St. Olav’s Way
Gear
As I’m preparing for the hike, I’m fine tuning my gear on lighterpacks.com. I’ll try to stay below 9kg base weight to make sure I have space for a decent amount of food to bring along. The idea is to plan it out ahead of hitting the trail so that I won’t have to gear up or make adjustments along the way.
Most items are are also linked to the manufacturer. So if you’re looking for inspiration or are just curious, take a look.
Big Three + Sleeping Pad
I will sleep in my tent as long as temperatures don’t drop below 5°C, so I invested in a warm sleeping pad and chose a double walled three-season tent. My sleeping bag has a 5° comfort rating and that’s really as low as you can go with it.
The Osprey pack has a great sturdy frame and is really comfortable to carry, even when loaded up. The top flap will stay at home to reduce a bit of weight. Ventilation is great, which helps prevent unnecessary sweat. I bought the complementary rain cover which should come in handy in Norway. Or hopefully this will not be the case so much.
Foodbag + Cookware
A warm meal per day will keep spirits up and I’m not sure if restaurants are open reliably on all stretches of the trail. A gas stove and some freeze-dry trekking food should do the trick and is possibly cheaper as well. A foldable mug and a single pot should be enough for my purposes and keep the weight low. I’ll also throw in a lightweight spork and a pocket knive.
Water Filtration + Hydration
Natural water sources in Norway are usually safe to drink even without processing. However I’ve not been to Norway before and I certainly want to enjoy the scenery instead of hunting for restrooms. A small water filter will help stay healthy and not take any unnecessary risk. A 3l water bladder should easily get me through the day in case water is scarce and will be partly filled on streches with loads of water.
Clothing
The route will take me along the outskirts of the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella Nasjonalpark where temperatures can drop to very lows at night. Even though I plan to hike in June, night temperatures are around 7°C on average. Daily highs are around 17°C on average. June has around 10 rainy days so I have a good chance to walk in the rain over longer periods.
Hence, even though I want to keep clothing to a minimum, I will carry quite some load to make sure I can feel comfortable no matter what the weather gods throw at me. I will layer up and have some extra base layers and socks for the night. A beanie and gloves to fight off the wind and cold. I chose Merino for the most part for its insulating properties and to avoid excessive hiker stink. Hope this works out, keep your fingers crossed.