Snow Dreams

For those of you who knew me in high school, you know that I was an avid Nordic (cross-country) skier. One of the reasons why I picked Norway to spend my year abroad was the allure of a country rooted in the sport, where there is no separate ski culture- it just is culture. This is the land of skiing legends! When I decided to choose to come here for my year abroad, many folks asked "Why Norway?" Those that know me well just smiled, nodded and said "So you're bringing your skis?"

Last fall, as I was throwing around the idea of spending a year away from this incredible new life I had just created in California, I wrote the following to try to sort out my feelings:

My strongest dreams are encrusted in snow. Frosted trees and perfect grooming in West Yellowstone, the “Snow Farm” of New Zealand, and glacier cruising in Scandinavia fill my thoughts when I need to escape. What am I doing here on the coast in snow-starved Arcata, CA? There is a possibility that my call for “something different” may have been too extreme. Should I retrace my steps, acknowledge my falter in judgment and choose a school with snow and skiing accessibility? Or should I stick it out, learn a new sport, embrace my new (incredible) team, and be ever so grateful when I return to those groomed trails of my dreams?

On the topic of Nordic, I trace back to why I love the sport so much. It comes down to three main facets: My coaches and team, the intensity of training and racing, and the outdoor nature of the sport.

My coaches were more than I could have ever asked for. Strong, intelligent, experienced men and women, with real lives, ready to impart to you all they knew. And so many of them! They performed workouts with us, raced every interval on our ski tails, and dedicated so much more time than they were ever paid for. The team was based on goals and fun, doing well and having a blast.

Nordic was, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done. There were days when I was not sure I could make it back to the cabin. The racing was breathtaking- literally. I pushed myself so hard (physically and mentally) that I thought I would never become lazy in my whole life. Sitting here now, I long so badly to have that back! It was something that I loved working my body to the limits for everyday. That is missing. 


I was outside everyday, with just the trees and the silent snow and the moose. I always say that this is my church. This is my communion and confession and prayer meeting. This is where I can sort things out, think over difficult decisions, and make choices about my life. 

With that missing, I feel somewhat lost. I don’t have the “me” time any longer, and I feel a sense of floating. If I could have one or two good skis, I could tell you if I was going to take the bike trip, make my decision about a major, and decide about studying abroad. It clears the mind.

Is it terrible that I am dependant on that link in order to happily live my life? Why is it that I can’t make those important decisions now, without skis on my feet? Am I using skiing and snow as a crutch for my happiness? I’m not sure. All I know is that we make the life that we want to live. I chose to place myself in Arcata, and I have had a great reward for it- I have met the man of my dreams. Let me tell you, I am completely thrilled that we agree that snow is an integral part of our future. So now, I must follow my heart and go with the weather. Go to the snow. 

Bergen

I just got back from a great weekend visit to Bergen! The city that rains 275 days out of the year spared us- we didn't get a drop for the entire visit! Our journey began on Thursday night when traveling compadres (all ten of 'em) and I boarded the night train to Bergen. That allowed us to have full days on Friday and Saturday to explore. We left on Sunday morning and were back in Oslo by dinnertime.

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway. It is advertised as a cozy corner of Norway, but with over 250,000 residents, I should have been more prepared for the very urban atmosphere. Our hostel was five kilometers away from the train station in the city center, so we had pre-arranged walk when we arrived in town. We were rewarded with a incredible vantage point to watch the sunrise over Bergen.

On Friday, we decided to hike to the summit of Ulriken, the highest of Bergen's famous "Seven Mountains." There is a funicular that runs to the summit but it is quite expensive and we were all in the mood to walk. The top gave us fantastic views and an opportunity to try geo-caching, a worldwide activity that incorporates GPS and millions of hidden 'caches.' Think of it as a global scavenger hunt!

Adding to the geocache on the summit of Ulriken

Wahoo! It's not raining!

"Bergen Dream Team" on the summit of Ulriken

In the afternoon, we headed into town. Bryggen, the Hanseatic harborside of Bergen, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It has survived hundreds of years, multiple fires, and attempts to destroy it and rebuild with modern architecture. Sure, some of the buildings are being held up with scaffolding behind those nice facades, but it's the idea that counts, right?

The sun was shining for our walk around town on Friday evening, but I didn't feel the "warmth" of the city that is so publicized about Bergen. Everything I read about the city threw around words like "quaint" and "enchanting." Yes, the cobblestone streets were cozy, but the whole city felt a bit sterile. *Gasp!* Maybe it was just my mood, or my expectations were too high, but I didn't get the "charming" vibe I have heard so much about. Maybe I needed to spend a bit more time there to really soak in the Bergen experience. It made me reflect on how much I am getting to know and enjoy Oslo as a place with its own character.

For the second day, we took a bus out to the islands west of Bergen. It was a "Pick a Peak" Day, as I like to say. We decided to trail blaze our way to the summit of the highest thing we could climb. From the top we could see west, across the Atlantic:

And east, towards Bergen and the mainland.

The views were, well, not too bad. A fabulous day of walking with a great group of adventurers.

We booked morning tickets back to Oslo so that we could see the sights, instead of traveling at night (which saves time, but is tough for the views). Maybe you can see why I wanted a window seat:

It turns out that there was a international children's choir competition in Bergen this weekend. We were fortunate enough to be sharing a train car with a choir from central Russia. Before they transfered trains, they performed a few pieces. This video doesn't do them justice. It was quite an experience to have the magnificent landscape outside the window paired with 30+ incredible voices filling the train.

The landscape here in Norway is still taking my breath away. I love the high alpine tundra, glacial lakes and windswept mountaintops. Although I didn't get the vibe I was expecting from the town itself, I thoroughly enjoyed hiking in Bergen and exploring the natural surroundings of the western city-by-the-sea. 

Bergen Preview!

A full recap is on the way, but in the meantime, here are some photos of incredible landscapes from Bergen.

Autumn Wanderings

"Sleep in the Woods"

This weekend, I joined a group of international students from the University for a night's stay at the Student Hut in Nordmarka, the extensive forest surrounding Oslo. The weather was overcast and was the perfect hiking temperature.

We hiked the six kilometers to Ullevalseter, then took a break for lunch. This is a very popular hut on the weekends, and lots of folks flee here from the city to enjoy a waffle and a cup of hot coffee before the pleasant hike back.

The student hut sleeps up to 60 people, and is outfitted with a electricity, running water, restrooms, a full kitchen, fireplace, comfortable couches, a dining area, and a sauna!

The afternoon was quite enjoyable- lots of food, tea, and card games. Phase 10 was a hit, of course!

A big thanks to the Special Events Program for hosting the outing!