Lene Bergersen in the Banana ready to point her skis out

10 of Lyngen's Finest Couloirs

Splitter couloirs in Northern Norway's ski paradise!

Ski Touring Difficult, Severe, Extreme

Description

Ask a keen ski mountaineer to design their ideal touring destination and it would probably look a lot like Lyngen - jagged peaks split by couloirs and bowls, set high above the dark blue sea, and with enough space for everyone to enjoy some solitude. The whole Troms region - of which Lyngen is a part - is packed with World class touring terrain, and a pilgrimage to the area is on the bucket list of most skiers.

Whether it's the island of Kvaløya (/discover/guidebook/9348), the smaller islands off Norway's north coast (/discover/guidebook/216) or the classic tours to the local summits (/discover/guidebook/3157), the whole area is packed with epic ski tours. But perhaps most epic aspect of all the terrain is that it's all split by perfect, unbroken couloirs...

This guidebook showcases 10 of Lyngen's very best couloirs, with all but 3 of them being FATMAP grade Severe or Extreme. As such, this is a list for the hardcore skier rather than those out for a cruisy day. A few of the descents (namely Store Russetinden East face and Normal route, Øksehøgget Couloir & Sofiarenna couloir) are truly extreme, and reserved only for top level operators. It's also worth mentioning for the sake of accuracy that 1 of the lines in this guidebook (Øksehøgget Couloir) actually sits in the Tamok Valley rather than the Lyngen area, but it's only a short drive away from the other routes in here and is such a good line that a geographical detail isn't reason enough to exclude it!

Given that some of these lines were only descended for the first time just over a decade ago, this is a pretty cutting edge list. Tick some of them and you'll have a great trip, tick them all and you'll be a Lyngen legend!

Routes included

Tomas Couloir and Store Lakselvtinden

2 great steep-ish couloirs in one of Northern Norway's most scenic mountain valleys (and that's saying something!)

Severe Ski Touring

Distance: 6.8 km
Ascent: 1.5 km
Descent: 1.5 km

Store Jaegervasstinden

A long and wild journey in a stunning part of the Lyngen Peninsula.

Difficult Ski Touring

Distance: 15 km
Ascent: 1.6 km
Descent: 1.6 km

Ellendaltinden West Couloir

A truly brilliant line with perfect pedal-to-the-metal terrain.

Severe Ski Touring

Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 1.3 km
Descent: 1.3 km

Øksehøgget Couloir

A couloir of couloirs. The best steep line in Tamokdalen.

Extreme Ski Touring

Distance: 11 km
Ascent: 1.2 km
Descent: 1.2 km

Store Russetinden East face and Normal route

A Peak whose East face is one of the biggest adventure freeski lines in the region and whose normal route is one of the most beautiful, particularly in the midnight sun..

Extreme Ski Touring

Distance: 7.2 km
Ascent: 1.4 km
Descent: 1.3 km

Sofiarenna couloir

An ambitious and spectacular steep couloir on the north side of Sofiatinden

Extreme Ski Touring

Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 1.4 km
Descent: 1.4 km

Banana couloir of Holmbukktinden

A fun, steep couloir to ski in perfect spring corn and to progress in ski mountaineering

Severe Ski Touring

Distance: 14 km
Ascent: 1.5 km
Descent: 1.5 km

Tooth Couloir

Couloir from the col between Festningen and Urdkjerringa. Classic, great experience especially in early season when the day is clear and the whole mountain gets the polar night glow.

Difficult Ski Touring