“We haven’t had much snow this year so it should be an easy hike there and back.” Famous last words from my Norwegian friend, Ingeborg, turned into one of the most memorable and ridiculous adventures I’ve ever had.
By now you’ve probably seen Norway’s incredible run at the FIFA World Cup. Although their tournament ended with a loss to England, they returned home this week to a hero’s welcome.
My favorite part? Their fans.
Every match they pretended to row a Viking ship while chanting “Ro! Ro! Ro!” (“row” in Norwegian). It was impossible not to smile. Ingeborg even sent me a photo of her and her dad doing the famous rowing celebration before one of the matches.
Becoming friends with Ingeborg and learning about Norway through her eyes has made me grow to love and adore this country. I love it so much that I went back for a visit in April to celebrate the Easter holiday, with her and her family.
Let me tell you all about it.
Easter in Norway isn’t just a holiday – it’s practically an Olympic sport. Which is probably why they took home the most medals at the recent Winter Games in Milan/Cortina. They are a sporty bunch up here in the North.
Families disappear into the mountains to ski, hike, visit cabins, sit in saunas, eat incredible food (including the world’s best waffles), and for reasons I still don’t fully understand, watch crime shows.
Yes…crime shows.
Apparently murder mysteries and Easter go hand in hand here.
For most Norwegians, Easter isn’t primarily a religious holiday. It’s an opportunity to unplug, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the spectacular outdoors.
Of course, when I arrived, Inge had gifts galore and dressed us in pastels for the occasion. She is the best hostess. 💛
Ingeborg LOVES this holiday and had planned a full two-week Easter Extravaganza! Our first adventure was a hike to Skåpet with two of her friends, Regine and Therese, along with Therese’s dog, Lucy.
Skåpet is a collection of remote mountain cabins that can only be reached on foot.
When we started hiking, there were only patches of snow on the trail. Two hours later, it reached the middle of our calves.
That should have been our first clue.
Naturally, we also brought a box of wine.
Guess who volunteered to carry it?
Me.
It hung around my neck for the entire hike like some sort of baby kangaroo in a pouch.
By the time we reached the cabin, everyone understood one thing:
That wine was absolutely not making the return trip.
Drink up, Ladies. 🍷
The accommodations were rustic, to say the least.
There was an outhouse – with hand sanitizer.
A woodshed.
No showers.
The electricity was on a timer so we dined by candlelight. The workers hauled up propane tanks for cooking and we carried buckets of water from the nearby stream for washing dishes and preparing meals.
The cabins themselves were simple but cozy – two beds downstairs, two upstairs, a wood-burning stove, and battery-powered lights that Ingeborg thoughtfully packed.
It reminded me how little we actually need to be happy.
No cell service.
No Wi-Fi.
No television.
No endless notifications.
Just good friends, good food, candlelight, and fresh mountain air.
Sometimes simple really is better.
A short walk down the hill from the cabins was a sauna – Norwegians love their saunas.
This was a highlight.
We used it for about an hour, sitting and sweating in the heat only to run outside, roll in the snow, get cold again, and run back into the warmth.
Then Ingeborg casually climbed into the freezing mountain stream.
Clearly, there is Viking blood running through her veins.
My ancestors did not give me this sort of stamina or strength.
That evening we went to bed after a wonderful day of hiking, eating, laughing, and alternating between the sauna and the snow.
As we settled in for the night, I noticed it had started snowing.
At first it looked magical.
The nearly full moon reflected off the fresh snow, making the entire valley glow.
Then I woke up.
Still snowing.
Two hours later…
Still snowing.
Again.
Still snowing.
By four in the morning my imagination had completely taken over.
What if we’re trapped?
What if we lose the trail?
What if someone gets hurt?
I barely slept.
The next morning I discovered my anxiety hadn’t been entirely irrational.
I was the first one up and when I stepped outside I found the volunteer caretaker shoveling nonstop. She told me it was the biggest overnight snowfall she’d ever seen there.
“Seriously?”
That wasn’t exactly the reassurance I was hoping for.
The snow was up to our knees and in some spots, our thighs.
We were the first group to leave.
Even though we knew we needed to follow the river and cross over it back and forth a few times, the trail had completely disappeared overnight.
We got lost.
Thankfully, while we were trying to figure out how to find the path, a family of four found us along the way. They had been using the trail we made, which was surprisingly accurate, but they also had a satellite GPS – which we didn’t have. So we teamed up with them to make it back to the car.
Unfortunately, just before they arrived on the scene, the worst happened…two of us were injured and one of those people was me.
Not being able to see where I was walking, my leg slid between two boulders hidden beneath the snow and I landed sideways on my ankle.
