Comments on: A Winter Drive to Røros

By: X from Aumsville

X from Aumsville — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:44:53 +0000

Note to self: Rest the first night and enjoy driving in the daytime. 🙂

By: Nina Paul

Nina Paul — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 10:12:14 +0000

Thanks for sharing this. It sure looks very helpful.

By: Ole Bjørsvik

Ole Bjørsvik — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 11:51:16 +0000

Yea, the hypnotic part is really bad 🙁 Buy two Red Bulls as reserve, and don’t pop them to early. If it gets really bad, you just have to stop and sleep. I once had to sleep eight times between Voss and Bergen, a distance of less than 120 km.
To know the tires and the car is a bonus. I once had a light Toyota Corolla with Nokian Hakkapelitta Q tires. If was a fantastic combination! Not least as the tires was designed to make warnings with a “pre-slip” before they slipped off the road. It scared the bum out of a friend of, who – despite being Norwegian – had next-to-thing knowledge of cars. (I never got the same combinations again when I changed to slightly heavier stationwagons later.) — Knowing winter tires is a culture!
I once rented a car in Calgary from one of the gig rental companies. I first checked the tires of over half the cars on the parking spot, and I wasn’t convinced… I asked and they said “Of course: All of our cars have ‘all-year’s tires’!” An expression I had heard before, and is despised in Norway. Only embraced by Dutch, and the previously mentioned former friend. Still in doubt I, I rented a Taurus. There was no cars with any tires I would like.
…the day after I drove it back to the company at 20 to 30 km/h, through the most quiet side streets I could find. Parking in the pavement when I saw a car coming up from behind. I had almost been killed twice while crossing the ring road. I had no intention to cross the ringroad: I had just planned a careful slow down to stop from the top of a bridge there. The Taurus bobsleigh had different plans. — “I can’t drive on these …suicide tires” I complained. I got all the money back.
I have no doubt what Candians thinks about what is quality winter equipment. — It is just a topic I NEVER bring up them…

We also rented a camper van in Canada. We were the first customers that had ever taken the snow chains in use. (We were also the only car that drove safely up and down from Whitewater in a snowstrom without doing strange random manouvers with our car. — A special thanks to the Nelson Road Service that lent us two bunge cords to tighten the tire chain. — That was missing from the snow chain kit.)

By: Svein

Svein — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:14:37 +0000

As a native Norwegian who grew up quite rural, and has been driving since the age of 14 – I understand that driving under winter conditions is a lot of different things, very dependant on reading the snow and ice, estimating the depth and knowing the car. When I was younger, I used up to a week just tuning into the new season. I went down to a few days and now I switch between different modes on the fly. I really takes a lot of practice to master. I commuted from east to west for five years, and when your shifts starts 0700 on the other side, it’s really not an option not going if the roads are open even if the weather is bad. I created a “In case shit” package in my car.

Fully insulated snow suit, mittens and “bjønnfitte”
Shovel
Towing line
wool blankets for the kids

In additions, may seem stupid but always have you car topped up with gas.

By: David Nikel

David Nikel — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 07:08:54 +0000

In reply to Chanak Doshi. Hi, I would suggest you reconsider driving in the Norwegian mountains in December. There will be a lot of snow and many roads will be closed, meaning you have to stick to main highways. Bear in mind too it is the darkest time of the year, with a just couple hours of proper daylight. The northern lights are unlikely this far south, especially during December when the weather tends to be cloudier. I have lots more tips in my northern lights travel guide.

By: David Nikel

David Nikel — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 07:04:05 +0000

In reply to Liz Cuthell. Hi Liz. I've never made that journey but it looks like the quickest route is through Sweden. No idea if the roads that way will be open or not. The Swedish government probably have a webpage listing winter road closures. The alternative would be to head over to the E6, spend a day or two in Trondheim then head east across the border to Åre. I also publish this Norway travel guide which may be of use.

By: Liz Cuthell

Liz Cuthell — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 03:46:13 +0000

Hi David,

We would like to do a skiing holiday in Jan 2017 combining Are and Trysil. We plan to hire a car but are we better combining the train and bus (we are flexible where we can fly in and out of)? Is the drive between Are and Trysil a pituresque one?

Thanks Liz

By: Chanak Doshi

Chanak Doshi — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 04:31:38 +0000

Hi David,

Greetings from India. Nice blog and info. I am planning to drive from Oslo – Bergen – Sogndal – Geiranger – Molde – Kristiansund – Lillehammer – Oslo during winter (Mostly 23rd Dec onwards) and then move to Finland self drive holiday.
Is December end – Jan first week good time to drive in Norway and Finland? Will I get to see Northern lights (or how high the probability is) in my route? Or would you suggest any other route. I want to spend maximum 9 nights in Norway and 8-9 nights in Finland.

Would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.

By: Tam

Tam — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 09:45:10 +0000

Hello Everyone,

I will drive from Oslo to Flam and stay for 3-4 nights at Flam as main town from 19-22 March 2016, basicly I would love to explore winter in Norway with my parent not to hit the top of the mountain just feel winter and snow. Could you please share if saft to drive from Oslo – airport to Flam and should we stay Flam for 3 nights it is to much and I will return car to Oslo airport.

Open to comment and suggestion.

Tam

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 09:20:04 +0000

Hi David :) Nice blog! You should try driving in the North Cape where I now live . They made the show on NRK1 about the young driver who keeps my road safe every day. http://tv.nrk.no/serie/broeyt-i-vei/dnpr61005112/sesong-1/episode-1 I All the best Carolyn :)