Did Geilo Invent the concept of volunteer work?

The cold had settled in, and I was out on foot, not realizing until it was too late; this was the evening the snow would arrive, even though the sky was starlit. I heard little pops reminiscent of the sound of many coordinated steam engines starting up. In front of me, behind me, and to the side. Snow settled on the ground, and I found myself unwittingly in the middle of the trail, instinctively understanding that I should turn around—and now wade through deep snow—back home to my new apartment at Breidablikk. This was the night winter arrived, as decreed by Geilo.

I have no idea how many people from Geilo and machines are involved in producing snow, moving snow, establishing bases, and grooming miles of tracks; my guess is that most teachers, retail and municipal employees, plus an entire sports club, are involved. The next day brought a good mood, with people of all ages in the tracks—children and adults, happy amateurs, and skiers with rosy cheeks. Winter was firmly in place, and Christmas was still a long way off.

Speaking of skiing, many will recognize—and perhaps have participated in—the traditional Skarverennet race from Finse to Ustaoset at the end of April. You pack your bag, take the train, strap on your skis (by all means, let the Swix prep team handle your skis) and set off. What you may not know is that roughly 1,100 volunteers participate in the planning and execution, which equates to every other permanent resident of Hol municipality over the age of 15. They know how to organize a volunteer effort in Geilo.

As cabin residents at Breidablikk, we might take for granted that the freshly groomed, inviting ski tracks are just there. Every single morning throughout the winter season, which I greet early, the trail around Ustedalsfjorden, starting just a few meters below Breidablikk, lies pristinely prepped. I don't know this for certain, but I readily believe that the people of Geilo groom the ski tracks before they plow the roads after a snowy night.

Volunteer work and community service must, of course, be planned, organized, and executed so that the rest of us can enjoy the results. That’s what the Geilo Trail and Track Association ensures. They prioritize, plan, and ensure that the network of trails (including bike and hiking trails in the summer months) is maintained and expanded. This work, as you may have guessed, is also done on a voluntary basis. Yet, it naturally incurs costs for repairs, fuel, and materials.

The developer of Breidablikk, Hallingdal Hytteservice AS, supports the Geilo Trail and Track Association with 1% of the purchase price for each sold apartment. This one percent contributes NOK 40,000 to the volunteers for an apartment priced at 4 million. This means that the financing of the trail and track association is also a form of community service for a vibrant, sustainable local community.

Regards,

Torkel Lien
Cabin resident 
Breidablikk Geilo