KIKUT (Dagbladet): In Kikutstua, in the heart of Nordmarka, Dagbladet meets a polar explorer and two Swedes who are training for the Vasaloppet. They are among the many who braved the Siberian cold that hit Norway on Friday.
– It was delicious!, exclaim Daniel Fagerberg (50) and Caroline Wallman (45).
With frozen but smiling faces, they made the ski trip from Frognerseteren, directly near the city, to Kikutstua.
– It probably took an hour and a half, says Fagerberg.
– DELICIOUS: Daniel Fagerberg (50) and Caroline Wallman (45) Train from Stockholm for Vasaloppet. Photo: Kristin Svorte Show more
Steep hills
The two Swedes go to visit friends in Oslo with a particular goal in mind: to train for the legendary Vasaloppet ski race.
– We go here because it’s hilly, says Wallman.
In Stockholm, where the two live, the slopes are much flatter.
– You train on long tracks, says Fagerberg.
The protractor shows minus 27 degrees in the shade.
Despite well over 20 degrees below zero and newspaper headlines talking about “terrifying cold”, more and more skiers are visiting Kikutstua.
ICED: The guards stand outside the castle in the cold and show how they keep warm. Video: Magnus Paus / Dagbladet TV. Reporter: Bendik Hansen. see more
– High season
This does not surprise manager Einar Hougen (32), who manages the living room together with Susanne Ågren Andersen (35).
– We live here all year round, but now the high season is winter.
Friday is the first day of the season open to overnight stays.
– But how is the cold now?
– All right. Some people called and canceled because they thought it was scary in the cold, but there were others who called and wanted to come here and eat wooden plates.
Despite the turnout, the manager can say that the real high season hasn’t started yet.
– This is nothing compared to a good Saturday. Then around 1,500 will arrive. We sell 750 sandwiches and 750 waffles.
HØYSESONG: Manager Einar Hougen (32) manages Kikutstua together with Susanne Ågren Andersen (35). Photo: Kristin Svorte / Dagbladet Show more
– I am a polar explorer
From far away, that is, from a good distance on Lake Bjørnsjøen, Dagbladet’s emissary discovers a moving figure.
– This is a home office, says Inge Meløy (48) – who also went to Kikut on Thursday.
– I am a polar explorer, I have skied at both the North and South Poles. This is just food, he says.
He says it can get very cold there, above minus 40 degrees. His children grew up in Svalbard.
– I have a son who has been sleeping on the veranda for seven years now, says Meløy and adds:
– This is just a joy!
“SHOCK COLD”: In the shade the thermometer reads minus 27 degrees. Photo: Kristin Svorte / Dagbladet Show more
He has experienced harsher conditions – but the polar explorer points out that things can go wrong even when you are not as careful as now – precisely because you put your shoulders down on “home turf”.
– That’s when it becomes potentially dangerous and you end up making mistakes. Typical is that “you believed it and you had to do it”, he says.
– The few times I was on the verge of freezing were during regular field trips.
The cold has arrived
Here are the suggestions
– And any tips to be sure?
– Bring extra gloves, a shirt and a windbag. Sweat is often the problem. If you sweat, you get cold.
Even small falls can lead to critical situations.
– If you sneeze and break your hand, you become hypothermic (very dangerous and potentially life-threatening hypothermia. Jour.anm) in five minutes.
However, Meløy also thought about Sunday, after the “couples day” on Saturday. He invites everyone to come out now.
– It’s absolutely wonderful now. You don’t need to scare people.
2024-01-06 06:57:37
#Polefarer #joy