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Group Size
Minimum 3
Maximum 6
Terrain
Varying Terrain
Up & Down
1000-2000
per day
Accommodation
Mountain Huts

This Troll Peninsula high level route is the brainchild of Jökull Bergmann. For many years Jökull envisioned connecting the ski slopes of the Troll Peninsula into one big traverse skiing between a series of mountain huts. Finally, this dream is taking shape thanks to the recent construction of perfectly located huts in the area. Join Bergmenn Mountain Guides on this exploratory adventure and be among the first to accomplish this scenic traverse through the heart of the Troll Peninsula.

On this ski touring adventure we will use three mountain huts which are perfectly located in the middle of the best ski touring terrain on offer on Iceland's renowned Troll Peninsula.  Guests will enjoy exclusive use of these cozy and communal mountain huts in remote and stunning locations.  Your guide will prepare all the meals during the trip while you sit back and after a fabulous day of skiing.  

In this magnificent mountain landscape there is ample opportunity for fresh tracks.  This traverse provides an escape from other ski touring groups on the popular road accessed touring zones.

This trip is open to all skiers with previous ski touring experience who are able to ski is variable snow conditions.  Skiers should be able to ski “off piste” in all types of ungroomed snow. 

As this is a traverse guests will need to have pack carrying strength as it will be necessary to pack more equipment and food than on a regular day trip type program. We have included a 45+ L backpack on our packing list so that you have enough space to add food and some group equipment along with a small sleeping bag.

Dates & Prices

Our prices are listed in Icelandic Krona and are the per person. For the most up to date foreign currency conversion rate please refer to the rates listed on the Central Bank of Iceland.

6 day
program

Please contact us for further details on dates and prices. 

Contact us

Included 

  • Transportation between Akureyri and start of program
  • Transportation in 4x4 vehicles for the duration of the trip
  • Accommodation in mountain huts with bunk beds
  • All meals starting with lunch on the day of arrival and lunch on the final day 
  • The services of a certified ski guide
  • Use of emergency equipment (this does not include avalanche gear)

Not included 

  • Transportation between Reykjavik and Akureyri before and after the program
  • Equipment Rental
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Personal Accident Insurance
  • Gratuities

Itinerary

DAY 1

We meet at the Akureyri Backpackers Hostel bistro at 08:00 for a meet and greet and breakfast with our guide. We recommend that people stay at Backpackers the night before the trip starts. Ones we have gotten to know each other a bit and enjoyed the breakfast buffet we start our 45min drive to the start point of our ski touring adventure. This first day we will spend around three hours skiing into our first hut where we will spend two nights circled by superb ski touring objectives. For those with energy to spare it is possible to go for a nice ski in the afternoon.

DAY 2

A full day of skiing with light packs as we will be spending a second night at our hut. The choice of terrain is endless and we can ski as much as the legs will take before returning to our cozy mountain home.

DAY 3

Today we will negotiate the longest and most technical day of our traverse but still enjoy some superb descents. As we are now on the move from one valley system to the next we will be putting some kilometers behind us to reach a high saddle overlooking the biggest peaks on the Troll Peninsula. After a grand descent of over 1200 vertical meters we will reach our home for the next night.

DAY 4

Today we will cheat a little bit in order to get to the best skiing and use a 4x4 boost to start the day. After a quick drive we will traverse to our next mountain hut where we will be spending the next two nights in a place made for skiing. It will take approximately three and a half hours to ski to our hut but once there the choice of great ski lines is endless.

DAY 5

Another full day of skiing with light packs in a veritable ski touring playground with awesome runs to be had on all aspects ranging from long mellow glaciers to the steepest chutes. At the end of the day we return to our great little hut for another night and a candle lit dinner.

DAY 6

Our last day of the Haute Route has us enjoying a great ski in the morning followed by the ski out to the road head. The trip ends in Akureyri where you can either relax for the night and enjoy the town or catch a flight back to Reykjavik. We say our goodbyes and head home with the memory of a unique ski traverse and already have our plans for future adventures falling into place.

Check availability

PACKING LIST

CLOTHING

  • Wind and waterproof shell jacket (Gore Tex or equivalent)
  • Wind and waterproof pants (Gore Tex or equivalent)
  • Soft Shell (or fleece) jacket and pants (optional)
  • Base layer (wool or synthetic)
  • Light down or fiber jacket
  • Hat
  • Gloves and/or mittens (2 pairs)
  • Ski socks (wool or synthetic, avoid cotton)
  • Hut slippers (optional)

MISC.

