterproof shell pants. Gortex is best. We recommend heavier duty pants to keep you warm with zips for ventilation. |
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HEADLAMP |
Make sure you bring extra batteries as they die faster in the cold. |
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WOOL UNDERWEAR |
We highly recommend bringing wool underwear and bra. No cotton. |
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SLEEPING BAG |
For sleeping in the Demmevasscabin. |
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CARABINER |
1 Screwgate and 1 non-locking |
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PRUSIK SLING |
1, 6mm |
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SLING |
60cm |
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HARNESS |
Lightweight |
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COMPRESSION SACKS FOR GEAR |
Recommended for storing your gear, keeping it dry, and compressing your down jackets to create more space. |
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BALACLAVA AND BUFF |
A wool layer to protect your neck and face. |
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THERMOS |
We recommend a thermos for hot drinks to have with you all day. We suggest a large, 1-liter thermos. |
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FIRST AID KIT |
If you have certain hiking aids specific to you: i.e. blister care or ibuprofen, etc... |
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CAMERA |
Be prepared for the cold. Insulating your camera will keep it working for the entire trip. We suggest bringing an extra battery pack. |
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CASUAL CLOTHES |
Cozy clothes to wear when we are not participating in activities. |
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SITTING MAT |
Strongly recommended to insulate you from the ground. |
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ANTI BAC |
If you need it for the bathroom or lunch. |
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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. |
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EARPLUGS |
If you're a light sleeper. |
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JOURNAL AND PEN |
In order to take notes and write about the trip. |
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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. |
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HEADSET |
If you would like to listen to music or an audiobook while skiing. |
