10 of Lyngen's Finest Couloirs

Splitter couloirs in Northern Norway's ski paradise!

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Hiking towards the snow line on 17th of May

by Johanna Stalnacke

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Chris Booth enjoying some spring corn between the Banana's rock walls

by Johanna Stalnacke

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Johanna Stalnacke and Lene Bergersen ascending the ecouloir

by Johanna Stalnacke

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Lene Bergersen in the Banana ready to point her skis out

by Johanna Stalnacke

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Blåisen behind, this is where you would also exit the descent from Jiehkkevarri down by the Blåisen glacier

by Johanna Stålnacke

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View from the top

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Getting closer to the shoulder of the couloir

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Sofiarenna

by Mika Alenko

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Sofiarenna N couloir overview

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Sofiarenna point of view

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Rock steps in Sofiarenna couloir

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Bottom part

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Sofiarenna from the summit of Sofiatinden

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Drrrroooopppppping!

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Dropping into the couloir in atmospheric conditions

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking up at the line during the approach

by Charlie Boscoe

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Earning the turns!

by Charlie Boscoe

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Skinning up towards the line

by Charlie Boscoe

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This is the view you want to see - the alternative would be having to break the trail yourself!

by Charlie Boscoe

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Perfect conditions in the Tomas Couloir.

by Charlie Boscoe

Licence Free

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Approaching the Tomas Couloir in murky weather.

by Charlie Boscoe

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The view across the Lakselvdalen.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Enjoying the incredible views on the way up.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Low down on the ascent.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking up at the Tomas Coulior from Lakselbukt village.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Starting out on the ascent.

by Charlie Boscoe

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Mind-blowing views from midway up the main bowl

by Charlie Boscoe

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Skinning up through the trees low down

by Charlie Boscoe

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Beautiful mellow skiing at the end of a long day

by Charlie Boscoe

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Looking up at the route from the treeline

by Charlie Boscoe

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Dropping!

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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.

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The east face of Store russetinden Andreas Fransson archive

by Johanna Stålnacke

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Dropping into the east face

by Per Wingaard Sjøqvist Black Crows

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 (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/9348/ski-to-the-sea-on-kvaloya), the smaller islands off Norway's north coast (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/216/northern-norway's-5-best-island-ski-tours) or the classic tours to the local summits (https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/3157/classic-ski-touring-adventures-in-the-tromso-region), 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!

Adventures

Sofiarenna couloir

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

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.