RULES AND ETHICS
Yes, we have big goals, maybe even a bit too hard. Yes, it might even sound a bit naive. And yes, we really believe, that if all things go well, we can do it! At the same time, we have a huge respect and we know very well, that during such a long complex project, the chance of failure is absolutely enormous. One wrong step or car crash and all is over. But that's the beauty of a real challenge, right?
RESPECT - NOT A RACE (yet)
Yes, for me personally, the most valuable way of doing NPL is to do it in the clean off-road style and together with filming it in a professional way. Only both together! This idea fulfills my sporty soul. At the same time, we absolutely appreciate anyone, who starts NPL and finishes it within the given rule - using own power only to move forward.
Everybody has it's own style, dreams and needs. Each succesful and fair crossing of NPL deserves respect, even if you "only" walk on the road. The only valid general indicator is how much fun you have. NPL is NOT a competition.
Certain kind of competition or a record can start only if there is clearly given exact route and style, which people can then start to repeat. First then can people start their FKT (Fastest Known Time) attempts. Before this is done, it's a bit childish to call any NPL a world record etc., because I dare to say, that EVERY NPL that has been done so far during last 60 years far is "kind of a world record". Because everyone who did NPL did it in his/her own route and style. First there has to be a clear exact route and style and then there can start a competition.
And yes my immodest dream is to set up such a benchmark NPL route. A clean one... ( see details below)
But not to compete! I want it this hard way, because I think it is the biggest fun and challenge, which can bring out "the best of me" for future life and for even more daring projects. I simply just want to have this raw experience... But NPL, as I feel it, should be first of all about disconnecting from everyday hectic life in the crazy western society. I really think that long journey in the wildest nature is the best way to find out what really matters in life and to restore full mental, physical and spiritual health.
I believe that long journey in the wild nature is the best way to find out what really matters in life and to restore full physical and spiritual health.
TRANSPARENCY
I know, that if I want to try to set up a benchmark route, it must be absolutely clear how I did it. We think, it is not good if somebody claims certain big achievement, which is very hard, without any evidence or bulletproof credibility. Especially today, when many people would do anything "to look cool". We will do everything the most transparent way possible.
How?
I will take hundreds of film shots and photos. Every hour, every day, every place. I will wear precise watch which will exactly document my every step and I will share it every day. I will also have a GPS tracking devide, so you will be able to see my position every time. If you want, you can even meet me on the trail. We will share daily maps and also foto and video reports here on this website and on social media. Simply said, we will gladly share everything important about this attempt of the first really pure-style run across Norway.
If we make a mistake or fail, we will say it honestly. If we manage to do something cool, we say it as well. I don't care about my "running pride" or records. I am a filmmaker, not a professional runner. This is not an ego competition, not a race. Yet still, I wants to be fast. But pure style combined with filming is more important than the speed. My goal is to do my dream media project in a style which I personally feel is the coolest and most valuable. I think that if I succed, it will be big evolution in my career and personal life. That's all.
Each meter of the route will be captured by 2 precise GPS devices - Garmin Forerunner 945 and Garmin InReach Mini.
ASPHALT - CHOOSING THE ROUTE
Balance between pure style (no asphalt, staying only in Norway etc.), interestingness (variety and beauty of terrains) and sport and also fun factor. My immodest dream is to set up a trail across Norway which has it all. A trail, which will be possibly repeated by many people.
How to do it? In certain cases this is confusing even for myself and will be solved on the go, according to the weather, mood etc.
Basic rule is easy.
If I can avoid asphalt or even any roads, I do it. In ideal case I only want to cross them and immediately continue on small forest gravel roads and mainly and ideally on marked trails, unmarked paths or through pathless wild nature. Right from the start by the lighthouse in Lindesnes.
Only if "avoiding asphalt" would mean way too long non-logical stupid detours, going through someone's garden or a longer swim etc, I will accept a few metres, in a few special cases even a few km on the asphalt road.
Good example is about 200m of asphalt bridge called Jåsund brua over the sea strait Jåsundet on Day 1. Then there is 1 km of asphalt while crossing of the town Lyngdal also on Day 1, which will allow me to start my ideal clean, wild and beautiful way towards Setesdal Heiene. Unless you want to swim, you also have to cross big rivers over bridges in the main Norwegian valleys. For example crossing big river Lågen over a bridge that goes through the town Ringebu or crossing the river Glomma over the old bridge in village Atna. See the gallery below. And of course, you simply have to run about 7 km through the undersea North Cape Tunnel between the mainland and the island Magerøya, the home of the northernmost tip of Norway - Nordkapp.
Going to a shop in a village on asphalt is OK, but then I will return back to the path and start from where I have left it. Asphalt must be kept below 5% of the whole NPL trip.
I even believe I can keep asphalt under 1% = 30 km out of 3000km.
Also, if I get injured or too time stressed, I can do some parts on the roads, in the worst case. But then I would not call it "pure style" if my path was less than 95% off the asphalt roads.
CLIMBING THE 7 ICONIC MOUNTAINS
The goal is to get to the top of these mountains along the way north.
Hårteigen, Galdhøpiggen, Kyrkja, Store Svuku, Kvingtinden, Okssolten and Gasskatjåhkkå.
If the weather is really very bad and seriously dangerous (thunderstorm with lightning, ice, too extreme windstorm), while crossing the area, and Petr would have to wait more than 1 day for better weather, he will have to skip the most technical summits, where you have to climb on steep rocks or using the ropes. This is not a climbing expedition and instead he will climb other remarkable mountains along the way in OK weather, like for example:
Sankt Pål, Suletinden, Ruten, Midtre Sølen, Ragotjåhkka, Halti, Oahpis etc.
The dot at the top of majestic Kyrkja (2032m) is Petr during his 1253 km long and one month lasting training trip in the summer 2021.
RIVERS AND LAKES
Just to make this trip more interesting, Petr might or might not use canoe or packraft on a few places like southern part of Femunden lake, small but unique part of river Susna, remote glacier lakes around Blåmannsissen glacier (in fact probably the only way to cross this incredibly wild part of Norway without crossing border with Sweden). According to his speed, he might also do some 22 km of packrafting down on the river Reisa from Mollisfossen to Svartfoss. This is not making the trip easier! Such packraft trip would make both Petr's total and also purely his running trip longer, as from there, it is another detour. But a very cool detour, more beautiful than if he would just cross Reisadalen by Nedrefosshytta and continued towards Alta.
Petr would like to packraft small part of beautiful river Susna north of Børgefjell. Just for the nice experience.
SWEDEN AND FINNLAND
Similarly as above - I will try to stay in Norway all the time. Most NPL thru-hikers use up to 300 kilometres of easier and well marked trails in Sweden or Finnland. They also lead across perfect Nature. Just not in Norway. It is totally fine. But my immodest dream is to find a way only through pathless Norway. This is much longer and so much harder. Maybe too hard? We'll see...
If extreme weather or fatigue won't allow me to do the cleanest possible route through the hardest part of Norway which I call "Norwegian Yosemite" (read about it here ), I might do a small detour to Sweden.
I rather do this small "cheat" through also amazingly beautiful but easier wilderness in Sweden, than to walk the whole NPL purely in Norway, but using Norwegian E6 asphalt road and a ferry in the hardest part.
But if going through Sweden or Finnland would exceed more than 1 % on the whole NPL, then I will not call it clean Norge på langs route.
Rocky west coast of the narrowest part of Norway is extremely hard to cross. Here most NPL hikers use asphalt road E6 or do detour through easier Sweden.