Polar Training FINSE

THE ‘WEEKEND’:

This weekend is designed for everyone going on a trip later in the year—or planning on or dreaming of doing it later. It is a very intense few days. We go through all the main principles of a ski expedition, and we aim to answer all your and all the others’ questions. It is a fun and enlightening ‘bombardment’ of everything we know :-)
The aim is for you both to understand what a big trip craves and where you stack up in your preparations.

As you know, we have a series of other ways and trips to prepare and get a sniff of it all. But this one is the bare minimum of what you should do before heading for Greenland or other places.

THE WEEKEND GOES LIKE THIS:

Thursday 20th February 2025:

Everyone trickles into Oslo during the morning. If anyone needs any equipment, we can arrange a visit to Piteraq before heading to Finse.
At 12:03, we board the train and arrive at Finse at 16:32. If coming from the Bergen side is best for you, that is no problem.
As always, we stay at the Ousland House, and after settling in, we start.
This usually becomes a long and fun evening, where we go through a lot of details, and you bomb us with questions. (Dinner while talking).

Friday 21st February:

The weather dictates a bit how we set up this day, but we will go through equipment standards, sled backing, ski techniques and sled-pulling-efficiency.
After dinner we explain navigation, how communication works, and how to repair both body and equipment.

Saturday 22nd:

The morning is about nutrition and preparing to go out. Then we go on a one-day mini-expedition. We will not cover huge distances, but we will refine routines, tent, safety, and camp efficiency. We stay the night in tents.

Sunday 23rd:

In the morning, we return to Finse and the Ousland House, de-pack, and do a short debrief before jumping on the Oslo train at 14:20, arriving at Oslo Central Station at 18:59.

COST and what it covers:

The price you can see at the top of the page.

Included is lodging at the Ousland Finse House, food while staying at Finse, and general camp equipment like sleds, tents, stoves etc, sleds / sled bags

Not included is: Travel t/r Oslo, travel t/r Oslo-Finse, travel insurance, personal equipment including clothing, skis, boots, poles, sleeping bag, mattress, cup and eating bowl etc (you will get a packing list well in advance).

You also need to cover your flight tickets / travel to coming here. If you want to arrive early or leave later you also have to cover food and lodging before and after the training (during the training the nights will be spent in tents outdoors).

SOME OF THE SUBJECTS WE WILL COVER:

The aim is to go through the basic skills for winter survival in order to be as well prepared as possible for your next adventure.
We go through: • all the equipment • Ski techniques • Navigation • Routines inside and outside the tent • Backing the sled • Safty and survival • Trip Philosophy • And we answer a very possible question you may have: When the winds really pick up at what wind speed do you pitch camp? • How do you operate if the storm is already upon you? • What underwear works best for you? • How to train? etc etc
The questions never end, but on this polar training, you will get to pull every trick and tip we have out of us.
Of course, we cook, make a safe-camp, and enjoy tent life out there. :-) During this training weekend.

More info on the training trip and equipment list will be distributed when signing up.