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Mountaineering - Off piste
It’s all about large mountains.
It’s about assessment, balance and control. Experiencing untouched mountainsides that offer fun yet demand respect.
It’s about letting yourself go on your skis or bike on a path you would never have thought possible. The snow falls in November – and lasts!
This is the core of Off Piste whether you are on telemark or randonnee skis.
Avalanche risk in the Lyngenalpene, long runs in Sarek or the pleasure of undescribable amounts of dry cold powder snow is equal for all.
What more could you want Off Piste to include?
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Photo Christer Harnesk
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More about Mountaineering - Off piste
It’s all about assessment, balance and control.
Before the snow...
Most of those who apply for Off Piste can barely contain themselves at the thought of the first snow fall.
At the same time they want to throw themselves at new challenges and try new activities.
Mountain biking has a lot in common with skiing – balance, technique and control.
Anders took Off Pister 06/07 and had never been mountain biking before:
- I was pretty sceptical, but mountain biking was a fantastic way to experience Finnmark. Had no idea it was possible to have so much fun on a bike!
We will bike high and low. The bikes will take us over the Finnmark Tundra, up on mountain tops and down to the coast.
What about hurtling 900m down one of Alta’s highest mountains to the fjord bellow?
We will also be hiking up mountain tops, having a 2 day first aid course,
theme days and a canoe trip down the Alta River while mapping out the possible winter trips on peaks and glaciers.
Snow = skiing
The first snow fall is usually in October, and at the first possible opportunity you will get the skiing fix you have been craving for.
Other than off piste skiing there will be in door condition training, technique development at the local ski centre and one day skiing in Russia during the school trip.
We will also develop your skills, ability and confidence in very steep terrain.
Life in the snow takes us far away from civilisation and out into the wild.
Camplife will mostly be based in tents but there will also be nights beneath the heavens with emergency bivuaks available. A taster of the winter semester:
- one week with skiing down summits in the Lyngen Alps with ideal snow conditions
- many short and long trips searching for the perfect powder on the ideal slope
- 10 day trip skiing in Sarek with peaks exceeding 2000m above sea level
- Skibum week during which you choose your own destination - the Alps, Narvik, Russia … the choice is yours!
Ski = expertise
We will teach and guide you with regards to modern skiing techniques whether you are a new beginner or expert.
Telemark skiing has evolved in parallel with the alpine sport and therefore modern techniques and equipment make more challenging conditions possible.
We will also consider the benefits and drawbacks of different equipment, trends, media, responsibility and more….
Your instructors Christer and Bjørn are vastly experienced in leading mixed groups in telemark and randonnee through also leading our Ski and Avalanche six month course.
Our Off Piste students are known for acuiring a high level of expertise during the winter season, as they spend so many days skiing through out all types of conditions.
Snow = avalanche awareness
Deciding how steep a mountain side we can ski during the winter and autumn months is a skill that must be developed when we ski so often in areas with avalanche risk.
You will learn to use Norwegian and international avalanche assessment methods that are used in the US, Canada and the Alps.
We always use electronic avalanche beepers on our ski trips.
You will gain knowledge on alpine ski touring, team leadership, group dynamics and learn how to prepare and make your own expedition food.
Option Courses
- Mountain Biking – to get the most out of the mountain biking
- Climbing - to get the most out of your ski touring in alpine terrain
- Telemark – to get the all important experience and practice in telemark techniques especially if you are a newcomer to this ski form
Off piste will normally give you the qualification for the 6month course Ski and Avalanche.
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| Photo Henning Heimlid. |
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| Photo Henning Heimlid |
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| Off piste-class 06/07. |
