Training in Cold Environments by the W.G.A. (Wilderness Guides Association) in Hardangervidda, Norway
We’re back!
This week at Hardangervidda has been intense. A ski and pulka trek where we’ve conducted workshops of all kinds, within the Cold Environments course (Wilderness Guides) of the W.G.A. Directed by X-Plore, we’ve handled workshops on snow science and orientation.
It’s been 8 days in total, from March 1st to 8th, where the students, all assistant guides (U.I.M.L.A.), and ourselves, have expanded and reinforced our knowledge in leadership, group management, conflict resolution, winter camping, survival in cold environments, tracking, stove repair, pulka driving techniques, telecommunications, terrain selection, moisture management, and much more.
We’ve shared some fantastic days with spectacular people. New friends already.
We all met up early on the 1st day, at Prat Airport, (Barcelona), to catch the Norwegian flight to Bergen, with more baggage than Santa Claus carries in his sleigh.
Once in Bergen, we spent the night at a highly recommended Hostel, the Marken Gjesthus, which is very close to the bus station, and even closer to the train station, which we caught shortly before 8:00 am the next day, heading towards Finse. This journey is recognized as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. I agree.
Once in Finse, we prepared all the equipment along with the pulkas, which we previously loaded onto the train, and off we went!!
We enjoyed, learned, and shared everything and everyone, surrounded by a spectacular landscape. An environment that can be overwhelming, despite being relatively close to civilization. Where we all could feel the bite of the cold. We reached temperatures of -25.4 ºC. And we slept one night in an improvised shelter, without tents, without stoves, and some even without sleeping bags. Alone and distanced from each other. A long night indeed.
We’ve come back with everything necessary to organize more than one activity in this area. We’ll prepare it soon and everything will be ready to share with you all that we’ve experienced.
We hope to see you here, in Hardangervidda!!
See you soon!!
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