Page 30 - 2017 AMA Summer

to Blåtinden. After some quite breath- taking views out to the Arctic Ocean and the Lyngen fjord, the party had a superb descent on excellent snow down a wide slope to the tree-line above Åsheim. The ski to the car through the tree-line probably couldn’t be described as quite as superb, but it certainly made for some technical, challenging and (admittedly) in places, fun skiing. A long day, but a real all-round Lyngen experience for everyone.
Sun 9 Apr 17
Storgalten (1219m). Storgalten proved to be a relentless ascent, where poor kick-turns would not have been forgiven, and gave the SLs an opportunity to use their ski-crampons in anger. The conditions did give good examples and a variety of snow-pack change, and showed how the prevailing SE wind affected a NW face. Visibility concerns restricted the ascent, so the group aborted their aim for the summit, transitioned to downhill mode, then skied back down the bowl in superb snow conditions. Although there was no summiting that day, some quality mountain skills were learnt and reinforced, from appropriate clothing and layer management to the use of ski-crampons on difficult ground.
Mon 10 Apr 17
Stetinden (920m). Another classic Lyngen day for the SF3s, as Richie took the party on the ascent of Stetinden. A steady skin through the trees up the Bjørndalen valley, and then on steepening ground to Flatfjellet, although it felt anything but flat on the skin up. The push north onto the summit of Setinden was a great opportunity for plenty of kick-turn practice, especially on slightly steeper ground. The group enjoyed the views on summiting Stetinden, and after a quick bite to eat, skied back down avoiding the rocks, and enjoying far better conditions on Flatfjellet. A real summit-to- sea day for the SF3s as the snow-line was on the beach at the edge of the fjord.
Kavringtinden (1289m). Geordie obviously thought that the SL group’s aborted attempt of Sorgalten to have constituted a half-day, so he chose a quality, demanding peak to make up for any lack of touring the previous day. Ski-crampons were again used in anger, and the ascent was an excellent opportunity to consolidate skills with the use of crampons on steep and icy ground. Even ski-crampons have their limits, so for the final 100m of ascent, it was a boot-pack to the summit. A careful descent followed, with even more careful defensive skiing before the slopes
opened-up, and the SLs could enjoy some carving on the albeit wind-scoured snow.
Tue 11 Apr 17
Rasmustinden (1210m). The same mountain, but two different approach routes for both the groups. An odd day, as although the visibility at distance was adequate, the low-light meant challenges in reading the terrain. Richie’s group approached from the east on long approach from a subsidiary summit, and Geordie approached from the SW. This was a true mountain day for both groups, as an equivalent in the UK would be having the whole of the Snowdon Horseshoe or the Ring of Steall in the Mamores all to your own, with snow to sea level. A great experience for everyone, as that “big mountain” feeling and exposure was much more prominent on this day than on any other. In order to make the best of the low-light and keep the group safe, Richie choose a route into, and then boot-pack out of, a re-entrant below a col between both peaks. This boot-pack experience had the full gamut of reactions from “that was amazing!” to “hmmm...mountaineer- ing. Off the list”. Apologies, I lost one potential AMA member right there. Blame Richie. As Richie was concerned over the low-light level, he decided that the SF3s
28 ARMY MOUNTAINEER