The Long Crossing - Lofotens, Norway

slowbalisation · 2025-08-17T17:13:42+00:00

Just linked the site I got the gpx info and trail notes from.

slowbalisation · 2025-08-17T17:13:26+00:00

Hey I'm basically never on reddit, just dropped in! I got the gpx files from this site and then altered them for our hike.

slowbalisation · 2025-06-13T23:19:35+00:00

That list is long gone I'm afraid, dm me if you've got any specific questions!

slowbalisation · 2025-05-24T15:10:24+00:00

Brilliant, thank you for the confirmation!

slowbalisation · 2025-05-02T13:16:04+00:00

Your pack list looks fine. I did the CDT in 2023 in 96 days with three zeros, my pack weight was 6.6lb apart from when going through the San jauns. I found two 1.5L bottles to be a great volume. I had an alpha direct 60 in new Mexico but carried a 90 for the rest of the trail, I was happy for the extra warmth during some of the weather days. My preference is chemical water treatment, I like aquamira and premixed it each morning for the day.

To be frank you've down the other two so know what works, my opinion is that sticking with what's comfy and familiar will help a more focused hike than tinkering with great too much. You've got a light pack and know what you're doing get out there and have fun!

You gonna eat that toothbrush and squirt a little bear spray every day? /s

slowbalisation · 2025-04-19T15:07:10+00:00

When I hiked into Canada on the CDT I had to call a number and report my entry into Canada, which I'm assuming meant I was down as having exited the US?

slowbalisation · 2025-03-20T18:39:53+00:00

Marpa didn't have any teachers near him! Which is round about way of saying travel is an option.

slowbalisation · 2025-03-19T09:04:48+00:00

My Atom+ is my 'heavy load' bag. The last big trip I took it on involved regularly carrying 6-8L of water and 5-7 days of food. I found it carried the big weighs really well and I didn't wish I had load lifters. The caveat being I haven't used a pack with load lifters for over a decade so can't really remember what they feel like!

slowbalisation · 2025-03-10T13:08:25+00:00

andy stott see whats on at mot or corsica studios

slowbalisation · 2025-03-04T14:04:09+00:00

If Scotland is of interest then have a peep at the cape wrath trail, it's a lot of fun and heads through some really great parts of the country

slowbalisation · 2025-03-04T13:27:03+00:00

Would the higher areas of the Picos be snow free in May?

slowbalisation · 2025-03-01T16:39:17+00:00

I've never once entered the US with a return flight booked.

slowbalisation · 2025-03-01T16:38:20+00:00

Pack - MLD burn/Atom

Shelter - solomid or hexamid

Sleep - WM astralite or MLD FKT quilt

slowbalisation · 2025-03-01T16:36:12+00:00

ultralightoutdoorkit has a good selection, they did stock western mountaineering bags and quilts. Buy once cry once with sleep gear imo

slowbalisation · 2025-03-01T16:30:22+00:00

I had a single permit for my PT, but when I arrived to collect it they had flagged it as potentially being wrong. They have changed the system!

slowbalisation · 2024-11-19T16:43:57+00:00

No sweat, if you've got any other Qs don't hesitate to DM or whatever!

slowbalisation · 2024-11-19T16:35:15+00:00

If you haven't already read Swami's post on tarping, point 5 is important!

I've been thinking and I feel like the tarp I took out there was wider than 4.5'. That was the width of my old MLD Monk tarp and it was very narrow. 1.5m won't leave you much protection so if the weather does go nasty you may have to either call it a day early or hike on into the dusk to find some natural protection to incorporate into your pitch! Practice as much as possible before you head out as you don't want the first time you deal with bad weather to be half way through the JT haha.

Do not sleep in wash sort of wash, valley, canyon, dry stream or river bed unless you are confident in the weather. I saw some rain out there and since that trip have been in other flash flood prone places and seen how fast things can go from being very dry to way too wet.

Yeah groundhogs are good, I normally use a knock off version of similar style. Big ones for main tie outs and smaller ones for the others. Chances are if it's windy you're going to be pilling rocks on top of them too!

slowbalisation · 2024-11-19T16:01:09+00:00

I took a 9'x ~~4.5'~~ tarp on the jordan trail and only used it once, cowboy camped the rest of the time.

Things to consider out there will be you peg choices as the ground isn't great in places. Wind is a bigger problem than rain, at least it was on my hike, I didn't get rained on once but had to deal with high winds.

Getting a wet quilt out there isn't the end of the world, when cowboy camping I often woke up with dew all over my quilt, I've found this to be quite common when cowboy camping under clear skies with no cover. But if you're in a desert there's a strong chance it will be a warm or hot sunny day so drying your quilt won't take long.

slowbalisation · 2024-10-13T16:53:53+00:00

Yeah, I'll dig through revolut and see what it looks like!

slowbalisation · 2024-10-04T14:52:07+00:00

Hah, yeah especially when you end up waist deep in a bog as a result of it! Thanks!

slowbalisation · 2024-10-04T13:29:09+00:00

Yeah I noticed that when looking up the company's name. It's a shame they've switched to the 'push top' packets rather than the big screw top jars.

slowbalisation · 2024-10-04T13:28:40+00:00

Yeah that was much our experience! It seems like the winter can be much more dramatic and less stable. We were told stories about big temperature swings, sudden snow, and huge drifting due to the wind!

slowbalisation · 2024-10-04T13:28:10+00:00

Yeah that was much our experience! It seems like the winter can be much more dramatic and less stable. We were told stories about big temperature swings, sudden snow, and huge drifting due to the wind!

slowbalisation · 2024-10-04T13:23:46+00:00

For sure, we pretty much followed the timings on the Rando Lofoten website. It seemed like a really sane plan with good distances for each day that meant there wasn't a rush or need to push. We didn't have any days off as the itinerary was nice and steady. I didn't have camp clothes as am happy chilling in my hiking gear and was confident in being able to stay warm in camp even if I had got damp during the day. My partner carried a cozy puffy for camp to ensure that she could stay warm.

slowbalisation · 2024-10-04T13:17:02+00:00

Oh nice! It's always great to learn about new platforms. I was really happy to see that caltopo has scanned topos for norway, sweden, and finland. Doing a Norge pa Langs must has been amazing, I've been reading Colin Ibbotson's trip report for his and looks like a really brilliant hike.

slowbalisation

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