Nordic skiing in Mosstrond, on the edge of the Hardanger Plateau

We spent a super week cross country skiing in Norway last month - unlike our previous visit, to Rondane National Park a few years earlier, we were skiing off track and in a group. This definitely presented a challenge from a photographic point of view - there really is not an option to spend ages looking for the perfect composition and setting up when you are skiing in a group. In addition, there is the small matter of the long, thin skis attached to one's feet - not the most wieldy things for fine tuning your stance! Once again I had my brilliant Kata sling backpack, which is invaluable for allowing relatively quick and easy access to your gear. In addition, when my husband didn't pinch it, I had my LX5 in my Paramo Parajo trouser pocket - great pockets for photographers.

The image above was taken on one of those rare occasions I'd managed to get ahead of the group, having opted out of a drink and snack break. Spindrift snow was blowing done the hill, giving a slightly eerie feel to the scene below. A few minutes later, the wind picked up as we neared the ridge and I stopped briefly to grap a few action shots of the rest of the group climbing up towards the top. On more than one occasion during the day, we were propelled across the snow by the strong, gusting winds - quite alarming at one point, with rocks and trees forming potential obstacles.

On a rather more tranquil day, I had a little time to stop and look for a few images of the wonderful sastrugi. This was a new term for me - but, to quote that fountain of all knowledge, Wikipedia:

"Sastrugi, or zastrugi are sharp irregular grooves or ridges formed on a snow surface by wind erosion and deposition, and found in polar and temperate snow regions. They differ from sand dunes in that the ridges are markedly parallel to the prevailing winds. Sastrugi are various surface irregularities resulting from wind erosion, saltation of snow particles and deposition. Smaller irregularities or this type are known as ripples (small, ~10 mm high), or wind ridges. Larger features are especially troublesome to skiers and snowboarders. Traveling on the irregular surface of sastrugi can be very tiring, and can risk breaking equipment—ripples and waves are often undercut, the surface is hard and unforgiving with constant minor topographic changes between ridge and trough."

I can vouch for the validity of the last paragraph! ;-)