Ski & Sail Alta-Hammerfest Norway

Alta and the northernmost city in the world Hammerfest in the far north of Norway are about 100 kilometers apart. However, between the two places there are countless fjords and islands with beautiful, untouched ski touring mountains. It is rugged and arctic, there are hardly any settlements, but the snow is present until well into spring, all the way to the fjord.

Our basecamp for the whole week is the S/V Rembrandt van Rijn; an iron 3-master expedition schooner with comfortable 2- and 3-person cabins. It is a 100-year-old Dutch expedition schooner that was completely renovated in 2011. This iron expedition ship can accommodate up to 33 guests in 2-person cabins and 1x 3-person cabin. In addition, you will share the ship with the 12 crew members who will navigate you safely through the fjords all week and take excellent care of you. Each cabin has its own shower/toilet.

This trip is a pioneer trip. We navigate from Alta, where the small airport borders the harbor, towards Hammerfest, the northernmost city in the world! You will be guided by Edward Bekker and his fellow UIAGM mountain and ski guides. The definitive route to be sailed is determined by the guides in collaboration with the captain.

Every day we make ski touring trips from the fjord to peaks that are on average around 800 to 1,000m high. We start directly from the fjord on skis and thanks to the low start at sea level, unlike in the Alps for example, we are not bothered by the height. And you notice that when walking! Sometimes we climb a top several times and enjoy the beautiful descents in untracked, rugged terrain. Occasionally it is also possible to make a traverse, where we are dropped off in one fjord and picked up in the other fjord. For lunch we take a picnic that we prepare ourselves for breakfast.

During the trip we mainly sail through sheltered fjords and occasionally over the open sea. Sometimes we anchor in the evening, but often we use the nights to cover greater distances. To go ashore we use natural or unnatural harbors in small fishing settlements or in sheltered coves. If there's no dock, we'll use the two Zodiacs to go ashore.

In short, a special ski tour with an expedition character in a rugged, arctic environment!

About the necessary equipment

You must have a pair of good freeride skis with tour bindings, skins, ski crampons and poles, avalanche safety equipment (beacon, shovel, probe) and glacier equipment (harness, carabiners, possibly crampons). In terms of shoes, freeride or touring ski boots (with walking position and profile sole) are required (pins/tec binding).