Page 21 - 2022 AMA Summer

The SF3 group on the ascent of Rissavàrri (1251m)
fjord-cruise across to Olderdalen. It was on Storhaugen that the group decided to start singing their ‘Lyngen theme tune’ to get themselves amped for the day ahead. So, some US west-coast or indie rock track from a cool Teton Gravity Research ski film? Nope. Some chance. It was “Oi!” by the German techno band Scooter. Luckily, being 220 miles inside the Arctic Circle it meant no one heard the chorus of “Oi! Oi! Oi f*****g Oi!!!” as they started to skin-off. I bet Glenmore Lodge doesn’t have this problem...
TUESDAY 17 APRIL 2018
Kjelvågtinden (1004m). An early start in order to carry out two car-ferry crossings to reach Uløya island. The aim for the day was a ski along the ridge on Uløya, taking in the peak of Kjelvågtinden. The group shared the early morning ferry from
Lyngseidet to Olderdalen with the usual mix of ski-tourers and locals. Then, a drive up the coast to Rotsund for the ferry across to Gárgu. The tour started with an initial skin through woods on a local løype, followed by a long but reasonable skin up the mountain. After some quite breath-tak- ing 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 road 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.
WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL 2018
Steinfjellet (1121m). Another bluebird day for the ascent of Steinfjellet. 1121m from
sea-level, the group enjoyed a great ski up through the trees, even having to use their ski-crampons to ascend the sometimes steep or icy ground. A very social summit with a group of Austrian and German ski-tourers and with a “Berg Heil!” with the Austrians, we then enjoyed the superb views of some of the most spectacular mountains in the Lyngen Alps.
So, in conclusion, the Lyngen Alps are an absolutely terrible place to go, and if everyone else apart from me could just stick to Val Thorens please, that would be very much appreciated. However, for the few, those lucky few, keep your skis waxed and your skins sticky. There will be an AMA exped to Lyngen in 23, I promise...just watch this space.
ARMY MOUNTAINEER / 21