Fjellenern, the last of a three-parted competition

Fjellenern is the last of a three-(or four) parted competition. Before the run, there had been three other competitions: cross country, randonee and cycling. So the competition is very similar to the triple in Birkebeineren. This last competition was an 8 km long run that started in the centre of Oppdal with the finish line at the top of one of Norway's largest alpine ski area. A lovely run, if it hadn't been for the extra challenges that day. Before we arrived at Oppdal, it started snowing, but being optimistic we did not think it was cold enough for it to stay on the ground. We were wrong! The snow made the path very slippery and made it was difficult to run at times and many chose to walk instead of running. As if the snow in itself did not make it difficult enough, it got more and more windy the higher we got. As a result the run had to be shortened down to 7km since it was impossible to see where the path was supposed to be. The organizers handled the challenges very well and all the other competitions have also been well organized. A very good alternative to the Birkebeiner competition with less people and less hassle.
Of course the weather improved after the run. Looking at the skiing area it almost looked like the season could start very early, this was the first weekend in September! Just to make it clear: even in Norway it is not normal to have snow this early...

Almost at the top, those shoes were not made for running in snow...

Turn around and go back home? looks very cold!

My mother, supportive as always:)

The snow disappeared quickly AFTER the run

Snow also in Dovre

My traditional Easter holiday

I, as many other Norwegians, associate the Easter with skiing, preferably somewhere in the mountains, it is supposed to be sunny and warm, a lot of chocolate and marzipan and spending quality time with family at the cottage. This Easter was almost perfect. The weather was on and off, but well enough to go skiing every day. My family may be a bit more active than most families; while the usual skiing trip doesn't end to far from where it started and one sits down to make a fire to eat sausages and marshmallows, we go on long trips and high up. But one of the days we actually stopped on our way down from the mountain in our backyard, Tovenfjellet, and had a nice lunch outside.

Oh, I almost forgot. For many people, and indeed for my family, the holidays are all about traditions. And it seems like the amount of traditions just keepon increasing every year, and we are about to reach a point where there will be no room to be impulsive:S Traditions are good, but not too many!

The first tradition is a skiing competition up a mountain, a race I have participated in since I was 4 years old. I am sad every year I miss it. A new tradition that was started last year is afterski after the race. Nothing like alcohol after an exhausting race:p My brother brought tequila. As he had never drunk it before, he had no idea how it tasted and thought it tasted good. He was in for an unpleasant surprise...

I love tequila!:p

Really? Do I have to take an other one?

Here are some photoes from our skiing trips:)

The mountain in my backyear, Tovenfjellet:)

The view to the fjord...

One get a good view of the mountain, Luktind

The track home=)

My dad being very determined to reach the top. Where is the better way to reach the top?

My sister, Idun, with Syv Søstre in the background

The master of making a fire

My sister can be a bit too optimistic...

Every wednesday in the easter we drive a terrible road to get to a skiing race, Harvassdalsrennet. It is very hard to get up, the weather is usually very bad and some times not even enough snow. But because it is tradition and because it is a very social event we always make the trip:)

Nice to meet relatives:)

The wather changes fast up north!

Thursday is the day for the easterparty! It is a public party where everyone over 15 can attend. The music is allways good and it is a good opportunity to dance swing=) Really good atmoshere, but from time to time some people might drink a bit to much and do silly or stupid things. Common things are not being able to stand and ones feet and fall over all the time, getting undressed and of course getting into a fight.

Trying to get rid of the tequila at the preparty:)

My cousin was sober:( she was in the arranging committe and that means she violated a tradition!:-o

Crazy on the dancefloor

My parents are allways dancing at these parties=)

Happy sisters

And we're back to the main goal of the easter: skiing every day!

On the way up to Kveldtuva

A bit freezing on the top!

The start of a new tradition?

This easter we did something new: going out on Saturday too, to check out the pubs in the nearest town. We have to wait untill next year to see if is a new tradition or not.

A perfect "easterweather" weekend

I was in shock, but a good kind of shock. The weather forecast said it would be warm and sunny for a whole weekend! Of course that meant 3 long skiing trips. Twice I visited one of the skiing areas just outside the town called Estenstadmarka and once I went skiing in Bymarka which is on the other side of the town. The combination of sun and a relatively high temperature while it is still snow is called easterweather, based on the idea that this is how the weather is like during easter. It seldom is the case.

Around the skiing areas are some huts that are open during the weekends and some of them have opening hours during weekdays too. At these huts you can buy dinner, lunch, some snack or a cup of coffee. But in this fine weather many chose to have their meal outside. Some even made a fire to grill sausages and marshmallows. This is what we do almost every day during Easter so I started longing for the holidays. Luckily they're not far away.

The view of the town from Estenstadmarka

The hut in Estenstadmarka: Estenstadhytta

Outside the prepared tracks in Bymarka, really nice to skate on the hard surface of the snow
(what's the word in English?)

It's fun to make one's way through the trees:)

Elgsethytta, one of the huts in Bymarka. Really crowded that Saturday=)

 I peacful evening wit a lot of food was what I both wanted and needed after all this outdoor activity. So I visited my friend Gunnhild and we had a totally relaxed evening:) Good food and lots of candy! She had also got a kitty just recently and the most exhausting activity that evening was to play with it:p

The kitty chasing the electrical mouse...

Forcing the kitty to cuddle a bit=)

Hiding...

Gunnhild in Estenstadmarka the following day=)

The clouds are coming:/

Snow, lots of snow and then some more snow

Snow in Norway can sometimes be extreme. Some time ago I went to our house up north in Norway to work on my thesis. During the week I was there it snowed every day, and in total more than 1 meter of snow came that week. That amount of snow doesn't only mean you have to clear your driveway, you also have to shovel snow off the roofs and away from the windows if you want to see anything.
The good thing about this amount of snow is that it is fun to play with and it is possible to climb on roofs and jump down=) AND it is brighter than without snow...!

The view from my house, one can not see the mountains one usually see... It's just white

My playhouse is almost snowed down, I had to rescue it:)

Snowstorm-> girls night and poker=)

Someone is not happy

Avarage sight driving home the next day...

Good morning:)

Lots and lots of snow...

Finally skiing again, my favourite activity!

Before Christmas there were little or no snow and therefore I did not get to ski much. Luckily I went to visit my brother who lives a place with a lot of snow, and there I got my first skiing experience in almost two years. It was amazing! AND hard. It took a while to get in contact with the muscles that had not been used for ages.
The nature was amazing, the stillness and the feeling of being all alone; just me and my skies - I loved it=)

After being in Argentina for 3 weeks I couldn't wait to go skiing again and just a day after returning to Norway I have been skiing. Although I enjoyed it, it wasn't all a pleasure. After only a couple of kilometeres my body started acting weired and soon I realized I had to go to the car to lie down. When I finally made it there I was pretty scared, but after I while I got better and realized it had to have been the temperature difference between Norway and Argentina that was giving my body a hard time. I think there must be approximately 45 degrees Celsius in difference. I managed to do some more skiing before we went home though very slow and carefully.

Here are some photoes from when I was in Meråker and from a race my brother participated in. It felt good to go to a race again. They are arranged early in the day during weekends and it takes a lot of time and effort, but the atmosphere and the competition is so worth it=)

Could this be a dam? Yes, I am a nerd...

A lot of exercise requires a lot of rest...=)

Morning exercise; real early or just winter?

The biathlon athletes had already had shooting traingin, one could smell it:)

Sunrise

My brother is so kind that he prepares my skies, I am too cold to do so

My dad prepares many pair of skies before the race. I think he is glad only one of us continued..:p

Warming up

Tarjei in action!