April 23, 2024
gem
hiking, skiing, Tyinkrysset, Tyinstølsnøse
alpine, avalanche gear, cross country, mountaineering, Norway, randonee, skiing
The decades long disagreement about whether downhill is better than cross-country has been solved! Randonee is the answer—a perfect combination of the two. Skis that you can hike up with (as long as your skins are working), but more importantly, also ski down with. Nothing like an edge.
Randonee skis have special boots that open and close according to mode, with downhill being much stiffer. And the bindings click in or are set in heel free mode. Cool stuff.
There is no better way to experience a mountain.
We used the cabin in Tyinkrysset as the base of operations for two adventures. The first up to the top of Tyinstølsnøse (1386 m) and the second up directly behind the cabin.
Ski rental also involves avalanche survival gear (and electronic locator, a shovel, and a body finding stick). Helmets are a must of course.
Tyinstølsnøse (1386 m)
What goes up, gets to go down too! So incredibly fun.
And then there is the campfire and some relaxing to do.
The second day adventure involved absolutely perfect weather and perfect snow. We skied down through the trees.
March 25, 2024
gem
animals, flowers, hiking, river
bluebells, dogs, gem, maybeline, moonshine, river, romey
This year, the bluebells first started leafing up out of the ground on March 1st. And on the 24th the peak was beginning. Early early.
Good thing global warming is not real.
This is Maybeline’s first bluebell season.
March 19, 2024
gem
farm, flowers, hiking, river
bluebells, forgert me not, lesser celadine, river, shenadoah river, star of bethleham, walking, wildflowers
The first sign of bluebells was March 1 this year.
Lesser Celandine
Forget me not.
Star of Bethleham
Bluebells begin to really blossom March 18th.
February 14, 2024
gem
hiking, mountain, nature, ocean, travel
hiking, LA, nora, pacific, panorama, romey, topanga, walt
Oh yeah, a morning hike to the top of the bluff. All told we may have hiked four miles. We started at Walt and Nora’s house and walked up to the Pacific overview. The weather was standard issue California — perfect.
Panorama
The crew (gem, nora, walt, romey)
Art?
It was a great opportunity to spend some time together.
May 9, 2023
gem
farm, flowers, hiking, photography, river
dames rocket, dog, flower, golden retreiver, moonshine, rocket, shenandoah, shenandoah river, wildflower
What’s the difference between Dame’s Rocket and Prairie Phlox? Why the difference between four and five (and alternate toothed leaves). This is rocket on the trail by the river that we walk every day.
Moonshine
And some black locust to perfume the air.
Final Moonshine
April 2, 2023
gem
hiking, nature, plants
bluebell, bluebells, flower, photography, river, romey, shenadoah river, shenandoah, Spring, video
It’s early for the peak. But the peak it is along the banks of the Shenandoah.
Romey looks like a bluebell too.
Moonshine does not look like a bluebell. Nor does he smell like one.
There are also other flowers available.
January 10, 2023
gem
dogs, farm, hiking, nature, trees
iulie, moonshine
Look at that smile on Moonshine’s face.
Tree elf.
Chopsticks
Little creatures are exhausting.
November 11, 2022
gem
hiking, mountain, nature, photography, travel
hiking, mountains, nature, Norway, photography, travel, vettisfossen, video, waterfall
The day could not have been prettier. Light rain, but gorgeous light. And peak Fall leaves. And waterfalls everywhere you look. The funny thing is, though we hiked about 13km, we never made it to the big waterfall! Ran out of light.
I guess we’ll just have to go back
THIS is not the one! But look. Spectacular does not even begin to describe this walk.
We had some very late lunch very near the top at an old farmstead and village.
The turn around point.
November 11, 2022
gem
hiking, travel
dogs, gøran, hiking, mountains, nature, Norway, nova, photography, romey, travel, video
Sometimes walking out the door and around back is the best way to hike. We bushwhacked up through juniper and blueberry towards a small lake where fish are rumored to live. Tyinkrysset, Norway is beautiful.
This little stream is just up the road a few hundred meters.
Here are some pictures of our walk in the mountains.
A view of the valley.
Chilly Romey.
Panorama
Our intrepid hosts at the top. Our fearless leader Nova was dressed for the weather.
We love being in Norway.
Coffee and brown cheese? Nova says yes.
November 8, 2022
gem
hiking, mountain, nature, travel
gøran, hiking, kongevegen, Norway, nova, romey, stave church
The trail, built by hand with horses and carts through steep mountain passes, is incredible. Like a movie set. This is one hike in Norway not to miss. We did a few kilometers day hike to the Stave Church completed in the 1180s.
The Kings Road is what Kongevegen means, BTW. The scenery at peak Fall is stunning and magical.
Romey and the logo bench.
Just up over the pass the first view of the Stave Church.
We approached from behind (with a herd of sheep). These are not the sheep!
Our fearless leader Nova.
Don’t eat the mushrooms.
A quiet moment of conversation.
A boy and his dog!
An impressive waterfall on the drive home.
Coffee stop.
And back home for beer and a small fire. This is the only kind of smoking that I like to do.
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