End of winter moments

Great Easter skiing in Rondane, above Mysusæter

Store Skillingen near Harestua became my favorite local ice fishing destination 

Spring colors at home

Driving up Rondanevegen to reach some snow combined with Maud map

Nice sea shore near Oslo (Tofte) combined with Rondane

Evening view from Hulvika combined with the airplane from Maud polar expedition

Tofte combined with Rondane

There are so many nice beaches near Oslo

Flatningen lake with a spring touch

Delingsdalen combined with Arctanderbyen (great tip for a short architecture visit in Oslo)

Oslo from Ekebergparken combined with Otta

Torso of Maud waiting for a reconstruction in Tofte

Savalen 2021

After two months, we came back to Savalen lake to enjoy longer days in the nature. I was surprised that the water level and the ice were several meters lower compared to December. It created some strange sculptures on the ice and it was necessary to adjust my ice fishing locations. 

These two pictures are taken at the same moment - around 6:50 in the morning. The moon was going down on west, while the sun was rising on east. Artic char is most active early in the morning = very early waking time for me as well.

We were lucky enough to get two nice røya for the grill.

Early fishing means a lot of time for other activities in the afternoon. The weather had a spring feeling, with around 7 degrees  = challenging skiing conditions requiring a klister …

Some high art movies in the cabin

On the way back to Oslo, we drove the scenic road nr. 27, that goes along Rondane national park. This time the visibility was amazing. 

Winter around Oslo

 A selection of pictures from January-February 2021. A lot of snow around with some really cold days. Except New Years trip to Tunhovd, we stayed in Oslo and enjoyed Nordmarka. 

On my way from Langvann, my favorite lake in Nordmarka

Skiing track in Lillomarka, the last day before a radical increase in temperature (by 25 degrees)

It is perch time in Nordmarka

the coldest morning so far, on my way to Hakadal

ice fishing with Tobias, my new fishing buddy. This is from Harestuvatnet

Nordmarka in a cold afternoon

sun is coming up, huraaa, Langvann

frozen lakes are beautiful

evening in Nordmarka

Langvann again

great skiing near Harestua

panorama view in Nesfjellet

somewhere near Nesbyen

this one was a good skiing day

Tobias on Tunhovdfjorden

Near Tunhovd

Savalen

It is becoming our tradition to spend Christmas time in a cabin nearby Tynset. This year we found this nice cabin on south-west end of Savalen lake. Five days in our classic rhythm - icefishing in the mornig, cross-country skiing in the afternoon. 

I was fishing for the arctic char. The fish were like a watch. Biting every day exactly from 9:00 to 10:30. The red flashing light was the most effective.  

The lake was different every day. 

Most fish were small and I was very surprised with this fat big char (50cm, >1kg)

These two fish were slightly smaller, but still amazing dinner size. 

No filter here, just a strange evening light. 

There was not so much snow as usual, but we did ski every day. This picture is from our trip to nearby Rødalen - a valley with a system of 15 lakes and several old farms.

And this one from our favourite ski-loop in Aumdalen near Tynset

Another trip to Røndalem, to use sunny (but very cold) conditions to check the views

South-west from Røndalen

After 5 days, we headed back to Oslo. We decided to drive along a route nr. 29 through Folldalen, turn left to this scenic route nr. 27 that goes along east slopes of Rondane mountains and connects to the main route E6 in Ringebu.  

But before E6, we stopped in Trabelia to enjoy some great winter. 

Femundsmarka in winter

Ice-fishing for artic char requires an early morning start, in order to set the rods just before "sunrise". On this picture, Tobias is hiking up to Volsjøen lake. I was really happy that he joined me on this trip, as it is great to have a good companion on the ice and in a cabin. We stayed in Dammhytta cabin on Valdalen farm - a perfect basecamp for our "expeditions". 

Weather conditions were not ideal up on Volsjøen, because the wind was strong and snow was in the air. But the ice was good (20cm) and we were hoping in a lot of fish. 

We managed to find a nice spot that was sheltered from the wind and that had an interesting depth profile. And for a few moments, we enjoyed some views as well. 

But most of our time we were looking at different types of our rods, hoping to hear the sound of bells...

Femundsmarka is one of the famous ice-fishing destinations, but our rods were silent most of the time. Tobias got one very nice artic char (>40cm) every day and that was it. The other icefishermen we met were not lucky at all... strange and unexpected.

Our last (3rd) day we spent on Hammarsjøen, a nice lake next to Fv654 road. We fished (=drilled 100 holes) on the farthest end of the lake just to find out, that we should have probably stayed at the opposite side. 

Catching an artic char is the only chance to see some other color than white/dark in these days. And it tastes so good! We must come back in March, when the days are longer, to discover other lakes farther from the road.