SKI TOURING G U I D E
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SKI TOURING
GUIDE
Iceland is a world-class destination for ski touring, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. The centre of activity is the Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland with vertical descents of up to 1500m or almost 5000ft. Thousands of peaks and slopes for all abilities with abundant snow fall make this a paradise for skiers and mountaineers. The season lasts from the end of February until the beginning of June, and with the continual daylight of the Arctic Sun overhead and mild temperatures, snow conditions remain favourable with great corn skiing and the occasional powder dump well in June. The Troll Peninsula is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, making for incredible opportunities of skiing right down to the ocean on stable coastal snowpack which adds to the excitement of Arctic weather and conditions. Iceland is an adventure skiing destination, not to be missed. We have teamed up with Bergmenn guides in Iceland to offer you the very best of ski touring in Iceland, with the highest international standards in guiding, safety and operational. DREAM-GUIDES.COM INFO@DREAM-GUIDES.COM . +44 (0) 845 564 52 19
We will be based in a comfortable family run country lodge, in the middle of the best ski terrain that the Troll Peninsula has to offer. The area offers a great variety of mountains and slopes for every level of skier, from those who seek steep couloirs to those who like to let loose on the big open slopes. The choice is endless and one could easily spend a lifetime exploring the peaks and valleys of the region. After each day of skiing we soak our weary but happy feet in one of the regions many geothermal baths and catch up on the local gossip as farmers and fishermen alike religiously attend their afternoon soak.
Ski touring in Iceland is a great first Ski Expedition. You will love this trip if you have done some ski touring before, enjoy off piste skiing (but you don’t need to be a jedi- there is terrain here to suit everyone) and like a bit of comfort and luxury afterwards! It’s a great combination of remote physical ski touring, while you earn your turns in amazing terrain - without the hardships of expedition living...
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DAY 1 Pick up location is in Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland in the late afternoon, followed by a 50 min transfer to our Lodge for a meet and greet. Welcome dinner is served and we go over the week’s agenda. DAY 2 An early start and our first day of skiing! The morning is spent on detailed avalanche transceiver and avalanche rescue training, followed by our first peak of many. Our average, daily vertical ranges from 1000-2000 meters depending on the group. The adventurous ones of the group can ski into the night, as the midnight sun barely touches the ocean before it rises again. DAY 3 Skiing the peaks above the small fishing village of Dalvik, allows us the rare pleasure of sitting in the local geothermal baths and admiring our perfect tracks on the surrounding peaks. Dalvik is the home of some of Iceland’s most accomplished skiers and it is no wonder considering the terrain they grew up in. DAY 4 Gljúfurárjökull glacier is one of the many alpine valley bottom areas and one of the best wide open ski slopes to be found on the Troll Peninsula. Situated at the center of the region, we will enjoy great views of a large portion of the Peninsula. Imagine the sensation of being in the middle of the arctic, with glaciers and snow covered peaks surrounding you wherever you look.
DAY 5 – 6 Skiing the “Secret cirques”. Our guides are the only ones that know the Troll Peninsula by heart and they will take you to places that skiers have never seen before. Set your tracks down a slope that no one has ever skied. Every week our guides take the opportunity to visit new places giving you a real sense of exploration and achievement. DAY 7 Our last ski day, and of course we have saved the best for last! After a memorable experience we say our good byes to the adventure of a unique, ski touring holiday with exciting plans for next year in the pipeline! Thank you for your visit. ABILITY LEVEL: ADVANCED *I can link, without traversing, at least 10-15 short or long radius turns off piste in any kind of snow. * I have good control and choose where to turn most of the time. *The thought of fresh powder excites me and I enjoy the challenge of difficult snow. *I can sideslip forwards and backwards, sidestep up and down, and can ski 35- 40 degree slopes. *I ski off piste whenever I can and enjoy skiing far from the lifts/pistes. FITNESS LEVEL - I can ski all day and hike/skin for 4-5 hours every day (1000-1400m).
