A big thanks to Ortovox for making these post happen. Check out Ortovox's mountainwear for your next backcountry adventure.
Storli Valley ski touring, Oppdal. The easy peak ahead is where we ended up. On top you get an amazing view to the north illuminating some of the famous Norwegian alpine areas.
Prior to visiting, I had no idea how accessible Norwegian ski touring is in literally hundreds of locations. The home and ski factory of Endre Hals is a good example (see our factory visit post). A few years ago Endre moved operations from Oslo to a pretty much typical farmhouse and barn near the alpine town of Oppdal, in a smaller side-village called Lonset. He’s got a personal mountain, literally his backyard, that’s skiable most of winter and early spring. Moreover, the Storli Valley up northerly from his house provides a snow plowed road to dozens of peaks with all grades of ski tours. When I visited EVI Ski this May, you could still ski from near the road up a few thousand vertical if desired.
I’m not usually envious of ski touring situations as I’ve seen the good and bad all over the world, and much is really quite average when you consider variable snow conditions, parking issues, and crowding. In this case, however, I was wondering if it was possible to sell our home in Colorado and buy the house next to Endre. Simply amazing.
Starting a ski tour and loving the classic Norwegian countryside. We’re parked about a hundred feet away from this: amazing access.
Me heading up from Endre’s valley home, located to right in photo.
At the summit looking northerly, these are famous mountains. According to Endre it’s the Sunndalsfjella mountains. From left are ‘Store Trolla’ ‘Storsalen’ ‘Innerdalstårnet’ in front of ‘Kongskrona’ and ‘Dronningkrona.’
Terrain up here varies from easy ridges to this coolie-fest. Local legend says Hoji showed up here and skied every couloir during the first ever time he tried tech bindings.
The view of Endre’s valley from my camera. Can you spot him testing skis?
On the down. Classic couple of hours then back to Endre’s front lawn for a beer.
Such a beautiful ski, one more photo of yours truly gliding in Norway.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
3 comments
I couldn’t help but take your “I was wondering if it was possible to sell our home in Colorado and buy the house next to Endre.” comment to heart. As I made that move from the mountains of BC to Oppdal a couple years ago! The access truly is second to none. One caveat though… you’ve heard the local legend stories of Hoji and thousand year old rocker skis… but have you heard the local legend of Oppdal’s legendary snowpack blasting winter windstorms?
Advice please..Colorado back-country conditions now–in early June 2015? Thanks for the photos and motivations to go ski northern Europe!
Just got back from some paragliding in the Alps in Austria and Italy and now I want to go back and camp, ski, fly around the beauty of the Alps—and after your posts from Norway…adding that to the list!!
I am in Oregon and wondering where to find out where I should go on a road trip to Colorado ASAP…can you please let me know of websites or contacts to know where he best access, backcountry is?? I like wilderness, beauty, quiet, big lines……hot springs! but road side is welcome too.. Where should I go, anybody be willing to show me around, any advice would be welcome!! Flying sites or info would be appreciated too** Thanks, Peter petebarry99@yahoo.com
Pete- Conditions now are probably the best they have been in years. Roaring Fork valley ( Sopris and Indy Pass ) is primo right now. But a rapid warm up could change that pretty quickly. For a way broader scope, check out Ted Mahon or Chris Davenport’s websites, they’ve been skiing all over the state…Centennial skiers.
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