Ski touring

This morning we had a good breakfast and mobilized to spend the day (or at least half of it) out cross-country skiing. We rented some ski boots for the kids and Rhodri, and borrowed everything else from Petter and his family who arrived in their green Caravelle van pulling a trailer full of equipment. And although today dawned cold (-18 deg C), it was clear and beautiful so perfect for a ski expedition.

View of the hostel in the morning sun. Our room was on the top floor, 2nd window from the end above the service doorway.

 Although there are ski trails straight from our accommodation, we drove to the Storlien Alpine Hotel and set off from there..

Gearing up in the car park

 We set out on the trails - Petter, Bjorg, Mia, Pia-the-dog, and us 4 Lewis'. There was a bit of steep downhill and steep uphill right at the start, but then the terrain evened out and it was nice and easy.

Tryfan skiing with "Baxter", his school class cuddly animal

 We had some fun with Pia too - she was really good at towing the kids up some hills when they started getting tired. It reminded me of all the good times we had with Bentley out ski touring (and also the scary times and the dodgey times!).

Rhiannon - a big smile after her fun with Pia

 It was a lovely, social, wonderful few hours of skiing along.

Rhiannon, Mia, Bjorg and Pia taking a little rest.

We stopped for a picnic lunch and then explored the grand old hotel before going back to our hostel for some chill-out time. In the late afternoon, I got to go for another ski tour with Petter and Bjorg (while Rhodri, Mia and the kids did some sledding outside the hostel) and it was sooo wonderful. I didn't take any photos but the landscape is so vast and wild here and I felt very grateful to be able to explore on skis in the waning winter light of this beautiful day.  We cooked ourselves a dinner in the shared kitchen and spent the evening playing Yatzee and hanging out with our friends. What a fabulous day!