We took the bus up to Bymarka today with half of Trondheim to cross country ski. It was a nice day and we had some new snow this week, but windy. Bymarka is the home of some of this year’s Olympic cross country skiers, including Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, a favorite to win several medals this year. We saw so many people, young and old, babies pulled in pulks (sleds), or in a kind of bike trailer on skis. There were also plenty of international students trying out the national sport as well, so we weren’t the only novices on the slopes.
Bymarka is a forest nestled among the hills around Trondheim, so there was very little flat out there. We 
did plenty of downhill, Anders does great and Nora got the hang of it. I was not ashamed of taking off my skis for a steep downhill. Ted and I both felt like our skis were not quite right for us, although I readily admit that I’m afraid of speed if I am not confident in my ability to stop. It’s not just the skis for me. And with downhills come uphills! Getting up a hill on skis is no small feat. We got quite a full-body workout. At the end Nora and I took off our skis and just hiked uphill in our boots too.
Trondheim’s ski culture is amazing, and the network of trails is incredible. There are also “hyttas” (cabins) and skistue (ski “rooms”) that serve snacks, have places to rest inside and bathrooms. You can take a bus up to one hub and ski to another hytta or stue that are served by another bus or tram service, so you can make a whole day out of it and don’t have to turn around and go back to your starting place. We talked with a family that was doing that today, but the trip was too long and uncertain for us for a first time out.
We got home in the early afternoon and took it easy. Now we are exhausted and happy for bedtime.
Now more pictures in the gallery (click one to start), some of them are by Anders.
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- Off we go, Nora making good progress.
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- Pause for picture…
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- Anders saw the potential in this little tree
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- Wayfaring signs
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- Snow bike!
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- We checked out this snowbank hoping to get a break from the wind, but we were just sprinkled in more icy snow.
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- A hill ahead to climb. The picture doesn’t do it justice.
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- Anders did not fall down. He is just resting because he had to wait for the rest of us to catch up.
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- Family skiing.
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- Bymarka Skistue, cozy room.
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- Vaffler! Anders is taking advantage of the self-serve jam and cream.
