Målselv fjellandsby (mountain town)

I was up on the local ski-hill yesterday, admiring the hills.  I was out 'XC skiing' again (I tend NOT to stay on the 'XC' tracks yet somehow find myself wandering upwards through the woods, to see the mountains better ;)).  I was rewarded with some stunning sunshine and a great overview. 

So, here is the view towards town (Heggelia is almost dead centre of the pic, across the valley and 'beneath' the pointy big mountain [if you click on the photo here you can see more detail: Heggelia is on the left of the main town of Andselv, which is clearly seen as the houses on the right hand side]), also other vistas, some ptarmigan (the white blobs on the 5th photo down :)), reindeer tracks, etc.

ps. I am not wearing a skirt in the photo above (heaven forbid!)... the Viking Stance shadow is due to my jacket round the waist! (just in case of wierd comments!).

Heggelia, Bardufoss

Extremes

On 9th February, it finally happened: the sun hit my appartment.

So I was compelled to take a walk, and revel in it! ;)

Istinden ('the ice peak')- the local 1489m peak, which looms over Andselv, and looks pretty steep and snowy at best of times

and when this...
turns to this.... (on the 10th...) [same view, slightly different angle]

...I have a fall-back plan :)

Rostadalur hut tour

Well, it was a coolish weekend, (of about -18C, plus wind chill) and a visiting friend and I take a XC (XC!) ski tour up the local dalur to a nice, wee hut in the hills, just above treeline ('above the trees' is, apparently, 'where men wash the dishes best', I was informed...)

the frozen smile ('frozen', because my face muscles were a bit frozen, true enough)

extreme bridge-crossing



instant mousse - hut treat and easy to 'chill' on this trip :)

fox prints

The day after the ski trip, we helped with the Målselv rescue dog team. 

first you get into a snow-hole
then you are literally 'buried alive'

(hmmm :) out of the wind and cosy)

but not for long (well, if the dog is well trained!)...

for dogs digging me from my snowy shelter see also: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnNfYeqD8SBA (cut and paste this link to your browser, as I don't think it is a live link)

a good weekend, with just a touch of frost :)

....here you go, one and all!

Yesterday and today

The Målselv river yesterday 

...the sun "almost back" today :) 

click on this pic and you can see better the snow pluming off Istind

 (the big pointy mountain that overlooks town)

these last postings have been rather like a delayed web-cam on my location! I hope you find it interesting enough. Posting pictures is a good thing to do (... worth a thousand words, etc.)

View from my room

Yesterday (18 January) at 830am

ps. The sun is scheduled to return this weekend :)

Pre-xmas "Trondheim" hut party

...the fancy dress theme was "Trondheim" (I ask you!) and the venue was a few hours in by ski.  It was a good night, needless to say, and this was my 'xmas in Norway' night out, prior to my UK departure.