Viking Magazine - December 2012 - 18

TO SKI?
You can earn a skimerke
pin as part of Sons of
Norway's Sports Medal
Program. Or share your
passion for skiing with
the next generation by
planning a children's race,
or barneløpet. Go to
www.sonsofnorway.com
and use your member
login to access idea
banks and sports medal
information.
Aside from the argument that
skiing is the national pastime
in Norway and an integral part
of Norwegian culture, there is
one very simple reason to ski
in Norway, explains Merete
Habberstad, press contact
for the Norwegian Trekking
Association (DNT). " Winter
is the most beautiful time of
year here and skiing is almost
the only way to see nature in
wintertime, " she says.
Indeed, more and more visitors
are traveling to Norway in
winter and seeing the stunning
landscape as the natives do: on
skis. " Norway is definitely seeing
an increase in travel during the
winter months, " says Harald
Hansen of Innovation Norway.
The combination of Arctic experiences,
Northern Lights, soft
adventures and cultural experiences
in Norway's cities have
created a new interest in Norway,
but still, says Hansen, " The main
reason for visiting Norway in
winter is to take advantage of our
skiing possibilities, away from the
crowds in the rest of Europe, in
untouched, dramatic nature. "
Whether on guided crosscountry
trips, skiing independently
from hut to hut, or
just spending a few hours on
a nearby trail, there are an
abundance of options for every
level of experience and interest,
IF YOU GO
Skiers enjoy a
sunny Telemark
landscape.
B
oth Borton Overseas and the DNT offer ski
trips from December through March and April,
depending on the snow. But Peik and Habberstad
agree that February is an ideal month for skiing.
Cold weather usually promises consistent snow and
the chance to see the Northern Lights. Plus, the cabins
and mountain lodges are not as fully booked as they
are around the two-week Easter holiday, when vast
numbers of Norwegians head up to the mountains for
their own ski trips.
Another piece of advice that both experts offer is
to start slow and be thoughtful about the level of
challenge you embrace. Instead of booking a five-day
trek that could run into difficult terrain and weather
that Habberstad calls " quite rough, " consider finding
a good base and doing day trips, or even spending
18 VIKING DECEMBER 2012
sonsofnorway.com
just a few hours to ski
to one of the 40-plus
DNT cabins in the forest
just outside of Oslo. Be
careful not to overestimate
your level of skiing ability, Peik cautions.
For more information, contact Borton Overseas at
800-843-0602 or online at bortonoverseas.com. For
information on guided DNT membership (which provides
discounts and priority status on tours and cabin
rental), tours, or for help planning your own trip using
DNT cabins, contact DNT Tour Information Center at
+47 228 22 822 or online at english.turistforeningen.
no. Travelers can also visit one of the 30 DNT information
kiosks in cities across Norway for booking
information, maps and expert advice.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF (LEFT TO RIGHT) CH/WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM, CH/WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM, TERJE RAKKE/NORDIC LIFE/WWW.VISITNORWAY.COM

http://www.sonsofnorway.com http://www.bortonoverseas.com http://www.sonsofnorway.com

Viking Magazine - December 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - December 2012