Norway has the kind of snow reports that turn our southern counterparts green with envy. Snow is guaranteed from November to April, and this year is no exception – several ski resorts have already opened their slopes.
20/04/2004 :: Gaustablikk was one of the first, opening its slopes on 25 October. The resort is located at the base of the magnificent Mount Gausta, the tallest mountain in Southern Norway. From the summit you can see one sixth of Norway on a clear day. What began as a small mountain lodge in 1970 has now developed to become the Gaustablikk Mountain Hotel, a large complex with ski slopes that start right outside the hotel’s front door.
The resort of Trysil opened on 1 November. Located in the heart of Scandinavia, less than 3 hours from Oslo and close to the Swedish border, this "winter wonderland" is the largest ski resort in Norway. It’s a great place to take the family - there's a children's disco each Thursday, and a full programme of other activities. This year the fairytale mountain witch "Isiz" is coming to Trysil and there's also a dedicated children's apres ski with barbeque and waffles.
The popular resort of Hemsedal opened on 8 November - the earliest opening for the resort in 11 years, made possible due to the cold weather conditions. Hemsedal, also known as "The Scandinavian Alps", attracts all kinds of people who share a passion for winter sports, and is one of the most challenging places to ski in all of Norway, with some of the finest slopes and most dramatic scenery.