valle scholar — Feels on Wheels Blog

When I was in Svalbard, my roommate and a few outdoor guides told me that if I wanted to see the Northern Lights I should visit the Lofoten Islands, and after doing a quick search on the archipelago in northern Norway, I was sold! The blog 68 North was really helpful in helping me sort out the general geography and terrain of the island, and if I had more time I think I would have been much more invested in finding more of his hikes and hidden spots! It was hands-down the most beautiful place I’ve ever been and I can’t wait to go back in the summer time when the cold might not be so completely biting and there would be more time for hiking — the 7 hours of quasi-daylight was limiting.

TravelRoxanne RoblesDecember 7, 2016norway, lofoten islands, lofoten, hiking, mountains, archipelago, travel, photography, valle, valle scholar, university of washingtonComment

Valle Diaries: Karlsvik Gård and Tønsberg

During my time in Norway I spent time with my friend Tine at her family’s farm and event center outside Tønsberg, about an hour southwest of Oslo. Apparently, Tønsberg is Norway’s oldest town! She was so incredibly hospitable, and her home was so gorgeous! PLUS her dog, Scott, is hilarious and cute as all get-out. He even has his own couch with his name on it.

TravelRoxanne RoblesNovember 22, 2016norway, travel, tonsberg, karlsvik gard, waterfront, farm, art gallery, hiking, weimaraner, valle, valle scholar, university of washingtonComment

Valle Diaries: Svalbard

I ventured to Svalbard, at 78 degrees north in mid-October in search of the Northern Lights and some arctic adventure! Sunrise: 9:49AM Sunset: 3:43PM Yeah… You read it right… Only a handful of daylight hours, and that was when I was there in mid-October. Right now in mid-November the sunrise is 11:44am and the sunset is 12:44pm!!! It made me really sleepy, not to mention the freezing temperatures and hiking all day; so I was hibernating like a polar bear when I wasn’t hiking on glaciers!