A quest for the ultimate ski touring location – Lyngen Alps in Norway might be the answer?
A couple of weeks ago Marko wrote about back country skiing gear – Backcountry Ski Gear List – Ultimate Must Have Gear List for Backcountry Skiing.
Marko’s list made me ponder where I would like to ultimately use that set-up. Where would I go if I could choose any destination and do some ski touring? Let’s exclude lift/heli-assisted stuff for the time being…)
These days I am more of a resort/”slackcountry” skier. My wife and I have two small children. This means family trips, and my wife likes to ski too on the holidays. So, my backcountry/ski touring days are pretty limited at the moment. However, some years ago I skied quite a lot more: I guess I have some 500 days under my belt spent skiing and snowboarding in the Alps/Slovakian Tatras/Northern Finland or Norway during the years 1996-2004. Marko and I met in Chamonix – the European backcountry skiing/mountaineering “Mecca”, and I probably have had some of my very best days there and have made all sorts of great ski/snowboarding friends. However, if someone were to ask what the most beautiful place where I have ever skied is, the answer is pretty clear: The Lyngen Alps in Northern Norway. And Lyngen is all about man-powered ascents – Norway has strict rules of no helis, no (big) lifts , no sleds on Lyngen Peninsula (unless you are a local reindeer farmer, etc.), which in my opinion is pretty cool – that policy keeps most the crowds away for sure!
The yearly Lyngen ski trip has became almost obligatory for some Finnish freeriders and ski tourers. After all, the place is located only about 60 km from the Finnish border. I haven’t paid much attention to articles on Lyngen skiing in recent years (a defensive reaction, knowing that those trips are pretty unaccessible for me at the moment) but last Saturday I happened to see a TV clip that definately got my attention. You can watch the clip on this site – it is in Finnish but wait a while and there is an interview of Graham Austick, the owner of the Lyngen Lodge, in English.
Lyngen Lodge offers something different
Lyngen Lodge is a touring skiing/outdoor sports center located in Djupvik i Lyngen on the shore line of the eastern side of the Lyngen Fjord approximately 2.5 hours east of the city of Tromsø along route E6. The lodge offers all modern luxuries and acts a a base camp for client’s adventures.
The real deal is the boat reserved for client ski trips. The motor boat, the Spirit of Lyngen, will provide transportation to the ski locations, making several lines possible that aren’t accessible on any other vehicle (see more here). How cool is that?
Skiing in Lyngen Peninsula, Northern Norway
To quote Lyngen Lodge’s site:
“With over 60 summits over 1000m flanking the Lyngen Fjord’s shores, skiers are provided with an incredible choice of terrain. Lyngen Lodge is located 500km inside the Arctic Circle and due to the high Northern latitude the sun’s glancing rays have less effect on the snow. By mid February the polar nights have been already replaced with 7 hours of sunshine by mid May it’s the midnight sun.
Avergage summit heights are around 1000m to 1200m but on the high glaciers of the main Lyngen Peninsula there are summits over 1400m with Jiehkkevarri being the highest at 1834m above sea level.”
Well, I have to admit that at this age and in this life situation a ski touring trip with all the modern comforts of Lyngen Lodge and the luxurious boat transfer to the start of the lines sounds pretty damn tempting. Maybe in a few years when the kids are a little older and maybe, just maybe, if the economical situation allows…heh. Tents and camping in the mountains are cool but you must remember that in Norway it can be pure rain at times and the weather will change every fifteen minutes or so. Call me a lazy old fart but at least I can defend myself with the fact that you still have to walk uphill with your own legs…
So, to summarize: Lyngen Lodge sounds like a dream ski touring trip to me!
All pictures by Antti Zetterberg, used with permission
2 Responses
Nice article.
The clip on the site you refered to, seemed to be from late april, early may.
So the season is quite strange.
There are also other alternatives to go for in that area.
After my knowledge the least expensive way is to rent some huts, and a boat, and go about yourself, but then you need some knowledge of the area. I know of atleast four places you can go for that route.
Also is there some others offering “packages”, but they are based on boats. So you live on the boat, and it travel from place to place. In example, you boarder it at Tromsø, late evening, and go to sleep. The next morning when you wake up you will be at the shore of your first peak. You ascend the mountain at one side, then skii down at the other side and the boat will be waiting for you there to take you to your next peak.
It truly is an amazing place to go backcountry skiing, and have gained quite the popularity the past years.
[...] Homeboyski.com has a great blog post about Lyngsalpene, including several amazing pictures and more information: Lyngen Lodge – Dream Ski Touring Resort? [...]