LOFOTEN, NORWAY

Positioned above the arctic circle, the Lofoten Islands are beyond picturesque with small fishing villages tucked into the land beside the countless fjords of the rugged coast. With mountains rising directly from the sea, the archipelago is often described as one of the most scenic parts of Norway.

The skiing is entirely human powered in this part of Norway. A typical day includes waking up in the lodge, enjoying breakfast and coffee overlooking the sea and deciding the objective based on the conditions that day. We then make our lunches from a delicious spread, and get our gear ready to go. We travel to the trailheads mainly by car, anywhere from a 5 minute to an hour drive. There is also the option to hire a boat for the day. We will ski tour all day, or until your legs give out. We can visit a local bar or restaurant in the nearby town of Svolvær, or enjoy the waffles and coffee/beer back at the skiers lodge. Après ski includes enjoying a book by the fireplace, drinks on the cozy couches in the lodge, or a wood-fired sauna with a stairway into the sea. Dinner is amazing every night, and often the main attraction is the cod, which never travels in a car to reach your plate. We say goodnight and then repeat the next day!

In association with Northern Alpine Guides and the Lofoten Ski Lodge, I ski guided for three winters in the Lofoten Islands from 2014-2016, and now will head up with private groups. The mountains of Lofoten offer incredible variety. We can run an introduction to ski touring, or satisfy the experienced ski mountaineer with summits, big vertical days, and couloirs.