SKI TOURING: ITINERARIES IN NORTH EUROPE
Prompts for your adventures at the Polar Circle
Are you looking for an adrenaline-filled experience?
We know it: every time, the same story repeats iTself. You have just come back from holiday and you are already longing to leave again. You are planning your next time off, wondering where you will go and what kind of holiday might be right for you. Adrenaline? Relaxation? Exploration? Don’t worry. There is still time to find a recipe that contains all the right ingredients: from the most exciting adventure to the peaceful atmosphere you need to recharge your batteries, from the energy that only outdoor activities can provide to the relaxing notes of a striking sunset panorama.
Where can you find all this? Northern Europe offers perfect solutions for every taste. The unique setting of the fjords, the fascinating local communities, the jagged, windswept coastlines: these are all locations of immense natural and cultural value. They are places that appear remote and seemingly inhospitable, yet are easily reached with a short flight, and they offer the priceless opportunity to witness the spectacle of the Northern Lights.
These are extraordinary countries for eyes accustomed to our own mountains, to environments that are less boundless and far from the sea. They are the cradle of cultures that are profoundly different from one another, yet closely and similarly connected to the harsh landscapes they inhabit.
DID YOU KNOW...?
Ski touring originated in Northern Europe, out of necessity: traveling long distances and moving easily was certainly no small matter, especially in territories covered up in snow for long periods.
Skis were invented to get around, get food by hunting or fishing, fight when necessary and, in general, survive. There was no competition yet, nor was ski touring associated with speed on steep slopes.
The very first who dared to challenge conditions adverse to men on skis for "fun", pioneers of ski mountaineering but still very distant from the athletes we know today, can be considered explorers more than sportsmen.
The story of the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen who crossed southern Greenland from east to west in 40 days (about 500 km of road with peaks exceeding 2000 metres) became legend. Once he achieved the primacy, he recounted his adventure
in the book "Across Greenland on Skis". A new way of experiencing mountaineering was born, and skis became an increasingly popular means of transport.
The twentieth century brought innovation (from a technological point of view) and since the post-war period, ski touring has conquered fame and media attention.
Today it is one of the most practiced and enjoyed winter disciplines, by enthusiasts and others.
NORWAY
Norway is the most sought-after and well-known destination for ski mountaineering in Northern Europe. It is home to the sharp, dramatic profiles of the Lyngen Alps and the gentler, yet equally thrilling, Lofoten Islands.
Mountains rising directly from the North Sea are a constant feature of the region: postcard-perfect views that reappear in every fjord, each time in a new and surprising way.
Completing the picture, like points of light reflected in the icy waters, are the folkloric homes of the local fishermen.
NORWAY, YES — BUT WHERE?
The Lyngen Alps region, extremely close to Tromsø, lies in the far north of the country and is known as the capital of the Northern Lights. It offers rugged landscapes, where the mountains are reflected in the sea, inhabited by quiet and unobtrusive wildlife: moose on land, orcas and minke whales in the water.
By contrast, the Lofoten Islands, located farther south than Lyngen, are a cornucopia of activities, with trekking routes in summer and ski mountaineering itineraries in winter.
Cod fishing is a defining feature of the area — considered the home of true stockfish — and, among the fishing boats, it is not impossible to spot fascinating hunters: sea eagles.
ICELAND
While Norway is undoubtedly the destination of choice for skiers heading to Northern Europe, Iceland is less well known in the sector and less frequented, yet it offers breathtaking landscapes and excellent snow conditions, on a par with the renowned Lofoten Islands.
Its reputation precedes it, with immense waterfalls, expanses of ice and geysers: a living fabric, as alive as the land of Iceland itself.
ICELAND IN BRIEF
The island offers opportunities that are closer to exploratory ski mountaineering. In particular, along the jagged northern coast — facing Greenland, closer than one might expect — lies the so-called Troll Peninsula, an increasingly well-known location in the world of high-altitude winter sports and a place of rich folklore, as its name suggests.
Iceland is a land of volcanoes, but also of fascinating myths and legends. There is no shortage of typical, colourful fishing villages, steaming thermal pools and…
rather large inhabitants: the chances of spotting whales are high along the coast too, in the right season.
WHEN
The best time to explore the far North on skis is certainly spring: generally speaking, March and April offer pleasant temperatures and optimal snow conditions.
These are months of rebirth and change: the long, dark winter of the “polar night” gives way to the season of light, while the chances of seeing the Northern Lights become even greater.
