Snowshoe Hiking in Kvaløya, Norway
I was happy this adventure didn’t start until 10AM, because I was pretty tired from dog sledding and seeing the Northern Lights the day before. For this guided snowshoe hike I went though Tromsø Outdoor. I actually booked ice climbing the day after this hike through another guide service, but they had cancelled because I was the only one registered. Perhaps that was a good thing because after this adventure I was pretty worn out.
Kvaløya is approximately 40 minutes away from Tromsø and the hike was up a smaller summit overlooking the lake (round trip is around 5 miles and 1.3K in elevation). It was absolutely beautiful and cold. 😨 It was about -20C/-2°F. Remember, this beach girl is used to mid-70’s°F and when it’s 50°F back home, I’m blasting the heater. 😂 Norway was not the coldest I have been though. I’ve hunted in a tree stand and blind in the snow which is much worse because you are sitting still for hours in the freezing cold. Once we got the hiking going, I was fine.
While most girls purchase expensive handbags and shoes (I like those too, but priorities), I invest in gear. It doesn’t matter the price as long as it’s good, because one day, it might save my life. Mother Nature doesn’t care about fashion, so think function over trend. I always wear layers and I plan for much colder temperatures because the mountains can be unpredictable. For this hike I had –
- Smartwool Merino wool base layer top, bottoms, and 2 pairs of socks (I don’t like my little toes cold 😔)
- REI Merino wool pull over
- Patagonia down jacket
- The North Face fleece and snow fingered gloves (next time I’d bring mittens)
- Arc’teryx shell
- Burton snow pants
- Asolo boots
- Fleece-lined beanie
Not counting the socks, gloves, and beanie which are around $20 to $50 a pair, each article of clothing ranges from $100 to $300 a piece, but it’s an investment for your body. Being cold can be painful. Just walking around town there were times where my hands and feet hurt so much I thought I was going to get frost bite. Okay, maybe a little over exaggerating, but you get the point. It hurt. Make sure you have the proper outdoor clothing, or you will be miserable. Think layers. When it gets hot, you can easily strip each layer off and carry it in your pack.
In total there were 8 of us, plus our guide. The panoramic views were stunning. My head was constantly doing a 360 looking in every direction. We were surrounded by majestic snow covered dolomites. There were definitely portions of the incline that I was slow on. I have never been able to trek up a mountain fast. I have had too many dance injuries from my ankle to my hip flexors to be able to move uphill quickly. Nevertheless, I move slow and steady, and I wasn’t too far behind the group. Actually, our guide said our group was the fastest as we ended 30 minutes earlier than the norm. I was really fortunate to have met two female travelers in this adventure. One girl was from France and another one from China. I really enjoyed my talks with the girl from France. She was so sweet! We had similar stories and we shared our experiences the entire way.
The hike up the mountain led us to a view overlooking Lake Kvaløya. It was breathtaking as the sun exposed itself over the mountain peaks. The lake was half ice and half water. We took a break here and our guide gave us hot berry tea and… can you guess??? Yes, Lefse cake. We took in the scenery, took a group photo, and made our way downhill. As we trekked back, the sun slowly hid itself behind the tall mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous to watch. Although I wouldn’t get to ice climb, I was very content ending my trip with this. The next day was a rest day to explore the town and prepare for my long journey home. ❤
