Outdoor activities - Alps and Svalbard
A year in the mountains you won't forget!
We are based in Hallingdal/Hemsedal and go on study trips to the Alps (randoneè) and Svalbard (mountain skiing/pulk). We can guarantee that you will have a year with lots of varied outdoor activities, many new challenges and a strong community. We go on foot and ski, explore the mountains and learn to make good, safe choices along the way.
Autumn starts out in the mountains here in Hallingdal and Hemsedal. The keywords are; lots of hiking, lots of different activities and challenges, a great and safe community built on good experiences in nature. Along the way you will learn a lot about outdoor activities such as cooking outside on a campfire/primus, setting up a good tent camp, orienteering with a map/compass, climbing mountains, hiking on a glacier, canoeing, spending the night outside under the starry sky (and the northern lights) and much more.
When winter comes in November, we get out our skis. We take our first summit hikes, learn about snow transformation, avalanches and the importance of safe route choices. We will also go on an astro-trip with telescopes and binoculars and try to find the moons of Jupiter and distant galaxies. If it should blow, we can take our kites with us and go to the top of Hemsedalsfjellet to practice kiteboarding. And if it is quiet, we can sneak away to Golsjuvet to try our hand at ice climbing. Early in February we will go up to Jotunheimen for a week of mountain skiing and sledging. A little to practice for Svalbard perhaps, but also to experience the high mountains at their most beautiful. When we get to March, we will go to Jotunheimen again, this time to combine skiing with climbing. You will get to challenge yourself, develop your skills and experience the joy of reaching a goal together with others.
The study trips to the Alps and Svalbard give us new landscapes to explore. We encounter mountains and nature that are different from what we know at home, and take with us the experiences from the trips in Hallingdal. The Alpine trip is in March, and often goes to Austria or Switzerland, - the Svalbard trip we wait until the midnight sun comes around April 20. Then we return home with new memories in early May.
It is not necessary to have a lot of previous outdoor experience. Most of our students do not have that either. The most important thing is that you can notice that you want to be outside more, - simply explore the outdoors. Try new things and contribute to the group. We share the tasks, help each other and together create a good community through both everyday life and the great experiences that await you out there.
Practical information
Practical information
The year is divided into three line days a week, in addition to 4 line weeks where we are on tour the entire week.
Price for the school year 2027/2028
Full year: NOK 153,900
Autumn: NOK 72,000
Winter/spring: NOK 81,900
You can get support from the Loan Fund. For the school year 2026/27, the support is NOK 170,000, of which 40% can be converted into a scholarship when the school year is completed and approved.
The price includes:
- food
- housing
- electricity and internet
- instruction
- line activities and tours
The school year
Start: August 22 / January 4
End: mid-May
Question?
Please contact us.
📧 arne@hallingdalfhs.no
📞 469 16 040
Join us for great adventures with Friluftsliv - The Alps and Svalbard!
What are you learning?
The foundation of outdoor life
- good clothes and good equipment
- to be able to find your way (orientation)
- camp life (from campfires in the forest to igloos in the high mountains)
- first aid
- camp food, - on a campfire and primus.
Skills and experiences
- climbing in the field and out in the mountains
- glacier and rope travel
- summit hike and randoneè/telemark
- avalanche understanding and safe route choices
- canoeing on water and in the river
- ice climbing
- winter outdoor activities with snow cave/igloo
- trip planning in Norway and abroad
- philosophy and values in outdoor life
Experiences you take with you
- to make safe and good choices when out and about
- cooperation and responsibility in a group
- respe, - about dangers and vulnerability
- sustainable travel (leaving no trace)
- safety outdoors – both alone and with others
What we expect from you
- that you show up and participate actively
- that you contribute positively to the community
- that you want to learn and try new things
- that you are willing to challenge yourself
You don't need any previous experience. The most important thing is that you have motivation and a desire to be outside.
Equipment list
Equipment
Good, warm clothes are your basic equipment. With them on your body and a little extra in your backpack, you can enjoy your trip even if it gets windy or the sun goes behind a cloud.
This is what you need:
- wool underwear
- insulating midlayer (preferably wool here too)
- waterproof and windproof outer layer, jacket/anorak and trousers.
- hat, scarf/buff, mittens (two pairs)
- sturdy mountain boots
- skis for randoneè/mountaineering with traps (can be borrowed from the school)
- sturdy ski boots and poles for mountain use
- solid hiking shovel
- backpack (60–80 liters)
- sleeping bag (comfort at least -15) and good sleeping pad
- headlamp, thermos and deep bowl/cutlery
- map folder, compass
The school has shared equipment that can be borrowed:
- tents and lavvoes
- cooking equipment (cookers and kettle sets, etc.)
- avalanche equipment (transmitter/receiver, search rod)
- glacier equipment (crampons, harness, ice axe, helmet, safety equipment)
- climbing and safety equipment (harnesses, helmet, rope, etc.)
- sleds with equipment
Who is the line suitable for?
This is not the line for world champions. That means that regular good form will do the trick. The most important thing you have with you is the desire to get out on a ride, and the curiosity about what awaits you out there.
Teacher
Meet the teacher
Arne Myksvoll is a teacher at Friluftsliv Norge. He grew up in Bergen, but has now lived most of his life here in Hallingdal. He thrives best in the mountains, especially when it's winter, snow and long days on the trail.
Arne has worked for many years as an outdoor education teacher at folk high schools in Sogndal, Bømlo and Hallingdal, among others. He is educated in sports, outdoor education, natural sciences and social sciences from the colleges of Telemark and Sogn og Fjordane, as well as the Oslo School of Sports and Health Sciences.
On a trip with Arne, you won't just learn about karting, skiing, campfires and canoeing. You'll also learn what it's like to enjoy the outdoors, both when the sun is shining and when the weather isn't quite cooperating.
He enjoys most forms of outdoor activities, but the winter mountains are his favorite.
Motto:
Everyone has a great time outside!
Do you have questions about the line?
📧 arne@hallingdalfhs.no
📞 469 16 040
