SJUSJØEN

According to many European skiers the best cross country area is at Sjusjøen. (sounds like shoe shurn) Access is from Oslo where regular trains to Lillehammer leave from the airport station and there are additional trains from Oslo main station. Tickets can be purchased on the train. There is a regular bus service to Sjusjøen from the station at Lillehammer and the 22km trip takes about half an hour.

The nearest cash out machine is at Lillehammer. Visa card is accepted at most businesses. Services include two ski shops and ski rental. The supermarket, sells beer but no wine or spirits and not on Sunday. Restaurants. Only one ”pub” but hotels sell drinks from reception and in the dining room. There is little après ski as we know it, as alcohol is very expensive. Beer $A10 for 500ml in hotel, $A6 from the supermarket and wine about $A60 in the dining room. Most hotels have dancing each night. Many people think that Norway is expensive to visit and it is if you drink a lot, but the total cost for two people for three weeks at a hotel in 2003 was $9,500  (including train from Oslo, drinks and other out of pocket expenses) plus air fares. Travel within Europe can be expensive so make the most of "free" internal flights.

Accommodation is available at the Høyfjellshotell post@sjusjoen-hotel.no with all you can eat at the breakfast and dinner smorgasbords and you make your own packaged lunch. Swimming pool and sauna. Hotmail access available. Visa card is accepted for payments. The hotel is also the contact for hostel type accommodation with meals available that is a cheaper alternative, as well as cabins. For other accommodation contact the tourist office at Lillehammer post@lillehammerturist.no

Sjusjøen ( the 7th lake) is situated on elevated ground above the lake at 808 metres. The whole area is situated on a plateau and it is possible to ski about 20km in any direction, over flat or gently undulating terrain where there are many  lakes, all frozen in winter. There are patches of forest but most skiing is in the open and some desolate looking areas are marsh in the summer. The area is exposed to wind but it is possible to ski in sheltered areas on windy days. There are about 300km of groomed trails and three groomers work each day when it is snowing to keep the trails immaculate. From mid March the snow starts to melt although temperatures remain about zero, and grooming is not so frequent. Even in fresh snow the downhill sections can get glazed and be very fast and difficult to ski. Sjusjøen is at the 45 km mark on the 58 km Birkenbeiner Loppet course, with the trail dropping almost 300 m down to the Lillehammer XC stadium for the finish.

Although a skating track is groomed almost all skiing is on classic skis. As the snow is usually dry and does not compact skating skis tend to sink into the track and in spring the tracks are hard and icy. This terrain is just made for classic touring and with an abundance of well groomed tracks waxed racing skis are the way to go. It is a misconception that you put on one wax (blue) and it works everywhere. Swix make about twenty waxes and some days every one of them will be the wrong wax. According to Trond Lunde who operates Sjusjøen Fritid, one of the sports stores and the best place to get help, it is difficult to wax while snow is falling and in spring snow conditions. Some days when asked for the wax of the day he will just smile and say "it is best by the fire today". With the right wax 30 to 40 km days are both possible and enjoyable. Some people make blue wax work by spreading it all over the base of the ski.

There are a few good hills in the area but surprisingly nobody telemarks and few people venture off the groomed trails. There are some great runs on gentle slopes in fresh snow, but beware of getting lost where the trees get close together and it would be a good idea to carry skins in case they are needed to climb back out. The ski trails are well sign posted and after a day or two one becomes familiar with the lie of the land although in a few places signs are confusing. The trails are never crowded and a lot of people are out pulling pulks containing a baby and sometimes even have a young child being towed behind. The number of pulks is only exceeded by the number of dogs out on the trail, mostly pulling their masters or mistresses along. It is not unusual to see children of seven or eight years skiing alone, along a track that is miles from anywhere and to see family groups with young children skiing. There are few places to find a restaurant  and few places to sit in shelter to have lunch so an insulated bum pad is a good idea. There are many settlements of cabins especially around lakes and on hills with a view but most are snowed in and only used in the summer. Warm clothing and food and water should be carried on all journeys.

Skiing to Lillehammer is popular but avoid the section from the stadium down to the town as it is steep and usually glazed and difficult to ski. One may ski back or it is possible to get a bus from the stadium into Lillehammer. Day trips to restaurants at Nordseter (12 km return),, HornsjØ pictured top, (30 km),  Pellestova passing Nevelfjellet mountain pictured bottom (28 km) LjØsheim (28 km) and Mesnali (14 km) are popular. Trails crossing the lake provide a shortcut to the other side and a trip around the lake is about 9 km.

The Olympic downhill ski area at Hafjell is 17km by bus from Lillihammer. Telemark skis can be hired there and it is worth a visit for some downhill skiing. The ski hill is 4 km long and has an 830 m vertical drop. The top of the hill can be skied to from Sjusjøen about 17km away. Another great activity is dog sled rides that can be booked through Sjusjøen Fritid. It's a drive them yourself deal on a two man sled, but quite easy as the dogs follow the leading sled in front. 

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