Ski touring around the Romsdalen fjord
Mont of the year: february - april
Duration: 9 days
Scheduled departure: see Scheduled Trips page or contact Avalco Travel
The Romsdalen fjord offers quick access to magnificent peaks, up to altitudes of 1200 – 1800 m, which can be skied directly from the sea or from the inland valleys. This region is indeed best known for summer tourism, when many visitors go to admire the impressive vertical walls of the Trollveggen, but it is also very interesting for ski touring.
The mountains near the sea feature open slopes, ideal for skiing beautiful lines, and are also well suited for ski traverses. Those inside are more severe, with steep sides and recessed couloirs. On average, the itineraries are more demanding than the nearby Sunnmore Alps; perhaps for this reason they are far less popular.
Here we propose a full week based in a cottage in Andalsnes, a small town located at a central position with respect to the many possible itineraries, distant less than two hours’ drive from the airports of Alesund or Molde. The team can independently manage home cooked meals, or enjoy local dishes in one of the local restaurants.
The area is characterized by good snow cover and fairly mild temperatures between February and April; some tours are also possible in May.
On request, it is possible to organize a whole week on the boat (with skipper), including overnight stays; however, in our opinion, the Romsdalen region is much better visited by car, especially for the opportunity to explore the unmissable mountains of the interior.
Until mid-March, when the sky is clear, it is possible to watch the incredible show of the Northern Lights.
*** Steep Skiing Option ***
> For a small team of experienced skiers, we can propose a choice of steep skiing itineraries, mainly in couloirs.
*** Ski & Sail Option ***
> Ski touring tour with transfres and overnight stays on a boat, from / to Alesund or Molde or Andlesnes, departures every week from late February to early May.
*** Other ski touring proposals in Norway: ***
> Finnmark (Lapland), the fjords around Alta
> SUNNMORE ALPS (fjords south of Alesund);
> LOFOTEN ISLANDS;
> LYNGEN ALPS;
> FJORDS BETWEEN BODO AND NARVIK
> Haute Route of the JOTUNHEIM;
> the fjords of Sogndal, Fjaerland, and Jostedalen, north of Bergen;
> SVALBARD ISLANDS;
*** In Sweden: ***
> Sarek, Abisko, KEBNEKAISE
Challenge: FITNESS 2 TECHNICAL 2 ADVENTURE 2
Accomodation: cabin or apartment; boat (for Ski&Sail option)
Local transfers: car or van; boat (for Ski&Sail option)
Services included: car o van rental; all nights in cabin or apartment, itineraries description and maps.
Optional services: flights, insurance, assistance of a mountain guide, single room (when available), hotel in Oslo (if needed), Steep Skiing option, Ski%Sail option (including: all transfers and overnight stays on board, skipper and cook om board provising all meals, assistance of a ski guide)
Special notes: This programme may be merged with the one of the neraby Sunnmore Alps, as to get a two-weeks trip from/to Alesund.
DAILY PROGRAM
day 1
Arrival in Alesund or Molde with flight from Oslo. Transfer to Andalsnes or surroundings.
days 2-8
Daily ski mountaineering tours, with transfers by car or van.
The destinations will be chosen based on snow conditions, the weather, and the needs of the team.
The best routes are found north and east of Romsdalfjorden (Grodvals), east of Andalsnes (Dalsbygda) and south (Trollstigen – valley of the Trolls), in the valleys south of Innfjorden and Mandalen, then further west from Tresfjord, Vestrefjord and Vatnefjord.
We will also choose the lesser known routes where we will probably find few or no tracks at all.
The choice of the itineraries will also depend on the technical level of the team; some require mountaineering practice (crampons, ice ax) and / or mastery of skis on steep slopes (40 ° and more).
Other destinations could be chosen on the spot, on sight, according to the exploratory spirit typical of this kind of adventures.
day 9
Transfer to the airport for return flight.
Contact us to request a personalized program!
REQUEST INFORMATION FOR
Ski touring around the Romsdalen fjord
Trip code: SP22085
Key Definitions
Trip dates, Duration, Departure
The period of time given in the trip description sheet is indicatively the most recommended for optimun conditions for the planned activities. Different periods are possible, especially during season with special climate situations. Duration is referred to the “standard” programme as per description sheet, however it could change according to the local conditions and/or the team’s requirements. If the trip is included in the Scheduled Trips list (yearly planner), the departure date is the one given in the planner; otherwise it will be decided according to the requests we have received. In any case we suggest to contact us for more precise information. In customized trips, departure date and duration are established according to customer’s request
Challenge scoring
By means of the scores given in the trip decsription sheet we wish to provide an indicative assessment of the challenges to be expected, divided in the following three categories:
FITNESS
Grade 1: adult performing a minimum sport activity (4-8 hours/week), or teenager in medium fitness conditions
Grade 2: adult performing sport activity (8-16 hours/week) or teenager in good fitness conditions
Grade 3: adult performing regular sport activity (16-20 hours/week) or teenager in very good fitness conditions
Grade 4: adult only, regularly performing sport activity and intense training (more than 20 hours/week)
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Grade1: no prior experience in the activity is required, just a natural predisposition
Grade 2: prior experience in the activity as beginner to medium level
Grade 3: prior experience in the activity at medium to high level, with regular practice since min. 3-5 years
Grade 4: excellent technical skills with long experience in the activity (more than 5 years)
ADVENTURE:
Grade 1: no prior experience in adventure travel id required, just a positive attitude to adapt
Grade 2: prior, yet limited, experience in adventure travel, with a strong attitude to adapt and determination
Grade 3: prior experience in adventure travel including remote area and wilderness, or extreme wheather, or uncertainty in route finding
Grade 4: prior experience in adventure travel including remote area and wilderness, or extreme wheather, or uncertainty in route finding, strong determination to overcome unforeseen events
Accomodation
The type of accomodation as planned is indicated in the trip sheet (hotel, lodge, tents, etc..).
Transfers
The means of local transfers are indicated as planned (flight, bus, 4WD vehicle, ferry, etc.). Some changes are possible in relation to the actual availability on site and/or the terrain and wheather conditions.
Service included and Prices
We do not have a price list. Quotes are sent on request only. Details of services included, excluded, or optionally available, will be specified in the quote and confirmed at the time of booking. Prices depend on number of participants and on the specific requirements of the group. They will be definitely set at the time of booking after definiton of all trip details and confirmation of dates. Special prices can be granted according to number of participants, and/or for pre-established groups, clubs and associations, guides with own clients, active athletes, tour operators and travel agents, journalists, physicians, rescue operators, schools, staff of organization running an humanitarian or research project.