Hardangervidda

Winter training in Norway’s Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau.

In early 2024, I travelled to the Hardangervidda plateau in Norway to complete a polar training course led by explorer Hannah McLeod. Based out of the remote village of Finse, it was the first time I’d worked in a true Arctic-like environment.

Over two weeks, I learned the core systems needed for unsupported polar travel: sled hauling, stove setup, tent drills, whiteout navigation, and cold-weather layering. It was hands-on, demanding, and exactly the kind of preparation I needed.

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A year later, in March 2025, I returned, this time solo and unsupported. I crossed the plateau and returned, hauling all supplies in my pulk. It was a chance to test myself, refine the systems I’d learned, and see how I held up alone in tough winter conditions.

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The trip pushed me hard, but gave me the confidence I’ll need for Antarctica.