How about endless slickrock terrain with marked trails for biking in daytime, combined with high end hotel accommodation and food? Including massage, sauna, hot tub and bonfire story telling on top of this. Canvas Hotel in Telemark offers this incredible mix of adrenaline biking and soothing comfort.

Normally, groups of guests arrive by bike on an hour long trail. Others want to arrive on the 1.5 or 3 hour long trails. The latter on the DNT-trail from Gautefall. Luggage is taken care of. Once in the camp there’s a selection of marked trails, for the time being from 3 to 15 kilometers. Guests are divided in groups based on distance ambitions or technical levels, and guides bring them along to give everyone what they came for. Upon request, guides can easily organize multi-day trips in the area as well.

The trails are flowy and not very steep. The slickrock formations offer any imaginable feature, including streams, lakes and deep and wide cracks in the landscape. These are negotiated with bridges and woodwork in to the necessary extent. Luckily, the trailmaster himself is the landowner, who also is eager riding his bike. So in the years to come, there are loads of trail gems in pipeline here.

FACILITIES
The hotel itself consists of 12 comfy yurts with two beds, heated with firewood. There’s a kitchen tent, sauna and bathrooms.
More information:
canvashotel.no
facebook.com/canvashotel

EQUIPMENT
The trails are super smooth, so you’ll be fine on everything from a 100mm full suspension bike. 160mm will be overkill, but no problem. You’ll be OK on a hardtail, but should consider renting a Lapierre Zesty at Canvas.

GETTING HERE
Go on E18 to Porsgrunn and follow signs to Drangedal. Or you continue south on E18 and go on Drangedal signs from there. When passing Drangedal, keep going until Gautefall signs show up. Follow them, and stick to the plan you made when booking at the hotel. Allow 3.5 hours from Oslo and a bit more than 1 hour from Porsgrunn.

GPS-TRACKS
15 km/500 vertical meters from the hotel:
connect.garmin.com/course/133893

Gautefall – Canvas Hotel. 15 km/600 vertical one way on DNT trail. Walking trail that lacks the Canvas flow:
connect.garmin.com/course/211728

More info:
Guide at Terrengsykkel.no (in Norwegian) – terrengsykkel.no/index.php?stid=472
Story in Norwegian – terrengsykkel.no/index.php?id=3941

Only 1.5 hours by car from Oslo, you can do one of Norway’s most amazing All Mountain rides on your mountainbike.  The climb starts at approximately 800 meters (from the tree line), and follows a truly biker-friendly DNT trail to Høgevarde (peak at 1459m, DNT-hut at 1400m). If you go back down all the way to Krøderen Lake (132m),  you’ll have one of the most majestic singletrack/doubletrack runs you can find in Norway. 25 kilometers downhill, of which only 3 kms on gravel/tarmac roads. And only a couple of handfulls of climbing meters.

From the Høgevarde peak you can enjoy a 360 degree view only surpassed by Gaustatoppen in southeastern Norway (straight to your west when standing there). You can also see Tryvannstårnet in Oslo on clear days.

EQUIPMENT
There’s just one short passage on the climb that’s a bit hard to climb, mostly because of loose rocks. In other words, you’ll be fine on a 120 mm full suspension mountainbike. With more travel, you’ll obviously be more comfy at higher speeds back down the hill. A hardtail will also be OK, but not ideal. Additional protection other than the helmet really isn’t necessary, but I’ll wear light knee/elbow pads the next time I go (watch the video and judge for yourself). Two cars make the shuttling easier, but you might get a lift back to the top, or call the taxi (could be expensive).

GETTING HERE
By car from Oslo, you go on E16 from Sandvika and Riksvei 7 from Hønefoss until you get to Noresund. Then you wanna take a look at the map and start planning. It’s 1.5 hours from Oslo, a little less from Drammen.

