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The biggest mountains in Norway, invitation from Marker-Volkl. How could I resist?
Not much internet here at the backcountry road-end berg of Spiterstulen (though the hut does have a swimming pool). I’ll have to do more detailed blogging later. But yes, I’m here, in Norway, ski touring. Pinch me.
Currently we are in a hut complex called Spiterstulen (indicated by arrow), at the foot of Norway’s highest peak. This is an amazing place with incredible potential for high touring. Prior, alpine ski touring was not the tradition. That’s changing with promotion of ‘Jotunheimen Haute Route,’ which is the fulcrum my trip is swinging on. Weather is not totally cooperating, but we’ll do what we can. Lisa isn’t here at the moment, we plan on meeting soon for more exploration north of here.
Highest peak in Norway is just out of photo to right.
At the end of the day, the rear end beer is pretty good. Definitely joked about, though those jokes shall remain available for others to post in other places.
View out the hut window this evening.
As our trip progresses I’ll be on the case with more reports, including museum visits in Oslo. For now, priority is to ski the Jotunheimen as much as weather permits!
First views of Jotunheimen during drive from Oslo Norway.
16 comments
Beautiful region! Enjoy it Lou. Looking forward to your reports. Happy spring.
Check out Lofoten or Sunnmøre if you get the chance! Excellent skiing on steep mountains next to amazing fjords.
I’ve enjoyed the skiing in Norway a few times now….becoming much more widely known, which has its pluses and minuses.
I find it to be one of the greatest places to go touring with my wife, or a mixed group. The mountains are not massive, but since the treeline is at 40 meters or something, its all alpine. Makes for great high-alpine touring, but without the long slogs.
There is a great feeling of adventure, but the highly subsidized economies of Norway’s far north provide all the European comforts in miniformat.
Only downside is the ten Euro beers. I bought a round for my guys last year and it cost me nearly 150 Euros! But the duty free in Oslo or Copenhagen is a solution – as is making friends with locals that brew their own beer!
Snowpack information is quite meager – but Seth Hobby at Northern Alpine Guides out of Kabelvag has been changing that, as well as the influx of foreign skiers and a new interest in alpine touring among the Norwegians as well.
A great place to ski!
Got done with 5 days in Jotunheiman Mountains. Finally have a real keyboard for writing. Reports coming. We’ll be here a few more weeks so lot’s more to report… Actually staying next to Norway’s only metal edged alpine ski factory last night and perhaps tonight (eviski.com). Thanks for reading everyone! Wookie, the Jotunheiman classify as massive by my definition, but yes they’re not Mt. Blanc or Denali. All alpine, not a tree in sight once you’re up there. Lou
Nice with a report from Norway! I spent a week of ski touring in Romsdalen (Roms valley) in the beginning of April. There’s a lot of easy accessible ski touring around Åndalsnes and Isfjorden.
Endre Hals (EVI) makes some nice custom lightweight skis, have you planned a report from his factory?
What about Asnes skis?
I am 25 feet from Evi having a beer with Endre.
He assures me his company is the only making steel edged skis in Norway.
Asnes closed their Norway factory some time ago. Some of their skis are possibly made in Sweden, others elsewhere.
Lou
Great! Ask him about his SIG and REDWOOD for PNW skiing.
Reports coming. Preparing blog posts while on the road is always slower. Lou
You were very lucky Lou! The May 1 weekend was fantastic in Jotunheimen, not often the weather is so good for so many consecutive days. And the snow was fabulous, 20cm powder on the north faces! More people out than I’ve ever seen there before.
If you are staying on visit High camp at the Turtagrø hotel. Norway’s biggest skitouring festival.
If you have more time in Norway also check out Romsdalen and Sogndal, both on the west coast.
(There are still some other Norwegian ski brands, but none of them do manufacturing in Norway anymore. Check out SGN skis from Sogndal)
If it’s of any interest you could also visit Morgedal in Telemark, the cradle of (modern) skiing.
‘Twas a great trip! I’m looking forward to seeing more of your photos since my camera is still somewhere in Oslo. Argh!
Hi Adam, I’ve got some posts coming soon but have to finish up the Mount Hayes coverage first. My Jotunheimen will be a bit meager on the photos since I was carrying a junker camera. It’s the one that should have been left in Oslo! Sorry to hear about yours, that’s a total drag.
Was wonderful to meet you and spend some time in the mountains with you.
Best wishes for the oceanography you’re doing next, sounds “interesting” to say the least.
All you guys were very impressive, and thanks for putting up with the old mountaineer!
Lou
Avalanche bulletins and snowpack information in Norway is available here:
http://www.varsom.no/en/Snow-avalanche/
Daily updates!
The Norwegian Avalanche Centre
A great time to come to Noway to ski! Fonna glacier ski resort is closed to day due to huge snow dump! https://www.facebook.com/visitfonna
Enjoy.
Jotunheimen is great spring skiing but imo Lyngen alps were way way better. Lofoten I found overrated for skiing but beautiful landscapes. The Norges have been ski touring forever just on cross country skis. Stop in Lom and hit up the famous Bakery it’s a must stop on your way back to Oslo.
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