Ski to the Sea on Kvaløya

Norway's 5th largest mainland island is home to some truly epic ski tours - here are some of the best.

Charlie Boscoe

Images

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Reindeers; not a sight you see on many ski tours!

by Charlie Boscoe

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Skinning up the mellow lower section

by Charlie Boscoe

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Fun skiing through trees on the way down

by Charlie Boscoe

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View to the mountains on the north side of Ersfjorden

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View over to Malangen from the summit

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View over Kattfjordeidet

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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Looking down from the summit on the last part of the ascent. You see "Buren" in the background

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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The view over Storsteinnestinden, Storstolpan and Middagstinden

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View over to Lille Blåmann

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View towards the south

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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Midnight sun at the peak Gard Johannes Gauteplass

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View towards Storstolpan and Storsteinnestinden from the summit

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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The lake you cross

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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First slope from the parking

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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The lake and the last South-facing slope to the summit

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View to the west from the summit

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View down to Ersfjorden from the summit

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View over Ersfjorden from the summit

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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Ersfjorden

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View towards Kattfjordeidet

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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At the top - view out to Ersfjorden

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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The ridge in the direction of Tromsø Gard Johannes GauteplassCreative Commons: Attribution
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Down to the Valley of Grøtfjorden Gard Johannes GauteplassCreative Commons: Attribution
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Ersfjorden Gard Johannes GauteplassCreative Commons: Attribution
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Starting point at the end of the fjord Gard Johannes GauteplassCreative Commons: Attribution
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Start of the last ascent to the summit

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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The last North-West facing slope

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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The view to Skamtinden

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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View towards the South-west

by Gard Johannes Gauteplass

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Tromsø in the background Gard Johannes GauteplassCreative Commons: Attribution

Description

Sitting just west of Tromsø city, Kvaløya has long been known as a place to go when the nearby Lyngen Peninsula's bigger lines are out of condition. The island has some wonderful peaks of its own but they are a little lower, a little mellower and a generally little less intense than many of those found on the mainland.

At over 700 square kilometres and with just 13,000 inhabitants (most of whom live in Kvaløysletta, the village just over the bridge from Tromsø), Kvaløya feels like a deserted, wild place and this ambience only adds to the enjoyment of skiing there. There are noticeably fewer skiers on Kvaløya than on the mainland and it's a great place to come for a quieter, more chilled day than can generally be found on the Lyngen Peninsula.

If you're lucky enough to have time to ski all the lines in this guidebook and still have some days to spare, check out this list of tougher tours on the mainland.

https://fatmap.com/guidebooks/214/the-ultimate-tromso-ski-week

Adventures

Middagstinden (1006m)

A classic Kvaløya tour, with a little alpine adventure if you would like to reach the very top.

Buren (802m)

The perfect "ski-after-work-mountain", with varied skiing.

Store Hollendaren (1017m)

Store Hollendaren is a very good mountain for skiing, with a long season and opportunities for steep descents.

Storstolpan (974m)

If you want to experience skiing in the midnight sun, this is the perfect peak!