Resources:
Guide at Terrengsykkel.no (in Norwegian) – terrengsykkel.no/index.php?stid=471
Map/GPS-track – connect.garmin.com/course/124488
Norefjell – norefjell.com
Weather forecast Norefjell (800m) – http://www.yr.no/sted/Norge/Buskerud/Kr%C3%B8dsherad/Norefjell_skisenter

Accomodation:
Quality Spa & Resort Norefjell (Hotel at Bøseter) – norefjellsparesort.no
DNT (Høgevarde) – turistforeningen.no

Text/pics: Simen Berg/Kathrine Duun Moen

The best lift-served skiing in Norway is by far Narvikfjellet. The 1832 meter long gondola ride itself is worth the trip to Narvik.

Unfortunately it is far to travel, also for most of us Norwegians. But if you leave Oslo Thursday evening, and return Monday morning in time for work, anyone can do it without wrecking the relationship to your boss, smashing your budget or planning months ahead. Because you do want to know that the conditions are right. And in late April, you might very well encounter 30 cms of fresh snow that stays dry for the top 800 vertical meters.
Riders: Kathrine Duun Moen/Simen Berg

Obviously it’s an awesome place for freeride/downhill biking. This is Emil Carlson bombing. In 2011, locals started working on the not-so-downhill “Black kids” track, that will attract more normal riders. As opposed to the old and more hard core downhill track.

FACTS
To go to Narvik, you catch a plane to Evenes/Harstad airport, and catch a bus transfer.
www.narvikfjellet.no

MORE PICS
More powder freeride pics in my “Best of Norwegian Ski Resorts” gallery
(featuring skiing/snowboarding in Hemsedal, Narvik, Stranda, Fjellsetra and Norefjell)

Stoppestedene ligger tett på øya, som er 62 kilometer lang, og fra 8 til 15 kilometer bred. Det går fint å leie bil og ta seg rundt på egenhånd. Allikevel er det å anbefale å bli med på guida tur også. Selv om det er unorsk å gjøre noe sånt, vil mange ha glede av kunnskapen de lokale guidene sitter på. Spesielt siden øya har flora og geologi som er såpass ulik vår egen, er det artig å være på tur med en uutømmelig kilde til nyttig og unyttig informasjon.

Områdene rundt Furnas-sjøen og Pico da Vara (øyas høyeste topp på 1105 meter) er fine for vandring og sykling. Vi tok turen på vestsida, på kanten av det største krateret og videre ned til landsbyen Sete Cidades. Turen er 12 kilometer lang og tar en halv dag i rolig tempo på grusveien som går rundt det meste av Lagoa Azul. Fra starten på 700 meter over havet er det bare 100 meters stigning før resten er nedoverbakke. Etter hvert kommer veien helt ut på kanten av krateret, hvor skråningen går stupbratt ned til vannet 300 meter under oss. Tvillingsjøene der nede viser sine karakteristiske blå og grønne farger. Nedstigningen til en fortreffelig kaffe i den søvnige landsbyen går på den bratteste grusveien vi har sett. Dessverre dukket det aldri opp noe trafikk mens vi tråkket oss sidelengs nedover.

FAKTA
Vi reiste til Azorene med Solia fra Oslo i begynnelsen av mai.
Mer om Azorene: Hvalsafari, Hesteridning

ENGLISH SUMMARY
During our Ponta Delgada stay in May 2011, we went hiking by the Twin lakes. We also visited the hot spring Caldeira Velha. The next time we visit, we’ll check out biking and hiking around the Furnas Lake and Pico da Vara, the highest peak on the island.

Tekst/Foto: Simen Berg (English summary below)

Den frodige hovedøya på Azorene, Sao Miguel har flere ridesentre.

Tittelen refererer til undertegnede, som aldri har ridd før. Nå skal vi ut med premiehestene til hesteoppdretter Manuel Soares, som nettopp er ferdig med dressurshowet på Quinta Pico da Cruz. Nå skal hestejenta Kathrine for evig og alltid få justert skalaen for hesteopplevelser. I det hun setter seg til rette i salen på Lusitanoen «Sabre» går smilet hennes nesten helt rundt:
- Jeg har aldri sittet på en så fin hest, sier hun.

