A Franco-Norwegian exchange

It all started with a steep-slope skiing course in Les Cerces. Between turns, Candice said, "What if we went skiing in Norway?"

The promise won't stay empty. A few months later, the project is taking shape: no question of renting a van or going on an organized boat, what gives a trip its strength is the encounters . So, why not imagine a real exchange: being welcomed by Norwegians and, in return, welcoming them to our French Alps?

Candice posts a message on a Norwegian ski touring group. That's how we meet Maria, a mountain enthusiast living in the Lyngen Alps. Enthusiastic, she immediately invites us to spend ten days with her. The course is set: heading for the Arctic Circle.

And because Candice wants to develop her skills as a filmmaker, we will tell this adventure through a film and photos.

We decided to travel to Norway by train, out of ecological convictions but also out of desire: the desire to see the landscapes unfold and to feel Europe gradually transform as the kilometers pass by. The outward journey lived up to all its promises. From Lyon to Hamburg, then Stockholm before Narvik, the two and a half days of travel were an adventure in themselves. Admittedly, Interrail tickets were more expensive than a plane flight, and with no available berths, we accumulated sleepless nights on reclining seats. But the slowness of the journey and the succession of atmospheres made this approach unique.

On the way back, things got more complicated. Construction work on the line further extended an already time-consuming journey. An extra day was added to the planned two and a half days, to which were added the four hours by car. After much hesitation, we had to give in: this time, we took the plane. Two hours of flight, compared to three days by train… A frustrating choice, but one that reveals the current difficulties in traveling otherwise.

The train journey to northern Scandinavia was already an adventure in itself. As soon as we arrived in Narvik, Maria was waiting for us for the final four hours of driving to the Lyngen Alps. From the very first evening, skis on our feet, we discovered perfect snow in the light of a sunset. Skiing above the sea: the magic is immediate. Very quickly, we realized the exceptional terrain: couloirs plunging directly into the ocean, glaciers hanging above the fjords, and a disconcerting ease of vertical drops, free from the constraints of altitude. Here, skiing begins at the doorstep.

We're staying in Lenangstraumen, Maria's home village, nestled in the heart of the Lyngen Alps, which she explores with boundless energy. More than a host or a guide, she becomes a friend. We quickly become part of her family and share their daily lives: a fisherman father, a nurse mother, neighbors always ready to lend us equipment or take us on boat trips to the islands. Everything is done with simplicity and sharing.

Every morning, Maria sets off on skis, and every evening, we rediscover the warmth of a family meal. We discover local flavors—apple-raisin-onion-mayonnaise salad, cod rolls, brunost (caramelized brown cheese)—and in return, we improvise a quiche and crepes.

The ten days pass like a descent that's all too short. How can we thank this family who welcomed us with such generosity? We don't know when we'll return to Norway, but one thing is certain: Maria will come to discover our Alps. And we're already looking forward to offering her a welcome that lives up to the one she gave us.

A few months later, in August, Maria arrives in Annecy: four days to show her our playground. True to herself, Maria is brimming with energy and desire, it promises to be intense!

The welcome began with a climb, followed by a paragliding flight at sunset, a moment suspended in the evening light above the lake. More than the setting, it was the hitchhiking ride up that impressed him: another aspect of our mountain culture.

The next day, we were already leaving for Italy for the ascent of Gran Paradiso (4000 m). First night in a tent for Maria and first real French picnic: bread, comté, sausage, brioche… The 3 a.m. wake-up call launched a memorable ascent, with a final via ferrata and even a little altitude sickness… not for Maria, but for Candice, although more accustomed, but director of our future film, which involves going back and forth in all directions to maximize the shots.

Last day, last flights. The Col des Frêtes is too windy, but Planfait offers us perfect conditions: 1 hour 30 minutes of flight over the lake. Then Doussard, surrounded by a group of friends including Candice in a tandem, sails and shared laughter. The evening ends at Aristid's, around a large summer meal. At dawn, Maria leaves again, but the images remain.

This Franco-Norwegian exchange was much more than a trip. It combined sport, friendship, and cultural discoveries. Ten days in the Norwegian fjords, four days in the French Alps , and everywhere the same common thread: the energy of sharing.

This story will soon become a film, starring Candice. A wonderful way to extend the adventure and share it even further.