In March, we headed to Løten, Norway, and this time, we were lucky enough to borrow a lavvo. We were also trying snowshoeing for the first time. The boys were super excited to test the snowshoes and were looking forward to another night of winter camping—this time extra special because we would be sleeping in a lavvo.
An acquaintance who lives in the area recommended the spot to us and even drove us almost all the way to the campsite in his car, which was better suited to the terrain than the one we had borrowed for the weekend. When we arrived at the spot, we found some Christmas soda and champagne that he had left for us—such an incredibly kind gesture. We usually never bring more than what’s absolutely necessary, so this felt like pure luxury for us!
As soon as we got out of the car, the boys were excited to put on their snowshoes, and it went much better than expected—they ran across the deep snow with ease. The campsite was on a small hill, just about 50 meters away.
Once the lavvo was set up, it was time to arrange the interior. There was plenty of space, allowing us to keep everything organized—gear, clothes, food, and sleeping areas all had their designated spots.
The kids whittled and explored around the forest while we prepared for dinner and the night ahead.
For dinner, we made salmon foil packets—a delicious and easy camping meal. This time, we prepared everything on-site. Often, the kids join in the cooking, and they definitely enjoy chopping and preparing the food during the trip. However, the easiest approach is to chop the vegetables and do as much prep as possible at home beforehand. We usually decide based on the time and plans we have during the trip.
After dinner, we headed out onto the clearing to leave food for the lynx, fox, and deer. We hoped to catch a glimpse of them, but with our noise levels on the trip, I’m pretty sure they kept a safe distance!
Luckily, the easter bunny wasn’t scared off, as the boys found treats hidden in clever spots. Once they were satisfied with their haul, they made their own chairs and sat there for a while, enjoying their Saturday snacks, feeling very proud of their efforts.
If you have snowshoes with disco lights, you absolutely have to take an extra walk in the dark. This time, the walk was to check if the animals had eaten the food we had left out.
There were no signs of animals. However, after we had gone to bed, we heard some strange “roars.” We lay there for a long time, wondering what it could be, and eventually had to turn to Google for answers. We discovered that it was a roe deer “roaring” not too far from us.
We slept very well that night in warm winter sleeping bags on reindeer hides in a heated lavvo. Admittedly, it got quite cold inside the lavvo fairly quickly after the stove went out, but we stayed warm nonetheless and didn’t wake up until around 9 o’clock. Then it felt great to head outside and warm up with some hot cocoa by the campfire.
At the end of the trip, everyone agreed that we had experienced a wonderful and eventful adventure. The kids had fun snowshoeing, and we thoroughly enjoyed the luxury that a lavvo provided. Winter camping, in itself, is something we’ve grown to love—it’s incredibly cozy as long as you have warm enough clothes, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. There will definitely be many more winter trips for us next winter, and we’re already looking forward to it!