Den 17 år gamle hesten min heter Princessa, og er håndplukket til rytteren.
- Det er henne jeg alltid har pleid å ri. Jeg stoler 100 prosent på henne, sånn at du slipper noen overraskelser, sier Manuel med et smil.

Jeg tenker at det vennlige smilet hans også kan tolkes som overbærende. Forståelig nok.

Fra den prydelige gården rusler vi oppover stien og får stadig bedre utsikt til nordsiden av øya.

Bak meg, høyt der oppe fra den guddommelige Sabre, hører jeg en flirfull oppfordring:
- Du må slippe ned skuldrene, de er helt oppunder ørene dine, sier Kathrine, som selv jobber med å tøyle hestekreftene i den nykastrerte Sabre.

Etter hvert blir det lettere å slappe av og nyte turen. Selv om avslutningen i full galopp ikke føltes spesielt kontrollert.

FAKTA
Vi reiste til Azorene med Solia fra Oslo i begynnelsen av mai.
Mer om Azorene: Hvalsafari, Vandring

ENGLISH SUMMARY
During our Ponta Delgada stay in May 2011, we went horseback riding. After watching the show with Lusitano horses at Quinta Pico da Cruz, we went riding for a couple of hours in beautiful surroundings.

Tekst/Foto: Simen Berg (English summary below)

Etter sen ankomst kvelden før er det behagelig å rusle over gata fra hotellet i Ponta Delgada for å møte opp for hvalsafari. Etter en interessant briefing drar vi til havs i en åpen, drøyt 30 fot stor båt som rommer like mange mennesker. Etter et kvarters gange får vi kontakt med et stort antall delfiner, som leker seg rundt båten. Så nærme at vi nesten kan ta på dem. Fra briefingen på land har vi lært at 24 av verdens 80 arter er å treffe i dette farvannet. Etter kort tid fortsetter vi østover, for det er tross alt hvalsafari vi er på, ikke delfinsafari.

Jakten her er ikke så tilfeldig som man skulle tro. På radiosambandet spraker kommandoene fra hvalspeiderne som sitter i høyden inne på øya. Skipperen på båten følger instruksjonene, og gjør oss etter hvert oppmerksom på «avtrykk» i dønningene, som avslører at hvalen svømmer like under overflaten. Vi følger etter i påvente av at hvalen kommer opp for å puste.

- Der, sier skipperen og peker. Hvalen blåser en vannsøyle til værs, men det er alt vi ser. Det smatrer i kameraene, uten at det er noen hval å se på bildene. Radiokommandoene fra speideren fortsetter, og vi kan snart følge den jevnlige pustinga til hvalen. Det viser seg at vi har fått selskap av to voksne og en liten seihval, som kan bli nærmere 20 meter lange.

Skipperen balanserer hårfint på den pålagte 50 metersgrensa, men det affiserer åpenbart ikke de store dyra som fortsetter å samle oksygen til å dykke dypere. Det er betryggende å høre at denne bardehvalen bare har krill og plankton på menyen. Avstanden mellom nesa og finnen på den største av de tre hvalene kan være 6-7 meter, og da er den totale lengden gjerne det dobbelte. Derfor er det fint å kunne skilles som venner etter ti minutters tid. Futurismo, som står for turen, oppgir at de ser hval på halvparten av turene sine. De har også «pengene tilbake»-garanti i tilfelle både delfiner og hval skulle finne på å ikke møte opp.

FAKTA
Vi reiste til Azorene med Solia fra Oslo i begynnelsen av mai.
Hvalsafarien var organisert av Futurismo, som hadde et veldig bra opplegg.
Mer om Azorene: Hesteridning, Vandring

ENGLISH SUMMARY
During our Ponta Delgada stay in May 2011, we did a half day whale safari. We saw lots of dolphins and three Sei Whales. We highly recommend Futurismo.

Roni opened
The last weekend of November, the Roni part of the resort opened. The first weekend of December they will open the Tinden area as well. That means that people will spread out just fine.

Terrain park elements opening
The popular “Blåparken” (with blue elements) has been open for two weekends already. This weekend there will be som new features opening in the brand new red line that replaces the traditional “Hemsedalsparken”. “Panoramaparken” is up and running.