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DATES: Mid March to start May. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE LODGE Karlsa Ski Touring lodge will be opening its doors to groups and individual skiers as of March 2015. The lodge was built in 1920s and has since been beautifully renovated along with the old cowshed, which has now become the ski room. The main house sleeps 14 comfortably in 7 double or twins, with access to three bathrooms and showers along with a comfortable lounge and dining room. The Karlsa lodge is the perfect location to base your ski touring week from. The lodge is located just 50 m transfer from Akureyri airport, 2 minutes away from Dalvik, 10 minutes from Olasfsjordur and strategically located in the middle of the best ski touring terrain on the Troll Peninsula.
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KIT LIST Unfortunately we can’t recommend a specific brand and model for each item on the kit list, as what is available is constantly changing and of course, different people are different shapes and sizes with different budgets! However, in general, we use and endorse Black Diamond and Sherpa products because in our experience they are excellent… If you go to a good retailers such as Snow & Rock, explain to them you will be back country skiing and they will be able to advise you on what is best for you. Bring this list with you…
- Ski pants - Jacket (Soft shell, fleece) - light down or fiber jacket - Hat - Gloves (2 pairs) - Ski socks - Backpack 30-45 liters (With ski attachments) - Thermos or water bottle (1-2 liters) - Sunglasses - Ski goggles - Sun and lip cream - Ski touring skis, telemark or split board - Skins and ski crampons (ski crampons are not optional) - Ski poles - Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel - Bathing suit for geothermal baths - Small first aid kit with personal medications, blister kit etc - Camera
Lastly, if necessary it is possible to rent most hardware items in from the Lodge. - Wind and waterproof shell jacket (Gore Tex or equivalent) - Wind and waterproof pants (Gore Tex or equivalent) - Base layer (wool or synthetic)
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Remember, training does not work overnight! The fittest athletes train as part of their lifestyles and have built up their levels of fitness over a long period of time. Good fitness levels will make your tour more fun and allow you to get more out of your week! Although we will tailor the course to your ability, we definitely recommend getting as fit as possible before you start. The process of training, will help you focus on your goal – and allow you to reach the best of your ability. So the more training you undertake, the stronger you will feel throughout the adventure! Ski mountaineering is all about being able to exercise at a moderate intensity for many hours (typically 5 to 12 hours) and your training should reflect this.
We advise you to consider training for a good couple of months before coming out to the Alps and putting your fitness levels to the test
INCLUDED IN PRICE - Transportation in 4x4 vehicles for the duration of the trip - All food from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 7 - Accommodation in double or triple rooms with shared bathrooms for 6 nights - Entry fees to geothermal baths - Services of a certified mountain guide for the duration of the trip (Beware of local companies using We recommend endurance based training, such as doing long day hill walks or cycling as this simulates uncertified ski guides) the real thing as closely as possible and prepares the - Use of emergency equipment and communications - Rental of glacier travel gear, ropes, harness, mind (exercising for long periods in poor weather requires mental strength!). However, not everyone has crampons Not included in price - Transportation to and from Akureyri before and after the opportunity to do this and so alternatives such as jogging, cycling and gym workouts are also beneficial. trip - Equipment rental - Alcoholic beverages The focus should be on training cardiovascular - Personal accident insurance Gratuities endurance for long days in the mountains. Cardio workouts such as cycling/running/rowing machines should be chosen over weight training. We advise you GETTING THERE to exercise for up to a couple of hours at a time, and at It’s reasonably easy to get to Akureyri Airport with Air Iceland where your transfer will pick you up. This least 4 times a week. normally involves one stop and comes in under £400 return from London. We strongly recommend swimming and pilates to develop core stability and balance. Squats are a good way to strengthen your legs and develop a resistance We look forward to seeing you soon! to the snow.
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Remember to build up your workouts over time. If you are not used to exercising much, allow yourself an advanced time plan for your muscles and joints to avoid injury. Choosing an activity that you enjoy will maintain your focus and motivation levels. Using your local gym will advise you on a plan and schedule to help you achieve your goals.
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