Embarking on an Adventurous Journey: Hiking the Majestic Norwegian Mountains with the Everst Family

The Land of the Midnight Sun, Norway’s beauty is unsurpassable. And the Everst family is there to capture it for us. The first time Natalia Kurzova and her husband caught a glimpse of Segla mountain while hiking to Hesten peak in Norway, they were alone. It was just the pair of them, hovering high above the clouds. It was summertime, meaning their path was illuminated by the midnight sun. The pink and orange glow of yesterday’s sunset merged with the next morning’s sunrise. “We believed we were in paradise,” Kurzova tells me. Since 2017, she and her husband—an experienced rock climber—have lived as digital nomads. Working under the artist name Everst, she has traveled the world. License these images via everst x2. At the very beginning of their adventures together, the couple navigated through the wilderness deep in the heart of the Caucasus Mountains. Without the help of GPS or marked roads, they lost and rediscovered the path several times. They trekked for five days straight without encountering other travelers on their route. From then on, the mountains have been their home. Still, no matter how far they’ve roamed, the family always found their way back to the “Land of the Midnight Sun”: Northern Norway. At the time of this writing, Everst is emailing me from the road, staring out her car window at the sprawling landscape beyond. License this image via everst. “In this part of the world, almost every photo looks idyllic, if taken in the right conditions,” she says. “Moss, rock formations, fjords . . . with no needless details. The architecture in Norwegian villages fits perfectly into the scene. To me, even the air in Northern Norway is special. I can’t feel it in other places.” When the couple welcomed their daughter, Danika, into the world, they knew they wanted her to experience the beauty of the natural world up close. “We took her backpacking for the first time when she was just three months old,” Everst reflects. They carried her snugly in a baby carrier built specifically for hiking. When Danika was four months old, the family embarked on what they called their “Big Scandinavian Road Trip,” traveling through Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Åland Islands. “Of course, Danika doesn’t remember anything from that trip now, but she has the photos as memories,” the artist continues. “And, maybe her soul has saved these moments as well.” License these images via everst x2 x3 x4 x5. These days, the Everst family regularly spends a few months in Norway, traveling by road from one trail to the next. They use Instagram and Google Earth to find new places to explore, and they also use the apps Fatmap and AllTrails when venturing into new terrain. The landscapes in Norway are relatively accessible and easy to navigate. While some other locations require very early start times and rugged treks, this is one place where they can slow down and simply see where the day takes them. “During the midnight sun, we prefer to hike at night and then sleep a half-day after that,” Everst says. “When the weather is good, it’s a great pity to waste the night on sleeping when there’s stunning light outdoors. During these months, we sleep in a car or a tent in the mountains, always ready to catch the best moments.” License these images via everst x2 x3 x4. In her camera bag, Everst keeps a Sony Alpha 7R III mirrorless camera and two essential prime lenses: the Sony GM 24mm 1.4 for wide shots and the Samyang 85mm as a medium-telephoto. Keeping her gear lightweight is important in the mountains, so a compact full-frame camera and just a couple of lenses are ideal for the job. She also packs a lightweight carbon fiber tripod, ND filters for long-exposure landscapes, and two drones. “I use the DJI Mavic 2 Pro and the DJI Mini 3 Pro,” Everst explains. “The drone helps me to take very unique photos and videos in places you would not expect, so it’s always in my backpack.” Plus, an iPhone 14 Pro for on-the-go and in-the-moment shots. In the mountains, rain and fog are to be expected, as are unpredictable changes in weather. The family is always prepared with layered outdoor clothing, rain covers for their backpacks, and Goretex boots. They check the weather before climbing and plan for sunny days. But, just in case, they also have a portable storm shelter with them at all times. License this image via everst. Danika is four years old now, and the mountains are her playground. “Trail running is a new hobby for her and her father,” Everst tells me. “If the route is easy enough, they run to the top really fast.” Danika also likes to help set up the tent and enjoys sharing meals with the family while camping. June and July in Norway are magical, and they pass by quickly, so the Everst family is cherishing their days there as much as they can. In the time since their first visit, other people have discovered the family’s favorite area overlooking Segla mountain, and it’s rare that they’ll find themselves there alone. “It’s a well-known spot now, and it gets overcrowded, but it used to be a sort of hidden gem,” the artist remembers. Even now, every time they return, their minds turn back to that hike all those years ago—the moment they first fell in love with Norway—when the midnight sun painted the mountain gold. License these images via everst x2 x3 x4 x5 x6. See more from the Everst family by visiting their Shutterstock portfolio and browsing their website. You can follow along on Instagram at @everstfamily. Before you go! Need access to images, footage, music, and video effects all on one plan and in one place? Check out Shutterstock Flex: License this cover image via everst. Recently viewed ${excerpt}

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