Here’s the 2011 calendar, with my picture of Rolf Henrik Lonnevig cruising.

You can also check out this season’s Hemsedal Magasin, with some articles I did:
http://skistar.mediabook.no/11/

REOPENED 2002
Unfortunately the original hotel burned to the ground in 2001, but the late Ole Drægni decided to have a new hotel built. He hired the amazing architects Jarmund/Vigsnæs Arkitekter (jva.no), and from day one, the new hotel became a landmark. The pictures will have to speak for themselves. The interior and furniture is specifically designed, piece by piece.

Turtagrø Hotel. Photos: Bergphoto.net

HIKING and CLIMBING
The hotel is the natural starting point for many of the most stunning hikes in Norway. With the third highest peak in Norway, Store Skagastølstind (“Storen”, at 2405 meters), as the most attractive for climbers, there are still handfulls of of other peaks to be reached without the use of ropes. Fannaråken has a DNT-hut at 2067 meters, and it’s just a three hour walk from the hotel.
- Some pics from Fannaråken and Skogadalsbøen (also DNT)
- Read my story from Fannaråken sunrise (pdf, in Norwegian, English, German)

SKIING
In April, May and June conditions are excellent for spring skiing and snowboarding. But there are no lifts, though. Still High Camp, the ski/snowboard touring festival organized by Fri Flyt, gathers more than 500 participants the second weekend of May.
The road up to the hotel is open all year. The road across Sognefjellet to Lom normally opens around 1st of May, and the road to Øvre Årdal opens mid to late May. Skiing pics from the area, and some more from Nordre Skagastølstind

Turtagrø Hotell, with Skagastølstindane in the background. Photo: Bergphoto.net

Anne Marit Lia skiing Dyrhaugstind with Riingstind and Austabotntind in the back. Photo: Bergphoto.net

LINKS

Turtagrø Hotel + Wikipedia article in Norwegian

High Camp (touring/backcountry ski/snowboard festival in May) by Fri Flyt Magazine

Fjellfilmfestivalen (Mountain film festival in September) by UTE Magazine

I went to Hafjell to shoot some photos, and I published just about all of them on my website, Bergphoto.net. Please see below these shots for links to a couple of videos giving you the roundup of what happened.

Here’s the NRK 30 minute roundup of the event (unfortunately in Norwegian):
http://www.nrk.no/nett-tv/klipp/656953/

A full run through the track by Espen Johnsen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1KPmSciRF8

Also check out this amazing tricopter film from the top section (+ some from “NM-løypa”):
http://www.vimeo.com/13718165

Links:
Hafjell Bike Park
Hafjell Freeride Klubb

European Championship results (pdf): MEN WOMEN JUNIORS

WHAT IS THE CONCEPT “TUR”

A lot of tourists bump into the word “tur” when they travel in Norway. This could be a typical conversation between a foreign visitor and his/her Norwegian host planning what to do.

- Do you want to join for a “tur” tomorrow?

- What is “tur”?
- Normally it is a walk, but it could also be running, biking, or cross country skiing in winter.

- What do you do on a “tur”?
- Nothing specific, really. We have a look around, and when it is time for a break, we have a picnic with sandwiches from our backpack.

- Why don’t you just stay home, watch a movie, and have your dry sandwiches at home?
- You feel much better outside, and it is great exercise.

- But why do you want to go out now, the weather is bad?
- It is so nice when you get back here in front of the fireplace.

- How long does it take?
- It depends. Anything from half an hour to all day. Or more.

- Where does it go?
- Typically on a narrow trail, that passes viewpoints or ends up on a peak. Or around a lake. Or across an island. Sometimes you do not decide until you are out there.

The Norwegian “tur”?
The Norwegian meaning of the word “tur” could be numerous things. Normally, we refer to it as a recreational hike in rural surroundings. But it is still mostly an urban phenomenon, to get away from traffic and paved roads and suck in some fresh air. Because when you travel around to pittoresque gems in deep fjords, it is not that common for the locals to have visited the surrounding peaks or places that tourists travel the globe to see.