Skitouring Lyngen Alps Norway

FREERIDE & SKITOURING IN THE LYNGEN ALPS NORTH NORWAY

The most beautiful skitour and freeride area in Europe is located in the Norwegian Lyngen Alps, a (peninsular) group of islands with high steep peaks and deep valleys that flow into the fjord. It has lots of snow and often skiers mistakenly think that in Scandinavia there are only faint molehills and that ski touring should be done in the Alps. Nothing could be further from the truth: Norway is hip and trendy as a freeride and skitouring area! There are endless possibilities and you do not queue like on the Haute Route! Peaks such as Trolltinden, Stortinden, Tafeltinden in the heart of the Lyngen Alps do their name, they look a bit like the steep granite tops above Chamonix. Here you can also find a long tradition of alpine climbing. They are located in the far north of Norway, far above the Arctic Circle. Edward Bekker discovered the area in 1997 and has since then returned every year to enjoy the rugged nature and the beautiful snow with ski enthusiasts on wide ski skis. A dream trip for the true ski enthusiast!

Highlights:

• Ski touring and freeriding at the midnight sun, a unique experience!
• No acclimatization problems; you start at the fjord at sea level and enjoy unforgettable panoramas over the fjord
• Healthy and tasty Scandinavian meals in our cosy lodge
• We know the area through and through; Since over 2 decades we organize annual ski(touring) trips

The Lyngen Alps have been growing rapidly in recent years as a pure ski destination. Although heliski is not allowed and there are there are no ski lifts, many enthusiastic skiers from all over the world come to this area known for its vastness and good snow until well into spring. Even in April and early May you often ski to the fjord! And the great thing is that the days start very relaxed with a fantastic Scandinavian breakfast, we do not have to hurry because it is practically 24 hours of light and the snow stays good in contrast to the Alps where after 12 o'clock in the afternoon snow has transformed into slush.

Our 'basecamp' during the enire week is a comfortable lodge near the town of Lyngseidet, not far from the world's northernmost university town of Tromsø. We have our own minivan, with which Edward collects you from the airport in Tromsø. We then drive past the fjords towards the lodge and you're already in the mood, it's so beautiful here! The welcome is warmest and the dinners exquisite. There is an old-fashioned simple wooden sauna that we can light up after skiing.

The ski touring in this area has one big advantage over the Alps for for those who do not live in the mountains: no acclimatization problems, because we ski between 0 and 2000 meters! That means that you have more energy when touring and skiing and can even make long runs!

During the week you make daily day trips of 1000 - 1500 altitude meters per day. Every day the guide chooses a trip that fits well with the weather conditions and capacities of the group. A typical day in Norway starts with the extensive Scandinavian breakfast of Håakon, with freshly smoked salmon, toast, crispbread, boiled egg, porridge, muesli, and herring, all fresh and homemade. Coffee, tea, orange juice of course, At the breakfast buffet you prepare your own packed lunch. After having prepared our gear and packed the daypack, we drive with our own minivan along the fjords, sometimes 10 minutes drive sometimes an hour. Sometimes we encouter a moose or a raindeer. We also might take the ferry to get to the other side of the fjords, where endless mountains are waiting to be skied. We often start in a twig forest and then we get a view of the fjord. But also more inland there are beautiful mountains. Often we are the only group here or you come across a strange Viking. It is the land of the trolls. When we return back to the lodge, we light up the sauna, a beautiful centuries old ritual which smells wonderfully. You can really relax here.

If the group feels like it, we drive to Finland, Kilpissjärvi, on a large lake. With the skidoo or snowmobile we make a nice trip over the lake where you can drive yourself ... we are equipped with special skidoo suit, helmet, gloves. The aim is the three countries point Norway, Sweden, Finland. Edward knows the way and also gives you instruction in the technique ... but digging out the skidoo in the soft snow next to the track you have to do it yourself! If you prefer to read a book in the lodge, also fine.

The dinners are very tasty, made from healthy ingredients such as fresh cod, salmon, reindeer, fresh vegetables and salad, sometimes King Crab, fresh shrimp, bakalau! 

We sometimes also do 'yo-yo' skiing: if the descent is great, we'll walk up one more time, why not! Once we can go fishing during a boat trip in a fjord, where we may also see dolphins and whales. On the spot, the program can be adapted to the rapidly changing snow and weather conditions and some flexibility is welcome. You can expect all kinds of snow, from wet snow snow to beautiful spring snow or even loose powder snow. The program is medium-heavy and meant for good off-piste and touring skiers. You have experience in freeriding and ski touring and you can smoothly go up and descend without problems in all kinds of snow? Then this is really something for you!

Tip: Look under 'booking' to the Youtube compilation of multiple trips to Scandinavia, made by Edward and Ilse Bekker. This gives you an idea of all forms of skiing in Scandinavia.

This trip is open to snowboarders with a splitboard