In good company: A lady takes her dog on the skiing trip in Høvringen, Norway.

Cross-country, or XC skiing, is part of the Nordic skiing sport family and it has been practiced in Scandinavia and Siberia from prehistoric times.

History says this activity was a useful tool for hunting and trapping, as well as exercising.

The difference between cross-country skiing and the Alpine skiing (downhill skiing) is very simple '€” you do not have to wear those heavy boots.

In Norway, Høvringen is a traditional cross-country ski area in the northern Gudbrandsdal at the gates of Rondane National Park, the oldest national park in the country.

Rising up about 600 million years ago from a lifeless sea, the area has been formed into mighty, dramatic, yet friendly and round shapes by the effects of tectonic plate shifts, ice ages and erosion.

The mountain area of Høvringen is around 1130 meters above sea level. The area is known for its stable climate and varied skiing terrain. The marked ski trails will guide you to some fantastic scenery. The skiing season runs from January to April.

Høvringen has about 850 beds in 10 places of accommodation, all registered on the official tourism website of Norway.

You'€™ll find everything from simple cottages, self-catering till camps, mountain lodges, apartments and hotels. There are also free cabins located around the area.

You are welcome to experience the wilderness by walking or skiing from cabin to cabin. No one will lock you out of the cabin even if it is full. It is simply not the custom here. Being tolerant is the most important thing in this place '€” everyone will put mattress on the floor and open the door for you.

During the trip, we stayed in a mountain lodge named Smuksjøseter Fjellstue. The lodge is located on the border of the national park. It is approximately 5 kilometers from the nearest city.

However, it does not isolate you from civilization. Grocery shopping can be done online or manually '€” you only have to write down what you want and the host will pick it up from the shop. The payment can be settled when you check out.

The room is like a small one bedroom apartment with a shower, heated floor and a small kitchen with two stoves as well as a dining table for four. The room also comes with a sofa and a flat TV with cable to ensure you get the entertainment you need.

There are many options to begin your journey. Ours started at Skanderborg station in Denmark where the bus took us to Helsingør, Denmark, with some stops on the way before reaching Helsingør, where you take a ferry to cross the Øresund Strait to Helsinborg in Sweden.

From there, the bus continues the drive to Göteborg in Sweden where you change bus. The next bus will be at the same station as the first one that drops you off. So, it is easy.

The road trip does not stop there. A taxi will be arranged to take you to Høvringen where you will be picked up by a snowcat, which resembles a tank that marines normally use in the Antarctic. This is the only form of transportation that can take you up.

Winter ride: A tank-like snowcat waits to take visitors around.
On the way, the snowcat will stop at a place where you can rent the skis, shoes and poles.

You can choose the track for your langrendski (cross-country ski). There is a total of 150 km of prepared routes that can take you into Rondane National Park.

From Smuksjøseter, there are green, red, yellow and blue tracks that connect each other. We did around 19-20 km in two days with different tracks. A very thick snow covers the lake so you can ski on it safely.

The route can be tough for a person that has no background in skiing. But it is also fun and enjoyable. Falling down is nothing compared to the experience that visitors get.

The most difficult things are ascendant tracks. You slide a lot and then fall. It burns a lot of calories as you get up after that.

Our host, Roar, said he sometimes had to go with his snowcat to pick up people with broken arms or legs '€” but as long as you follow the guidelines, there will be nothing to be afraid of.

Just come prepared '€” never go out in the mountains without a hooded coat, a woolen jumper, a hat, map, something to eat, a warm drink, a ski scraper and ski wax.

And do not forget your sunglasses, as when the sun shines, it can be too bright. The weather can quickly turn bad. Strong winds can suddenly blow the snow and wipe the tracks out. If this happens, look for wooden pins or marked stones, then you are on the right trail.

'€” Photos by Almeria Allen