  • Sleeping Bag -10c
  • Headlamp
  • Sun and lip cream
  • Sunglasses
  • Small first aid kit with personal medications, blister kit etc
  • Repair Kit - Bring any spare parts specific to your bindings. The guides will carry a full repair kit so keep yours light.
  • Camera (optional)

SKIING & RIDING GEAR

  • Boots - Alpine touring, plastic telemark or comfortable snowboard boots
  • Ski touring skis, telemark or split board (we recommend skis with a waist width in the 95 to 120 range. We are unable to accommodate snowshoes as a mode of uphill transportation.
  • Skins and ski crampons (Ski crampons are not optional)*
  • Ski poles (adjustable recommended, snowboarders should have 3-section poles that fit nicely on your pack)
  • Ski Straps - used for holding your skis together on your pack or your shoulder.
  • Avalanche transceiver, shovel,  probe (240 cm or longer)
  • Backpack 45+ liters (with ski/board attachments)
  • Thermos or water bottle (1-2 liters)
  • Ski Goggles
  • Helmet (optional)

Please have your ski boots in carry on baggage during your flights to Iceland. If your skis get temporarily lost we can provide excellent rental gear. Arctic Heli Skiing | Bergmenn Mountain Guides offer some equipment for rent, please contact us for information and availability.

*Most backcountry ski bindings offer integrated ski crampon systems. Ski crampons work in conjunction with your skins to save you energy providing efficient skinning in firm snow situations. Ski crampons are lightweight and easy to carry and a great tool to add to your backcountry kit if you do not already own them. Please contact us if you are not able to find this piece of equipment for your trip. We do not have any available for rent, however we may be able to help you find an online retailer.

DOWNLOAD PACKING LIST

 

FAQ

  • What is the weather like?

    April and May tend to be stable in terms of wind and precipitation on the Troll Peninsula with long spells of calm, but there are also storms that can last for a day or two. Bad weather happens and you must be aware of the fact that you are up in the high Arctic in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This is all a part of your adventure ski touring experience.

    Our position in the middle of the Atlantic also means that bad weather never lasts for long with fast moving low-pressure areas striking and then leaving as fast as they arrived. Temperatures in April and May are mild, usually around -10 to 0 degrees Celcius up in the mountains but can rise up to +10 degrees on a good day but drop to  -10 on a cold day.

    One huge advantage of our northerly position is the continuous daylight, meaning that as we move closer to summer we can have bad weather until the afternoon but still get out in the evening since the sun is not setting until around midnight. 

    All that said there is another Icelandic saying that goes like this "If you do not like the weather in Iceland, just wait 5 minutes"

  • How do I get to Akureyri?

    Once you arrive at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in the south a 45 minute mini bus or taxi ride will bring you to the capital of Iceland, Reykjavík. The domestic airport in Reykjavík is in the centre of the town and most buses from the International airport will drop you off there. The flight with Air Iceland Connect from Reykjavík to Akureyri takes 35 minutes and there are a number of departures throughout the day. We recommend a late afternoon departure around 17:00 or 18:00. We have limited staff to do airport transfers so if you arrive to Akureyri earlier in the day we will not be able to pick you up until the evening. You can also charter your own flight with Eagle Air Iceland or Norlandair straight from Keflavík International airport to Akureyri. 

    PLEASE NOTE: You need to allow yourself a minimum of 2.5 hours from the time your international flight lands in Keflavík until the departure of the domestic Air Iceland flight in Reykjavík due to the fact that it can take some time to get through customs and collect your baggage. You need to be at the Reykjavík domestic airport at least 30 minutes prior to your departure.  The domestic airport is very small and easy to navigate. 

     

  • How much experience do I need to have?

    It depends on a few things such as your group and program, but every skier needs to be a fit intermediate skier and be able to ski under control in off-piste terrain. Keep in mind that ski touring does require a certain basic level of physical fitness to minimize risk and be enjoyable. We recommend that you have the basic core strength to ski in a variety of conditions. The best training you can do for ski touring is ski touring. It is best not to go into any extended trip without finding the time to get in a few days of ski touring in advance to make sure that your feet are conditioned to your boots and that you are comfortable with using the equipment. We strongly recommend guests to bring their own ski touring equipment, especially their own boots. 

    We recommend that you are able to do the following: 

    - Ski fall line in most snow conditions (powder to wind affected snow). 
    - Make parallel or stem-christie turns on 35° groomed or firm snow. 
    - Side-slip on firm slopes up to 35°.
    - Kick turns facing in or facing out on 30° slopes.
    - Skate on level terrain
    - Ski black diamond runs at ski areas efficiently and in most snow conditions.
    - Climb at least 1000 meters per day.

    The amount of skiing done in a day is up to you and your fitness level but as an average I would say that we get around 1000-1800m of climbing and descent in a day with our typical moderate to strong guests. 

    *If you are concerned about being joined with other skiers of different abilities then we recommend joining a Private program.

  • What are snow conditions like?

    The snow pack is predominantly coastal and in the springtime we are skiing powder in March and April and excellent corn snow in May and June with the occasional powder. What really makes the snow good is the small temperature difference between night and day which makes for perfect corn snow, never too deep and never too hard.

    This also means we have for the most parts very stable snow in terms of avalanche danger so we can ski steeper and more exposed lines than you would normally do.