The escape from the asphalt
It is mid-July. The thermometer on the dashboard shows 28 degrees, the sweat is trickling, and the queue down towards the idyllic coastal gem you had picked out is at a dead standstill. When you finally arrive, the motorhomes are parked so tightly that you can almost help yourself to your neighbor's barbecue food out of your own window. Do you recognize this? I certainly did a couple of summers ago.
My solution back then was to turn the campervan 180 degrees, open the Fricamp app and aim for the nearest mountain pass. The transition from clammy coastal queues to fresh mountain air and open expanses is nothing less than magical. July is by far the best month for mountain wild camping in Norway. The snow has finally released its grip on most mountain roads, the toll roads into the real gems have opened, and the mosquitoes? Well, above the tree line they often blow away. Regardless of whether you roll around in a spacious motorhome, an agile campervan, have a roof tent on the roof, or tow a faithful Camp-let, adventure awaits in the mountains. Here is how you get the most out of your high mountain holiday.
Choose the right tool: Mountain camping for all setups
The mountain discriminates against no one, but it requires you to know the weaknesses and strengths of your exact 'cabin on wheels'. Here are my best tips adapted to your form of accommodation:
Roof tents and Camp-let: In harmony with the wind
There is little that beats the feeling of zipping up the canvas in the morning and looking out over an endless mountain landscape from the roof of the car. But the mountain has one enemy for those of you with canvas: The wind. When you find a spot on Fricamp, spend a little extra time checking the weather forecast (especially wind gusts) and the landscape.
- Park smartly: Position the car or trailer so that the most aerodynamic part points towards the wind direction. A roof tent that catches the wind right in the broadside can quickly feel like sleeping inside a tumble dryer.
- Use the terrain: Find shelter behind a small ridge or some large rocks. Even a small mound can take the edge off the mountain wind.
- Extra pegs and guy lines: Do you have a Camp-let? Do not be sloppy with the guy lines in the mountains, even if it is completely still when you go to bed. Mountain weather turns in minutes.
Campervan: Condensation and chilly nights
Wild camping in the mountains with a van is often the easiest. You are agile, you can get up the steepest gravel roads (if the front-wheel drive allows it), and you can close the metal doors when the wind howls. But there is one thing that often surprises first-time mountain campers: The temperature drop.
- Air, air, air: Even if it is 5 degrees outside and you have the diesel heater on, you MUST have ventilation. The condensation from two adults (and maybe a dog) sleeping will turn into rain on the ceiling before morning dawns. Leave a roof hatch or a window ajar.
- Insulation mats: Use insulation mats on the windows. They keep the heat out on sunny coastal days, but in the mountains they are worth their weight in gold for keeping the heat in at night.
Motorhome: Leveling blocks and gravel road challenges
With a motorhome, you have the luxury of a full kitchen, bathroom, and standing height in the middle of the plateau. It is fantastic! The challenge is often size and ground clearance.
- It is never flat in the mountains: You are guaranteed to have brought leveling blocks, but in the mountains you almost always need them. A tip is to drive carefully around the spot to find the naturally flattest point before you build 'Lego' under the tires.
- Know your dimensions: Many of the finest mountain roads in the Fricamp app are narrow toll roads. Check that the road does not have weight restrictions that exclude your motorhome, and watch out for deep wheel ruts in the gravel that can damage the grey water tank under the car.
How to hunt for mountain gems in the app
Mountain Norway is enormous, and there are thousands of gravel spots and grassy plains. But how do you find the cream of the crop spots? The secret often lies in looking for toll roads. Allemannsretten (the right to roam) gives us fantastic opportunities, but remember that the vast majority of roads that go deep into the mountain heaths are privately owned. These are often run by local cabin associations or mountain boards.
I usually open the Fricamp app, zoom in on mountain areas like Hardangervidda (around the Rjukan/Tinnsjå area), the outer edges of Jotunheimen (like Valdresflye and the side roads there), or Dovrefjell. Then I look for spots located at the end of a long, thin line on the map. In the old days, you needed a bag of twenty-kroner coins to pay at these tolls. Today, almost all are equipped with Vipps or automatic license plate recognition. It might cost a hundred-kroner bill to drive in, but the reward is that you often get an entire mountain lake to yourself.
Mountain etiquette for wild campers
When we move up into vulnerable mountain nature, an extra large responsibility rests on us wild campers. This is not just a gravel spot along the E6; we are in the home of wild reindeer, grouse and – in the summer – grazing sheep and cows.
Firstly: The sheep are curious. If you have a Camp-let or a roof tent with an awning, do not leave food easily accessible outside. And for god's sake, do not park on 'tractor turnaround spots' or in front of gates. The farmers are at work during the summer.
Secondly: Leave no trace. This is the very heart of wild camping. The high mountains have a thin layer of soil. A wound in the heather from a disposable grill mark takes decades to heal. Use established campfire spots (remember the general campfire ban – use common sense and approved gas burners), and take all waste with you. Do you not have a toilet in the car? Dig a proper hole far away from water sources, or invest in a portable camping toilet regardless of whether you sleep in a roof tent or van. We want the mountain farmers to continue to leave the toll roads open for us in the future.
Ready to take a deep breath?
July does not have to mean stress, crowding and sweaty mattress toppers. The mountain awaits with crystal clear fishing lakes, a cool breeze, and endless hiking opportunities right outside the car door. So fill up the water tank, check the pressure in the spare tire, and let the Fricamp app guide you upwards into the heights.
My practical July tip: Pack the Ullvang sweater and the down jacket! Yes, it is July, but when the sun goes down behind the mountain ridge at 1200 meters altitude, the temperature drops rapidly. That is when it is extra delightful to boil yourself a piping hot cup of coffee in the campervan or under the awning of the Camp-let, while enjoying total silence.
Have you found an absolutely magical, secret mountain spot? Log it in the app, add a picture (preferably with a little info about the road standard) and share the joy with the rest of us. Happy mountain summer, wild campers!