Hardangervidda or Rondane?

by Joel
(Boston, USA)

Hello,

Thank you for all the great information on your site. It is a treasure.

We are two American friends planning a week long self-guided hut-hut ski for our 50th birthdays next March.

My wife's family is from Norway and we have visited before for summer hut-hut tours.

We are both in good shape and fairly experienced skiiers though our telemarking on difficult slopes is novice.

We had been focused on Rondane for the trip but am now thinking of Hardangervidda as a different alternative.

Do you have any thoughts you could share as to advantages and preferences? My sense is that we will have more staffed huts in Hardangervidda but that the weather might be more challenging?

If we were to do Hardangervidda, I suspect you would recommend the Ustaoset loop on the page which looks great and seems about the right level of distance for us. Is there a ski rental place in Ustaoset or nearby?

Thank you for any guidance and advice!

Joel

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May 11, 2019
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Rondane
by: Knut Olav

Hello Joel
Thank you very much for your report.
So happy you had a wonderful skiing trip to the Birkebeiner area. We have been around there many times and the weather use to be good.

All the best

Knut Olav

May 10, 2019
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Rondane trip report
by: Anonymous

Hello Knut and others who might read this,

We had a wonderful journey in Rondane. Terrific skiing and adventure.

I'll go into some detailed pieces of the trip but a few general items:

1. Rondane was a good call. We heard from others that Hardangersvida was very windy!

2. We did not actually start on the Trolls' Trail but ended on it. This turned out well but did lead to some significant variety in our skiing some of which we were poorly outfitted for. We had rented in-line skis with no edges which were entirely inadequate for the first few days. Probably unsafe too....but we made it...did not win any style points!

3. Weather of course makes a BIG difference. We were fairly lucky but had a few difficult periods. Others the week before us had a very hard time with many whiteouts.

4. Huts were great and well-spaced out.

5. We packed medium sized backpacks with a few extra clothes and food to nibble on between huts. We did bring a light blanket and bivy liner which we did not need as the huts were clean and fully stocked with comfortable bedding.

Now for some details:

Day 1 (non-ski): Arrive Oslo, travel to Sjusjoen to pick up rental skis: Sport 1 Sjusjoen. NOTE THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RENTAL SHOPS IN LILHAMMER. Back to Lillehammer to pick up DNT key, purchase last minute items and drink beer. Stay at Lillehammer Station Hotel (clean, very nice breakfast and so convenient for the train)

Day 2: Train from Lillehammer to Otta. Cab from Otta station to Mysuester trail head. Ski to Rondvassbu Hut (many options for travel between 12-15+ K). Stay at Rondvassbu (great fully staffed hut).

Day 3. Ski from Rondvassbu to Bjornolio hut (this is a non-staffed hut in the winter). The first 2/3 of this ski were great but no trail. The last 1/3 was very difficult with no trail and very steep hill in a river bed. This was particularly difficult given our skis. I would recommend more robust skis if doing this part. We were supposed to go on to Eldabu but the weather turned very bad and our day had already been long given the terrain.

Day 4. Bjornholio to Venabu. Very long day with first part very challenging but wonderful. Again, no winter trail (we followed summer blazes which was difficult) until near Eldabu then we finally picked up the Trolls Trail and skiing was relatively easy from then on out. Venabu very nice hotel/hut in civilization.

Day 5: Venabu to Jammerdalsbu. Wonderful long day of easy skiing and sunburns.

Day 6: Jammerdalsbu to Djupslia. Another long, great day of skiing seeing a few more people but not much.

Day 7: Djupslia to Sjusjoen. Much more groomed and crowded but we had a fun time with this long, relatively flat ski. Stopped for terrific pizza at Nordic resort 2/3 way back. Returned skis, had a beer and took the bus back to Lillehammer.

All in all, a great trip. my travel partner is writing an article of the trip with pictures that i will publish once he does. happy to answer any questions!

Joel

May 09, 2019
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Hardangervidda
by: Anonymous

Hello Joel
Hope you had a good trip and looking forward to get your report...

All the best,
Knut Olav

Mar 21, 2019
Rating

trip udpate
by: Anonymous

Hello Knut....we leave tomorrow! very excited for the trip! i'll give you a report when we're back. Thanks again for your help and good wishes!
Joel

Mar 21, 2019
Rating

Hardangervidda
by: Knut Olav

Hello Joel

Any news about your trip to Norway (Hardangervidda)?
Hope all is well and you had a successful trip!

All the best
Knut Olav

Apr 24, 2018
Rating

Hardangervidda
by: Knut Olav

Hello Joel
May your planning for a trip to Hardangervidda be good!
Looking forward to receive details- and may the the sun shine upon you also...

All the best,

Knut Olav

Apr 24, 2018
Rating

Thank you Knut!
by: Joel

Knut,

Thank you so much for your informative and detailed post! This is terrific information. I will be back to you and let you know our trip details and highlights!

All the best for a warm and sunny summer outdoors.

Joel

Apr 20, 2018
Rating

Hardangervidda
by: Knut Olav

Hallo again
You will love Hardangervidda.
The staffed huts on Hardangervidda are OK and the loypes prepared by skilled persons.

You have the right idea for a very good experience and I wish you the best of luck…

What we have done:
We have started from Ustaoset and followed the loype (close to the train station) to Tuva, a day´s easy skiing distance. From Tuva to Heinseter and Rauhellern.

The start from Fagerheim (close to the main road) is also OK, with a short distance to Krekkja (over ised waters) to test your skiing form.

There is a marked loype from Fagerheim to Tuva- and Heinseter also.

Talk to the locals, check weather forecast and always follow the marked loypes to be safe.

Ski rental place(s):
Haugastöl Turist Senter:
https://www.haugastol.no/en/ski-rental

Geilo Ski Shop:
https://slaattaskisenter.no/en/utleie/

Please send some info about your planning and tour- perhaps some pictures?

All the best,
Knut Olav

Apr 17, 2018
Rating

by: Knut Olav

Hallo Joel
Thank you for contacting- and nice words about our site...
Will come back to you soon with advice.

All the best,
Knut Olav

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