Norway end of April/early may, camping and climate?!
 

Hello

Not another Norway thread!

Just wondering, if I am going as far north as Romsdalfjorden in the first week of May, will I be very cold? I have a good three season sleeping bag and liner, and am planning on doing some wild camping. Not too keen on Camping in the snow, but hoping there will be places to camp beneath the snow line. Obviously some of the passes will be shut, i'm not to worried about that, as this is really the only time I can go, and my trip has been lengthened by the royal wedding in the UK: More holiday! Less rushing around.


Many thanks for reading

Efef

Norwegian Summer?
 

This year (2010) it snowed in May and the top summer temperature was 16 degrees C in the middle of the day. :rain:

I think you should ensure your sleeping bag has a comfort zone of -5 to +5, I don't know of any 3 season sleeping bag that has this, so you might need to invest in a 4 season bag otherwise it may be chilly :freezing: at night.

ah, just had a check, mine is -7 comfort to -12, and I have a thermarest and sleeping bag liner, that adds a season, so should be ok.

Might book in some hyttes or b and b or hostels, so that if the weather is really pants at least I can have some relief.

thanks so far

Double mats to reduce rising cold
 

Stick to the coast (which is warmer than inland) or find as you said Hyttes and you should be fine with your sleeping bag.

Hint: most of the cold when camping comes for the ground so having an extra layer even if it is only cardboard or paper can help. I have two mats for cold weather, one foam (old thermal foam) and a self-inflating matress like thermarest, this drastically helps reduce the rising cold.

I was up in Norway again about mid may last year i went up as far as Bodo north of the Arctic circle. It was to be honest one of the best times I have had in Norway, The roads were quiet, no tourists, Most of the main routes through the fjords area were open but the High passes Trollstigen and the like were shut. The melt water and scenery was better than usual with the waterfalls full to capacity and it was fun having skiers and skaters on the road along side you up in the mountains with snow cut ata adepth of 10 to 15 foot deep on the road edges. A lot of the Hyters are shut still at this time of year but you may be lucky to get one here and there. I had a few problems with roads being open to some towns then maybe ten miles the other side a 15 ft wall of snow where they had given up opening a road after reaching a ski resort or similar and this meant some doubling back and losing a few hours or a half day here and there so its worth asking if routes are open all the way through - add for a bike as they may be passable in cars but not so on a bike. In places there was a lot of snow and ice it was a problem on the entry and exits to tunnels so I tried to avoid them as much as possible more so early and late in the day. I wild camped almost every night no problem and maybe camp sited three times. Some days it was hard going battling the cold of the day when riding and so limited the days more than usual, however on one night I just kept riding till 1.30 in the morning as it was clear and dry and I was not so tired ending up camping in a patch of woodland of the roadside. The coast road was clear I did this on the return route but its a very long route, lots of ferries and the road surface in places was pretty dangerous with massive cracks and deviations in the surface and quite a bit of cliff debris and the like on road surfaces in more out of the way places, the damage i assume from the winters grip. There was on the main route north the usual gravel areas where maintenance and so on was ongoing. For warmth I used an exped down mat and a down bag temperatures were low at night but it was never so cold as to be a problem. I did try to keep off the higher ground when camping. I usually stopped and brewed up and cooked a meal in a picknic area each day before stopping off to find a camping spot, just seemed easier and more comfortable to use the facilities on roadsides, however I did camp in some remote picknic areas with stunning view points, tables chairs and toilet blocks that were open.Only where it was not prohibited by a notice though. So go for it and enjoy it it really is smashing that time of year.

Hi Etherelda,

I have lived here for 3 years and Norway is a fantastic place for bikes. Scenery is unbelieveable, roads are generally good and the people very friendly. There is no language barrier as many speak English lik a UK native with little accent) but be warned - make sure and follow speed limits as the fines would bring a tear to a glass eye!

I live on west coast near Stavanger, if you need any info on this far south of your intended route then mail me and I will see what I can provide.

Have great trip

Chris