5 Mind-Blowing Ski Tours in the Legendary Tamok Valley

A handful of epic tours in one of Norway's finest - and most serious - ski touring venues!

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Ski touring up on the east ridge. Aadne Olsrud

by Aadne Olsrud

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Overview of the Blåbærtinden moutain. The avalanche path left of the forest is visible in the middle of the picture. The route starts here. Aadne Olsrud

by Aadne Olsrud

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The summit climb seen from the east ridge. Aadne Olsrud

by Aadne Olsrud

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The Blåbærtinden normal route and visible ski tracks in the South face. Aadne Olsrud

by Aadne Olsrud

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The author enjoying some fun freeriding on Blåbærtinden in February seconds before the sun sets early afternoon! Johanna Stålnacke

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Summit of Blåbærtinden with the Lille Russetinden behind Johanna Stålnacke

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Overview of parking pockets

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Comfortable touring up Sjufjellet normal route

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Aadne Olsrud aka Mr Tamok, local legend and ski expert in the area, on way up Sjufjellet Aadne Olsrud

by J Stålnacke

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Touring up Sjufjellet

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About to drop in to the front face. Photo by Aadne Olsrud

by Aadne Olsrud

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Typical avalanche debris under the front face towards the ridge. Be careful and keep distance below! Aadne Olsrud

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Another usual view: old avalanche in the con vexity just above the treeline where the terrain gets steeper. This is the steepest secion on the normal route, be careful here. Aadne Olsrud

by Johanna Stålnacke

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The parking spot

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Further parking areas if the first one is full.

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Majestic Hattavarre seem from the road. The summit rock band guarding the top and the S coloir visible as a clear weakness in the cliff.

by Johanna Stålnacke

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The author booting up hard snow to gain the rock band on a midvinter day.

by Johanna Stålnacke

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The south couloir on a spring day

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Mona Mader ready to ski from somewhere under the rock band.

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Trude Spaun ready to boot on the W ridge

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Hattavarre from south with west ridge on the left

by Johanna Stalnacke

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Using ski crampons can be good as Hattavarre often takes some wind.

by Johanna Stalnacke

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Skiing down in the sunset an early January day

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Overview of Parking spots to different Tamok mountains. Hattavarre parking at the bottom of the map.

by Johanna Stålnacke

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The 'Axe cleft'.

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In the tight upper section.

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Hard snow, maximum concentration.

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Working those jump turns.

Description

With Lyngen, Senja and Lofoten, not to mention the islands of Norway's north coast (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/216/northern-norway's-5-best-island-ski-tours) all vying for attention, the Tamok Valley remains somewhat under the radar of many ski mountaineers heading for the frozen north. That's probably not a bad thing in some ways because the skiing in the Tamok region is mainly steep, serious and potentially dangerous, but for those with the skills, experience and patience to wait for and judge conditions, the valley is simply incredible.

In this collection of routes you'll find merely a small sample of Tamok has to offer but it's an accurate sample, representing the scope and diversity of ski touring which the valley is home to. There's a serious and steep couloir, 3 pretty meaty freeride-y tours, and finally a mellow trip onto one of Tamok's easier summits.

Unlike many of the popular ski touring areas in Norway, the Tamok valley is inland so it has a much more alpine feel than areas like Lofoten, where the sea is often visible throughout a tour. As such, a trip to Tamok combined with a trip to Lyngen (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/3158/spectacular-ski-tours-in-the-lyngen-alps) or Tromsø (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/3157/classic-ski-touring-adventures-in-the-tromso-region) really does offer some of the finest and most varied ski terrain in the World.

There's always been many reasons to book a ski trip to Norway and now you know about the Tamok valley, there is yet another!

Adventures

Blåbærtinden

A big mountain offering fun freeriding with a true alpine touch

Sjufjellet

Ski the fantastic classic normal route or drop big on the front face when conditions align