Heggelia

Heggelia
Originally uploaded by skibohemen.
This place was originally a Finnish settlement established around 1680 or so. People have lived here for centuries since, but last year the place was abandoned by the current owners. Luckily, a group of volunteers called "Friends of Heggelia" made it possible to serve food and refreshments each weeking during winter, a service well appreaciated by thousands of skiers passing by during the winter.

Despite the beautiful weather today, not many visitors were seen during our stay, even if it is winter holidays in public schools now.

Ice-fishing on Katnosa lake in Nordmarka

Ice-fishing on Katnosa lake in Nordmarka
Originally uploaded by skibohemen.

Dec 28, 2006

This was a special day for several reasons: First of all, it was my birthday and I was going to spend it together with two good friends at a place I love - in the surroundings of the lake Katnosa in Nordmarka.

Secondly, we were going for some fishing and needed to make sure the ice was safe enough to walk on. It was, +10cm fresh ice is more than enough.

What made this day so special however, was the sad fact that one of Norway's most known former XC-athlets, Ivar Formo, drowned in a lake a couple of kilometers south of us the evening the day before. He was skating Nordmarka from north to south as many do at this time of the year, when the snow hasn't covered all lakes yet. Ivar had max bad luck, and drowned in Store Sandungen 5 km south of us.

It was all over the news this morning, and our families were not exactly excited over the fact that we were going into this same area - ON the ice. Of course we tok all possible pre-cautions and carried with us necessary safety equipment, which we didn't have to use.

We had a wonderful day in bright sun in these great surroundings, but the day was somewhat obscured by Ivar Formo's dead the day before ...