Training Log Archive: SarahD

D3 Skriurusten to Storeskaget. Shorter hop to the next hut today. Decided to take a line to the north of the hill lying between us and the hut, climbing over its shoulder to reach a minor summit. Snow in the valley bottom was a bit cruddy with breaking crust, but improved as we started to climb and then found a handy scooter track to speed progress. Bit of a break to try and fix an annoying blister, before continuing on towards a line of marshes and lakes. Snow gradually improved to give some lovely skiing towards the end of the tour. Arrived 5’ behind our hut mate from the previous night who had taken the more normal route to the south of the hill.

Afternoon side trip to explore up onto Skaget. Didn’t fancy sitting around all afternoon so stuck the skins on and hiked up onto the ridge behind the hut at the start of the climb onto the mountain. Had no ambitions to get to the summit, but left the skis at the start of the bare rock and scrambled up onto the first couple of tops along the shoulder to get some good views. Ski back down was just about ok on hard-packed windslab and survived without any falls!

D2 Espedalen to Skriurusten. Set off with skins on to make light of the hike back up onto the plateau retracing steps from yesterday initially, before striking off piste for the first time. D had already explored much of this area, so happily let him choose the route and pick the line. Stopped at a lakeside fishing hut before some nice skiing across a couple of lakes. Half way across the second I realised I’d left my sunglasses at the hut, so with D’s encouragement dropped my pack and retraced steps to find them. Without the pack it was a delightful whizz back, so no real hardship but an extra 3km added to the day. Some nice skiing down a side valley and along some more marshes before cutting to climb to a col. Things got a bit cruddier here and progress slowed a lot. The final 4km followed a marked scooter track, but the snow was windslab and icy and it turned into a bit of a slog on tired legs. Final descent to the hut was easier than it looked. Rewarded by a lovely hut in a beautiful location with the company of 1 other quiet Norwegian for the night. Good day :-)

To Tyin or bust. D1 off the bus at Dalseter and straight onto the skis to get down the valley to Espedalen for the night. Plan was to use the pisted ski trails and make it into a longer warm-up outing. From Dalseter there’s immediately a 200m descent to the lake and it wasn’t initially clear where the trail was meant to go. Felt like a complete beginner as I shuffled off cautiously, weighed down by what now felt like a stupidly heavy pack. Much faffage and a complete splatter before I managed to get onto the proper trail, give myself a talking too, and then slide carefully down the hill. After that things improved. There was a long climb up to Fredriksaeter on slightly crappy old snow, but then nice running along the top, and a steady descent down to Espedalen at the end. Arrived 5’ after DB, back from his 3 days solo warm—up tour.

DR. Extended w-u round by castle drive then to green. 10 x ~200m with 1’ between reps. Feeling it a bit from Morven and cba with the rest of the session, so jogged back through the woods. Blowin a hoolie on the green and just beat the rain.

Monday Morven chasing the sun to catch the last of the light. Beautiful evening but still a chilly wind up top. Legs vaguely cooperating, tho the pace was slow for the effort it felt!