It is time for the longest nights and shortest days in the northern hemisphere. Also christmas time. But christmas is more than shopping, over-eating and crazy commercialized consumption time. It is time when the planet earth tilts back and the days starts slowly get longer and nights shorter, also the sun is at it´s lowest at winter solstice. This tilt happens on thursday 22nd at 0630 am (in Norway).

The darkest time of the year has been celebrated over centuries in many cultures all over the world. You don´t have to be a christian or other believer to enjoy this dark time of the year. It is a turning point when we start heading towards spring!

It is great to see things in a bigger perspective and follow the earths rhythm. One way to experience this is to go up to the mountains.

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Feel the cold,

                    shortness of the days,

          beauty

and the light.

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Winter sun on the Vengetind on the 20th december

The peaks of Isfjorden bathing in the december sun.

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Music is the connection

          your travel in time

Moments of existence

Mistakes made

          Right things to grow with

Believe in good

                     no outer

                              just you

Emptiness

          brings something new

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Beauty lies in its simplicity

It’s been a bit quiet here for a while. The reason is I put up a blog in finnish about mountainguiding in Romsdalen and Norgesguidene.

You will find it at vuorille.wordpress.com

And after that I left for a holiday in Sardinia. Good limestone climbing and funny company. Enjoy your autumn and have a great start for your winter!

Rest day activities

Good swim

It’s september again, and mountainwork is over. Here is some pictures of my summer.

Started kayaking again!

At work with Sverre. Gjertvassbreen is melting away.

Styggedalsryggen from Styggedalsbreen.

Borrowing the neighbours cat.

Wild and beautiful Romsdalen

Turtagrø might not be the center of universe but it is a pretty good place to be. Great people working at hotell and beautiful big Hurrungane mountains just some hours walk away. My guiding summer is going well with lots of work and easy living. Here is some photos from the trips and the area.

Happy Marit at work in Storen.

Storen from Midtmaradalsridge.

Dyrhaugsridge from Nordre Midtmaradalstinden.

Turtagrø

Sometimes I feel I’ve been such a slacker keeping contact with my friends. Days, weeks and months seems to be flying pass. But I do have lots of time to think about you all the good people out there. Long days in the mountains gives time to think over all the great talks and discussions (which I usually value more than a dinner…). Till next time!

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Keeping on expressing

           Words are the mirror

                            My hope

                    A desperate attempt

                     To feel connection

           Touch

                    Another soul

Not only open

           But naked

                     Thin skinned

           Burning in the sun

Thank you for being there

                     Listening

                     Giving some sunblock

           Throwing back that bread

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Spring weeks for me are pretty much going with skitouring guiding and other work. Last week I worked for Romsdalsvinter in Romsdalen. Very hectic days (no time for taking photos!) with good people and slushy spring snow. Days are now warm and the snow is melting. There is still much of it up in the mountains but down in the valleys the summer is definitely knocking on the door.

Some time ago I found this dead Norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus) in the forest. The rumours say it is going to be a “lemming year”, so I guess it won’t be the last one. It is very common to find them in the mountains and on the glaciers.

Lemmus lemmus

Norwegian lemming

An other random thing I find interesting is my Christmas Stars still alive! These ones here have had a long winter, at least 5 months. I’ve been away from them many weeks but they survive. Good sort! Not the ideal easter flower but I like them.

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

Last week i worked as a guide on Camp Lofoten. We started with cold sunny days and dry powder from sea level to the tops, and ended up with warm and rainy weekend with heavy wet snow. There were hectic days with good colleagues working well together. Norgesguidene.no organised all the guiding in the mountains.

Here is some pictures from the “Magic Islands”

On the way to Svarttinden / Sydalsfjellet

View towards Gimsøy

Kåre and Sverre pointing at some other nice peaks

On the top

Good snow on the way down

"Skitouring is for everyone"

On the way to Kvittinden, cloudy day at work.

On the way to Kvittinden

Top ridge

Happy guests on the top.

Good cruising down from Kvittinden