 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Once again it’s time for our annual arctic ski mountaineering trip courtesy of offpisteskiing. We’ve gone for a combined trip with 3 days in Narvik and 4 days on the Lofoten islands next week. There’s a lot of history round these parts from two major naval battles during WW2 leading to 26 shipwrecks scattered throughout the fjord. There’s a wreck of a beached German destroyer just down the road from our lodge, which I’ll try to get some photos of if the tide’s low enough. In the meantime, day 1 was rather good. We skied off the lifts above Narvik this morning before touring above the lifts and getting some good snow in worsening weather. The day ended with a full on artic storm complete with Japow-esque snowflake density and a fantastic return to the car in untracked boot deep powder on deserted slopes. Not bad.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 7-04-18 21:21; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
View of the fjord from lift accessed off piste.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Arno making light work of some slightly crusted cold snow.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 7-04-18 21:21; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Looking down at the top of the Ski area from our ascent to the peak above it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Cornices are large here...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@Sharkymark, have fun !!!! just off to lyngen alps myself , lots of snow around so stay safe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Dabber, thanks, you too. There’s a significant persistent weak layer causing lots of problems across Nordland so lots of care needed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Love reading this thread, although it does make me jealous 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Cool pics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Must add to our to do list  - keep the reports & pics coming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Cod, we need pictures of cod, especially hung out to dry cod.
Cant believe its this time of the year already
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
insanely jealous.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very jealous! But what do you do if you're allergic to fish? ( Serious question.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
My father, a Commando in WWII, took part in the raid on Vaagso.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
A few more pics to add. For the sake of argument, we’ll call it a powder day
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Arno and Steve battling in a breezy sidewind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Arno shredding boot deep cold snow with our skin track from 2 hours earlier in the distance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Sharkymark, ARNO and whoever else please keep the photos coming..
| Quote: |
Love reading this thread, although it does make me (very & insanely) jealous ...yups!
|
Grizzler, if you're allegic to fish then best not go to Nor-Norge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Day 3 😀 (just because it’s Norway). Anyway, first photo is technically day 2 but spent too much time editing/eating yesterday to post it. We went hunting for the destroyer wreck a short walk from the lodge but the tide was too high (the stern sticks out apparently) and there was too much snow to get to the cove on foot. This is a view looking back at the lodge (white house on the left). Not a terrible place to stay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Today’s target: Middagsfjellet - quite literally the Norwegian Aguilles du midi. You maybe able to spot the snow plumes. We’ll come back to that...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offpisteskiing taking point on the skin to the summit
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@Arno fighting the near gale on the summit ridge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
It got a little more extreme towards the top. The blowing snow filled in skin tracks within the time it took me to get the 100m or so to the chaps ahead (just about visible as a couple of colourful looking rocks on the horizon).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The snow was understandably wind blown at the top but improved considerably towards the tree line. Thanks to @offpisteskiing for another top day adventuring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
As an epilogue to today, we had a classic arctic alpenglow moment in the middle of dinner. Looking SW towards the entrance of Ofotfjorden from the lodge 👊
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Looks stunning all round 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Thanks @Scarpa 😀; fortunately there’s more to come we hope!
Speaking of which...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Today’s mission was to head west from the Narvik area to the Lofoten Islands for part 2 of the trip. There’s a line on the way that @offpisteskiing had been eyeing up for 6 years. 720m vertical, a progressively increasing pitch between 30 and 40 degrees and the usual Lofoten aesthetics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
An apt name would be ‘The Couloir of 1000 Kick Turns’.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
I’d like to dwell on the view from the top for a moment. Every year I say it but the light is simply stunning...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
...and the ski down was all kinds of epic. Another fantastic day 👊
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cloud had appeared but was high so visibility good. @offpisteskiing’s plan was to head west away from the ‘hordes’ to ski the Navaren couloir at Reine, which has been on our list since we eyed it up 5 years ago. Most snow we’ve seen that far west (it tends to get less snow as it juts out into the Gulf Stream). Even in dull weather, Reine is pretty spectacular.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here’s the line within the obvious cleft. 650m from the road and topped out at 43 degrees.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
@offpisteskiing leading the boot pack near the steepest part of the couloir. It’s not skied that often but an hour earlier, a group of Russians fro St Petersburg had skied it. Made the boot pack easier at least...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My favourite photo of the day: Rian putting in some steepn turns near the top with overhanging cliffs to the right and a view of the Norwegian Sea below. Epic 😬
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