My shoe had come untied and loose without me realizing it because I could barely feel my feet. I was lucky I didn’t break it. We were only 30 minutes into a two-and-a-half-hour hike. I ended up walking several miles on a sprained ankle. Thank goodness for the frozen feet and legs otherwise I’m not sure I would have made it back to the car. Ouch.
Regine wasn’t spared either.
She stepped into a hidden hole filled with icy water, soaking one foot almost immediately. She had a minor sprain as well.
By the time we reached the car, all of us had wet feet, sore legs, and huge smiles.
Sometimes the hardest adventures make the best stories.
Another unexpected and memorable adventure during my visit was going crab fishing with another of Ingeborg’s friends and her dad.
What an incredible experience! We cruised through the stunning Norwegian fjords, pulling up crab pots one after another. I kept waiting for one of the crabs to pinch me…not because I wanted it to, but because I needed proof I wasn’t dreaming. It felt like one of those travel moments that doesn’t seem real until you’re living it.
Later that day, her friend’s father brought over a few Norwegian lobsters for me to see since I was so fascinated by the crabs. I had never seen anything like them.
I love when travel becomes more than sightseeing; when it turns into an adventure and an education at the same time.
From there, our road trip continued to Ingeborg’s family cabin in the mountains near the town of Sand. It was my first time meeting her parents, and let me tell you, they are every bit as kind, generous, and fun as Ingeborg herself.
Her mom, Elin, is a little camera shy, but she is one of those quiet people whose presence makes everyone around her feel at home.
She is gentle, steady, and grounded, and it’s easy to see she’s the backbone of the family. While the rest of us laughed, talked, and explored, Elin quietly worked her magic in the kitchen.
Every meal was incredible. She peeled every vegetable by hand, marinated the meats for hours before cooking them, baked delicious desserts, and somehow made every meal feel like a celebration. Everything was homemade and prepared with so much care and love – and not one detail was missed. I instantly loved being in her company.
Then there’s Håkon, Ingeborg’s dad.
He is truly one of a kind. I mean, they broke the mold with this guy.
He has enough stories to fill a book, from sailing around the world to running a dog-mushing company, and he tells every one of them with a mischievous sense of humor. Spending time with him means you’re guaranteed to learn something new while laughing the entire time.
This photo captures his spirit perfectly.
While we were staying in the mountains, Ingeborg decided it was finally time for me to experience cross-country skiing.
Another first…
She also insisted on dressing me for the occasion.
Her choice?
A shimmering metallic onesie ski suit straight out of the 1980s.
I looked like a disco ball on skis.
Naturally, Ingeborg’s dad and I had a “Who Wore It Better?” competition.
Let’s be honest…he is clearly the champion.
As for my skiing ability?
Let’s just say I spent more time introducing myself (face first) to the snow than actually gliding across it.
I couldn’t stop falling.
But I absolutely rocked the onesie. ⭐️
I think I’m built more for mimosas and cute ski suits in the lodge than zooming down the slopes.
One thing I admire most about Norway is how accessible they make the outdoors.
Renting skis, boots, and poles cost just $7 at Gullingen skitrekk.
There wasn’t even an employee.
You scan a QR code, pay, borrow the equipment, and return it when you’re finished.
That’s it.
It’s completely based on trust.
Imagine that.
There were countless funny moments and unforgettable adventures during my two-week visit, far more than I could ever fit into one blog post.
So I’ll leave you with our final outing: a bike ride to Sola Beach to watch the sunset.
It was the perfect ending to another unforgettable trip.
Despite the freezing temperatures, people were actually swimming.
Crazy Norwegians…
I love them. 🇳🇴
Every time I visit Norway, I leave with more than photographs.
I leave with stories and priceless memories.
Stories about blizzards, Viking saunas, crab fishing, vintage shopping, stylish ski outfits, incredible people/friendships, and adventures I never could have planned.
This country continues to surprise me, challenge me, and remind me why I fell in love with travel in the first place.
Until next time, Norway. ❤️🇳🇴
Much love & gratitude. Namaste 🙏
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Ingeborg LOVES to shop at the vintage stores. While I was there, I picked up these super cute green Hunter boots for $40 – steal of a deal but difficult to transport to the US. I almost had to wear them on the plane.
One of the best souvenirs is an original Norwegian wool sweater. Travelers tip: buy them at the vintage stores for a fraction of the price. And to clean them, lay them in the snow and sunshine for a few hours.
If you’re looking for a cool and unique experience, check out The Bolder Skylodge. We made a pit stop to see Regine and her sister. They had rented one of these cabins for the weekend and gave us a tour – it was spectacular.
