' ' • NOVEMBER, 1 969 - the DHO

although one hut did possess a radio-telephone.
Our two leaders, were Norwegian businessmen
who had taken this trip as part of their holiday.
The dog-team driver was a student from Oslo
University. They were all volunteers and were very
good representatives of the Norwegian people who
love the outdoor life. Without financial gain, they
enjoy showing their country to those interested in
this aspect of Norwegian life. We found them kind,
patient, humourous, and very honest.
We were accompanied by a five-dog team sleigh
which carried our sleeping-bags and surplus equipment.
The dogs were huskies, household pets in
Oslo, brought together for this purpose. They were
accustomed to living outside in all weathers, were
given one meal at the end of the day, and found their
drinks from the snow. They made an excellent,
friendly team, and travelled faster than we did.
They appeared to be enthusiastic, if their tails were
any indication of their spirits!
Growing familiar with the routine, we moved
from hut to hut, fortunate in the weather, which was
perfect—no wind and a cloudless sky. The trails were
all marked so that solitary skiers can use them with
confidence. Should the weather close down, the dogs
are capable of smelling out the trail to the next hut.
On one occasion, they were so far in advance of their
driver, that they went over a cornice and the sleigh
overturned four times, the dogs becoming entangled
in the harness. We congratulated ourselves that our
whisky was safe in our rucksacks and not on the
sleigh.
It can be reported that although the members of
the D.H.O. were amongst the oldest, they were the
first arrivals at their destination. Whether because
they had better staying power, better downhill
technique, or looked forward to the first choice of
bedroom, it is difficult to judge.
The scenery was never as majestic as the Alps, but
the huts were more comfortable than on Alpine
tours. The altitude being so much less, breathing did
not present a problem, Robert did admit that he had
not spent such an energetic holiday before, but he
felt much better for it.
Although we made a round trip, there did appear
to be much more uphill than downhill. Even the
lakes we crossed, had sloping sides, because the
En Route
Photo H. Thorp
water-level had dropped, so we still went uphill!
Once one had become accustomed to the long stride
which is possible with the touring equipment, distances
could be covered quite easily and it was a
pleasure to glide across the countryside.
The silence of the mountains has to be felt, and
Robert did say he would put some new batteries in
his hearing-aid, so that he could hear it better.
The waxes that are rubbed into the skis work well
as climbing waxes and skins are not required. When
you come to the downhill sections, the same waxes
work for downhill! The stem-turn, and side-step
are the general method of going round corners, but
when we found a little powder-snow, Alpine turns,
could be used and those helped us to make a quick
descent. A normal day's walk was of about six
hours, and this we did as a party usually having an
'up and down' of about 1,200 ft. As the 'down' was
at the end of the day, there was a 'free for all' which
took you to the hut. Great fun after the work you
had put in to gaining the altitude!
As we waited for the train at Finse for our return
railway journey, the weather broke, and it started to
snow. Our tour had been exactly timed and we
returned to England well bronzed and invigorated by
a most successful holiday.
Photo H. Thorp
Page Thirty-seven