Guide to your stay at a DNT cabin

This is our guide to self-service and no-service cabins. If you stay at a staffed lodge, the cabin is warm when you arrive. Then you can enjoy your stay with no chores.

Planning

Planning is an essential part of a tour. You’re already on our website, which is a good start! Visit UT.no to find a trekking area, suggestions for tours, or descriptions of cabins. Get a map of the area and borrow a DNT-key. Load your pack and go out!

Key

Most unstaffed DNT cabins are locked with the DNT-key. So it’s always wise to have the little DNT-key with you on a hike or ski tour. You may borrow a key against a deposit of NOK 100. Borrow a key on our web shop. You may also borrow a key at local trekking associations or clubs as well as at some tourist offices and shops.

Heating

It’s wise to fire up the stove as soon as you’ve come into a cabin. Place two split sticks of wood inside the stove, split sides inward. Fill the cavity between them with crumpled paper, bark, or other burnable material. Lay small bits of wood and then a larger chunk on top. It’s the best way to fire up on the first try!

Drying

Clothing and shoes can be wet after a day outdoors. Dry wet items by hanging them over the stove.

Cabin register

As the cabin warms up, enter your name, membership number and other information in the cabin register book. You must register before using a bunk.

Lighting

Some cabins have mains or solar panel electricity for lighting. However, most cabins have candles or kerosene lamps for lighting. Remember to check that candles stand firm in candlesticks. Also take care not to spill kerosene upon filling lamps.

Larder

Self-service cabins have larders With all you need, from crisp bread and oatmeal to instant soups and canned goods. Pay for food used the same way you pay for staying at the cabin. No-service cabins don’t have larders, so you must bring your own food.

Water

In the cabin there’s a notice of the location of the nearest water source. In winter you often may need to melt snow, Preferably on the stove, to save gas for cooking.

Cooking

Propane burners are the standard cookers in all cabins. Before lighting the burner, turn the gas control valve to the “Open” position. Remember to turn it “Off” after you’ve finished.

Dinner

Dinner is the high point of the evening, regardless of whether you have venison brought along or pancakes from the larder. Take time to enjoy the meal. And have a bit of chocolate for dessert.

Sleeping

Nothing is as comfortable as going to bed after a long day in the mountains. Remember to bring a cotton hut sack or a little sleeping bag. Show respect for those who wish to go to bed early. So they hopefully will show respect for those who wish to sleep late the following morning. It’s good to have a headlamp if you wish to read in bed.

Privy

DNT cabins have outdoor toilets, often decorated with pictures of the royal family and supplied with reading material. Remember to cover what you’ve left with sod or bark from a bag in the privy.

Payment

At the self-service cabins we strongly recommend to pay for accommodation and food using the app DNT hyttebetaling. Download the app before you begin your hike, availible on all devices. The app also works offline. At the cabin, register accommodation, protocol and provisions in the app. As soon as you get cell reception, you’ll be notified to activate the payment.

Invoice

Most of the DNT selfservice cabins are available in the app. If you can not find your cabin it is possible to pay by filling out a payment-form in the cabin, and we will send you an invoice after your stay. We kindly ask you to use the app if possible, since this give us less administration.

Washing up

Before leaving a cabin, you should wash all cutlery, dishes and countertops used, as well as the cabin floors. It’s courteous to leave a cabin in better condition than when you arrived.