FINSE, NORWAY

Getting off the train in Finse is an otherworldly experience. Possibly because it was used as the filming location for the Planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, but more likely because of its incredible natural beauty and peacefulness.

There are no roads, no cars, no town to speak of, just a number of small ski huts and lodges for travelers both staying and passing through, and of course the historic Hotel Finse 1222 which has been the home base for polar adventurers since 1909.

The buildings surrounding Finse Station

The connection to polar history here runs deep, as the area has been used as a training ground since the early 1900’s, not just by the legendary Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen, but also by Scott and Shackleton and countless adventurers since. The conditions you find in Finse are the closest you can get to the terrain and weather you’ll find in Antarctica, and it provides kilometers of open space to practice skiing, setting up tents, kiting, and navigating in blizzard conditions, which is exactly what we’re about to do.

Hotel Finse 1222 (Finse is at 1222m elevation)

A wide variety of guests grace the wall of the hotel and contribute to the colorful history of Finse