Hello all,
While I have years of extensive backpacking and climbing experience here in the United States, I have never been to Norway. I have planned a trip to do an overnight at Trolltunga and will be there later this week. I am aware of the weather and I am prepared with reliable and tested gear and have the experience to do a hike like this. The one thing I haven’t been able to figure out is if I NEED a freestanding tent or if my trekking pole style tent will be sufficient. I understand it is windy up there, and this tent can withstand wind quite well, however it is not a freestanding tent where the fly is buckled/clipped into the body of the tent where the chances is comes off is next to nothing. My fly is has simple pole clips and is staked out, rather than clipped to the tent. From photos in trip reports etc. I was able to find sufficient amounts of grass to set up the trekking pole tent on (rocky surfaces make it so difficult that its near impossible without using rocks to stake things out) but every photo has a freestanding tent… haven’t seen a trekking pole tent in the photos. If anyone has the beta for this it would be greatly appreciated. I do have access to a freestanding tent, but it would be a loaner and I don’t entirely feel comfortable taking someone’s tent overseas with me, I’d rather take mine.
Also it’s my understanding that European countries don’t normally do the iso-butane canisters for camp stoves and I was originally going to forgo warm food and cold soak, but I’d bring my tiny stove along if that wasn’t the case. Can anyone confirm small iso-butane canisters that might fit an MSR stove for sale in Odda or Bergen?
I added a photo of my tent, the orange one. A photo of the spot where there is sufficient grass but only freestanding tents, and finally, a photo of the isobutane canisters.
Cheers!
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1n5p4jy
Posted by SnooCheesecakes8801
9 Comments
Trekking pole tents are usually for more advanced people so I assume that’s one of the reasons you don’t see it as much. About the canisters I don’t think you will have any problem to find. I used to buy canisters at thansen, biltema, OBS, XXL for my pocket rocket…it’s been a while now tho. Weather is so unpredictable in those places I’d make a plan B. Good luck
You can buy the fuel canisters anywhere, it will not be a problem in either Bergen or Odda. I’ve even seen them at some gas stations. Free-standing tents are simply much more common, which is why you’re only seeing photos of them.
The area where people camp at Trolltunga is pretty big. Go on Google and find a sphere of the area. There will be grass and dirt around to stake. A lot of the area near the cliff is rock though. I had a cheap $100 REI tent, so you’ll be fine.
There are plenty of camping stores in Odda like Spot1 that sells gas and stoves.
I just hiked this last week. Grueling but lovely! Especially hiking early when the mist was just starting to rise in the morning.
I took this photo of the sign there…if that helps with anything. It shows the camping areas. Sorry, can’t answer your tent question.
[https://share.icloud.com/photos/013eApH8SG1yKZaAtZ4XwqOZw](https://share.icloud.com/photos/013eApH8SG1yKZaAtZ4XwqOZw)
I would scare the shit of me up there and the tent getting blown away by a good wind
As someone who also backpacks often in the US, I highly recommend checking out Norway’s backpacking meals..they are incredible and I regret not sneaking some home when I was there. Have a great trip!
I hiked recently a week ago, and all i will recommend you to get a better,water resistant sleeping mat and water proof tent. That will be more than enough. Just carry a water bottle. You will get plenty of water supplies on route. So that ain’t going to be a problem.
It’s probably better to have a freestanding tent. I camped there last year in a Durston X-mid Pro and it was fine, but it can be hard to find decent ground to peg into.
If your stove is clean you can bring it on the airplane, but there is always a slight chance it could get confiscated by customs at either end. They are supposed to have zero odor or residue, but it’s never possible to get them to 0.000%. You can buy Isopropane fuel in Norway at any camping store.
As for food, get the Real Turmat dehydrated meals. They are about the same price as Mountain House, but way better quality. You can’t bring them back to the US, nor can you bring any Mt. House there, due to the mutual ban on meats going back and forth (even dehydrated meat or powder). There’s a wide variety of meals, and you’re going to love them.