Weekend Backpacking Trip to Fuglemyra in Oslo

Matěj 'Horm' Horák

February 19, 2024

Living in a big city and having a full-time job makes it harder to find proper time for backpacking. Luckily, I live in Oslo where it only takes a subway ride to be between hills, lakes, and forests. It's easy to go for a hike or even a backpacking trip. I would like to share how my partner and I made a trip to Fuglemyra and spent a night there.

Why Fuglemyra for just one night?

I enjoy backpacking, and I've done many multi-day trips growing up. However, my partner is finding her way into hiking and outdoor activities. Everything is new for her, but she enjoys it and has an interest in doing more. The trip in this blog post was the first time we aimed to spend a night outdoors together.

We knew we wanted to start close to Oslo, so we didn't have to rent a car. The most common area is north of Oslo because of the nice views and its accessibility via the subway (T-bane).

I also don't own a tent, and I'm quite lazy to carry it anyway, so I was aiming for a covered hammock setup. I did not make an exact plan. I knew it would be good to find a place close to proper cover and not far from civilization in case something would happen. A nice view, water, or anything else would be a plus but not a requirement.

In conclusion, I decided to start the trip at Sognsvann, walk by Fuglemyra pond, and find a spot relatively close to Skjennungstua so we could get warm coffee the next morning.

Ready, set, go!

We started our adventure on Friday around 16:00. The T-bane ride from Oslo S takes approximately 45 minutes, so we got a little hungry. Luckily, there is a booth with hot dogs at Sognsvann. We had a snack and started walking, enjoying nature and having nice conversations.

It was sunny weather, and it was a really nice day. I've done a hike from Sognsvann to Fuglemyra before, so I wanted to go the same path in the reverse direction. It's a bit uphill, but it is a nice path. Unfortunately, I'm not lucky with the Norwegian tourist system, and I always get lost. This time was the same case. We started walking through Vettakolen hill instead of the shortest way to Fuglemyra, so the path was even steeper.

The initial plan was to have a break at Fuglemyra, see the Fuglemyrhytta cabin nearby, and continue. However, we were a bit behind due to the wrong path, so it was clear we would have to find a spot close to the pond. It would be risky to continue and be far away from civilization, considering this was the first outdoor night for my partner. We arrived around 19:00.

Where to bivouac?

I think I've learned a way to find a good place to spend a night during an outdoor backpacking trip. It always requires a bit of luck and caution. However, there are some practicalities you can consider even before you arrive at your final destination. I always keep in mind safety, rain, and water. In our case, I wanted to be not far away from public transport and avoid being affected by rain, either uncovered or in a muddy area.

I always look for potential places 5 km before the final destination. I try to imagine, "Would it be okay to sleep there?" It helps to have a backup plan and try to find the best place possible. It is worth it to walk back a bit for more comfort during the night. However, we did not have to. I hoped the cabin near the pond would have some emergency cover, and that was the case.

It was a small shelter right next to the cabin, and it was a perfect fit for us. There was a very nice view as a bonus. I added the place to Bivaco so you can check more information and photos:

Fuglemyra

Shelter (covered spot, typically roof, etc.)

The one thing I underestimated was drinking water. We did not have a lot, and there was no source. It was okay because we distributed the amount for both days. However, I will be definitely more careful about that next time.

Enjoying the small things in nature

We had a small break when we arrived. The trip was uphill, and we needed one. The place had nice views, was quiet, and we had a lot of room to talk and enjoy ourselves. We started preparing dinner approximately one hour later.

The trip was in summer, and Norway has strict fire regulations during that time. Making a fire or using a stove was not an option then. Our plan was to pack some vegetables and cooked pasta to prepare a cold salad. My partner asked me why don't we prepare the salad at home. I explained the food tastes better with every step you take during the day and with every minute that it takes you to prepare the meal in nature. It's a stupid theory, but I think it works.

We had dinner, talked, and just enjoyed the moments. Eventually, it was getting darker, so we started preparing our sleeping bags and sleeping clothes. Mosquitoes also joined the party. I like sleeping without a tent because you can see the stars. However, mosquitoes can be annoying, and that happened to us. We just tried to cover up and fall asleep...

Morning, heading back...

We woke up pretty early around 5:00. My partner did not sleep well. It was cold for her, and the mosquitoes were annoying. However, she could be proud because she survived the first night outdoors without a tent, and that is a big thing. We packed our stuff, had a muesli bar, and started walking to the closest public transport stop. It was still a couple of kilometers to go, but it was mostly downhill.

I think the hardest part for me was waiting for the public transport and the trip back home. It was slow, and both of us were looking forward to being back home, taking a warm shower, and getting some rest. We arrived home eventually and did the things in the same order as we envisioned.

Reflection

I think the warm shower at home after a hike or backpacking trip is a similar thing as dinner outdoors. You appreciate it more even though these things are small, and we have them every day. It is easy to stop appreciating them after the everyday rush and full-time employment life.

My partner did not lose interest in exploring outdoor activities after this trip. However, I did not have any plan regarding that. My goal for my partner was to experience the appreciation of the small things. I wanted to show this part of the experience that I like during these trips. And I think I managed, and I'm happy for that.

I don't know when we will do the next trip. However, it is enough for me to know that we will and we will appreciate the small things…