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Most of them are free and well-kept, some even have a soul.

This is the kind of post that fuels my desire for a Norwegian winter getaway for a couple of weeks of skiing.

I was thinking the same thing.

Who built/maintains the cabins @Inspiredcapers ?

Nice boot cover-gators on your Alpinas. Looks like they fit very well. What brand are they?

I honestly have no idea who organizes the hut system over there…probably a question Randoskier or Theme would be able to answer better. Wish we had something along those lines in BC.

Inspiredcapers wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 04, 2023 11:22 am

This is the kind of post that fuels my desire for a Norwegian winter getaway for a couple of weeks of skiing.

"Weeks?!"
Don't they have a 90 day limit in the Schengen Zone?
Sign me up!

@GrimSurfer @Inspiredcapers, there are several systems of cabins. They are either belonging to the Norwegian Trekking association (DNT) (300'000 members and over 500 cabins), local municipalities or non profit public agencies such as forestry management agencies (as some of these in this post), or private cabins which can be rented over AirBNB or craigslist style sites (finn.no).
Some of these basic cabins (outhouse, no power/water) are free to use, especially the municipality / public agency cabins. Many other basic cabins can be rented for varying fees, from ~100 NOK / 10 USD per night and up. In those you can expect to find a stove with propane, and dry firewood. The price is sometimes so low it makes me wonder how they can maintain the cabins for the economy.

Nice to see that sense of “community” connect to a sport. Not sure if that happens much in North America any more… maybe small pockets (like Gatineau Hills… bee a while since I’ve been up to those cabins, so don’t know if they’re still around).

The workmanship on the Norwegian cabins is really nice. Reminds me of some of the structures atbthe top of Lake Superior… reputedly built by Finns in the 20s and 30s as they did journeyman work on the way out West.

Roelant, thanks for the reply and information. You’ve provided useful information as a person researches for a future trip.

I have to somewhat correct myself regarding backcountry huts here in the Canadian Rockies- there are several dozen available (many run by The Alpine Club of Canada) and I’ve found several privately owned huts/cabins during hikes/ski outings over the last few years. I was alluding more to a linked system (such as what’s found in Norway) for a hut to hut experience.

Read an article a few months ago about Parks Canada having to dismantle one of those cabins due to instability… it was really old though. A hundred years maybe.

Regardless, these “little treasures” are worth preserving… they rank, in my mind, with World Heritage sites. They’re not as grand but they are little windows to simpler times and sensibilities.

- All XC trails are free to use, prepared tracks or not
- There is a right to roam in Norway. This is explained in this little brochure:
https://www.miljodirektoratet.no/sharep ... IPRWLN4QCB
In few words: There is no such thing as trespassing unless you are on cultivated land. You can cross, camp, forage for berries or mushrooms, fish in saltwater, regardless of who owns the land.


https://www.inatur.no/ Rental of various cabins (1250 in Norway, public or private) and hunting / fishing licenses. Press "Menu" on the right to find the option to switch to English.

Cabins from the Norwegian Trekking Agency and some of the government agency ones. Need to be a member to get a key for the ones which are not "ulåst" (unlocked). You usually cannot book the whole cabin, just your own bed. The free cabins cannot be booked.
https://ut.no/kart#7.39/62.499/11.814

Map of "open cabins", free to use.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewe ... 97185&z=11

Cheers
Roelant