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POLAR GLACIER AND AVALANCHE COURSE

This is something we have wanted to do for a long time. We have touched on these topics on every expedition. Now we are drilling into them properly — the two areas of safety that are most often the difference between a good trip and a hard story.

 

WHO IS IT FOR?

The short answer — everyone. If you have not already done a glacier or avalanche course, doing one will improve how you read terrain and how you make decisions in it. If you have done one, doing another, in a polar-travel context with a heavy pulk behind you, sharpens it further.

The aim is to develop your understanding of danger, your read on risk, and the humility to act on what you see. It makes everyone a better explorer — solo or in a team. Expect four full days of work, a lot of learning, and a lot of fun.

  Summary

  • Duration: 4 days (Thursday to Sunday)

  • Location: Finse, Norway

  • Group size: 1–2 instructors and up to 8 participants

  • Departure point: Oslo Central Station

  • Meet-up: October 15th 2027

  • Price: NOK 16,000 per person (deposit NOK 3,500)

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Polar expeditions take you through terrain where avalanche slopes and hidden crevasses are not the exception — they are the daily reality. The risk cannot be removed. It can be understood, assessed, and managed.This course prepares you to do exactly that. You will learn to recognise avalanche terrain, make sound route choices, and understand the consequences of crossing runout zones — even with a heavy pulk behind you. You will train for crevasse incidents, including how to respond if a team member goes through, pulk and all.Over four days at Finse, together with our friends at Fjellboms, you will work on:Reading and identifying avalanche terrainMaking sound decisions when crossing avalanche runout zonesUsing an avalanche transceiver and running a rescueReading the glacier and identifying crevassesProbing and assessing snow bridgesSetting up camp and running camp routinesCrevasse rescueHow to pack your sled, and how that pack affects your travelWhen an avalanche happens, you have minutes. Solid knowledge, clear procedures, and hands-on training are the difference. We mix theory with practical exercises in real terrain — and with a bit of luck, time in the winter sun on the mountain too.Train on it — before you depend on it.

THE PROGRAM

Thursday — Oslo to Finse. We meet at 08:25 at Oslo Central Station and take the train together. The journey is part of the course — we chat, plan, and get the team going. We arrive at 13:34. Eat, drink, and dress on the train, so on arrival we drop the luggage at the Ousland House and start work straight away.Thursday – Sunday — Finse. A mix of indoor theory and a lot of outdoor instruction. The first night is indoors. Weather, conditions, and how the group is moving determine whether we set up one or two tented camps up at Hardangerjøkulen.Sunday — Finse to Oslo. We take the 18:06 train back to Oslo, arriving 22:27.

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Instructors. Stay at the Ousland House. All meals at Finse. Tents, sleds, and shared camp equipment. Crevasse and avalanche equipment — transceivers, probes, shovels, ropes, harnesses (full kit list sent on booking).

 

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Travel to and from OsloTrain ticket to and from FinseTravel and cancellation insurancePersonal outdoor, camp, sleep, and ski equipment

 

WHO IS BEHIND THIS

Fjellboms have been a close friend of Ousland Colliard Explorers for a long time and an important sparring partner on the technical side of polar travel. Maria and Kjell recently published Isbre (Glacier) — a beautiful, practical bible for people who travel in the high mountains. It was that book that gave Børge the push to finally do these courses together.

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Fjellboms runs a wide range of courses across Norway: expedition courses, avalanche and glacier courses, climbing, packrafting, sea kayak and canoe, lifesaving, mountain medicine, tour-guide training, hiking-food courses, map and compass — and more. Many of these are being woven into our own polar training programme over time.

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Fjellboms was founded in 2016 by Kjell, and today the company is Kjell and his wife Maria, with a network of instructors who join for specific courses. Kjell and Maria Bratteli JonssonKjell and Maria are certified through the Norwegian Mountain Sports Forum (Norsk Fjellsportforum) in glacier travel, avalanche, Nordic skiing, and climbing. They are also certified instructors with the Norwegian Paddle Association, the Norwegian Trekking Association (Den Norske Turistforening), and the Norwegian Climbing Association (Norges Klatreforbund).

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They are the authors of Isbre — hiking, rescue, outdoor life and run regular lectures on glaciers and avalanches. Winter is their passion. Their favourite season for long trips with sled and tent is the turn of December into January, when the Norwegian high mountains give you sharp winter light, hard frost, and untouched snow. They run most of their courses themselves — particularly the avalanche and glacier courses.

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Maria has a master's in pedagogy and many years of experience teaching both children and adults. Kjell has extensive experience in civilian and military leadership and teaches regularly on both.We are stoked to have them as part of the family.

 

SIGNING UP / DEPOSIT / INVOICE

NOK 3,500 deposit secures the place. The remaining NOK 12,500 is due 14 days before the start. The deposit is non-refundable per our Travel Conditions.We will also run private courses for solo travellers and closed teams on request. Get in touch.

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