Off-piste skiing in Senja Island

I have been off-piste skiing in north of Norway at Lyngen area for about 10 years. For a long time there has been a wish to go and explore the tops of an island called Senja, which is located in between the cities of Tromso and Narvik. We were super lucky to get after three years break together a group of friends with whom I have been skiing since 2009. By that time all of us were total beginners in off-piste skiing, but very eager to learn how to do top turs and kind of in the same level in our downhill skiing. During the years we have made amazing trips in Norway, but also to the alps, Georgia, Japan and Russia (Kirovsk).

The group has varied a bit, but most of the times most of us have been involved on the trips. In the first place we named the group as Team Huoltoreitti which means Team Service route. The idea was that “big boys” will ski the straight scary lines, but Team Huoltoreitti will stay safe and take the easier route down. During the years our hunger for steeper terrain grow bigger as well, but this year because of really uncertain snow conditions it was an easy decision to keep yourself again on easy terrain. For this Senja gave really good options. The tops that we took had easy access from road and you could get nice downhills all the way back to your car.

Even though the tops are not the highest in Norway they do give you amazing views. Most of the tops we reached on this trip can be found on book called Trygge Topturer i Norge (Safe toptours in Norway). We found it a bit hard and expensive to find accommodation in Senja. Our decision this time was to rent a caravan car from Finland. We also spared a lot of money by buying all the food from Finland (Sweden is even cheaper). All together the travelling (car rental+gas) and food costed about 1400 euros for 4 persons. This price included also two times use of sauna (in Senja Hamn and Björkliden hotel in Sweden) and one paid overnight parking at Senja Hamn. All the other nights we stayed at free parking spots besides the roads.

On the way to Senja I took flight to Tromso from Oslo and three of my friends drow the car from Oulu, Finland. The car’s electricity system worked with gas. The only triggy part was to find spots for emptying the toilet and fill up with water, but in Senja there are several places to do that by camping places (like www.senjatrollet.no, www.hamnisenja.no)  even by Joker-supermarket.

Here are some pictures of the tours we did in Senja. We were super lucky with the weather by starting the tour at 22.4. The sun was shining for four days in a row and if you timed your way down right you get to ski nice slushy spring snow. On the way up, it was super warm.

Tredje Svanfjellet (898 moh)

Nice and easy way up and long easy ride down. Had a great after ski after the top tour.

Anna telemarking down Tredje Svanfjellet.

Lonketinden (848 moh)

Started a bit too late this tour. On the way up we had to go through a rocky part because there wasn’t that much snow. With good snow conditions this would be a must to go place. One of the best views ever from the top.

Skolpan (779 moh)

This was as well an easy access top with nice views.

As a warm up run on the way to Senja from Tromso we got up at Fagerfjellet in Tromso and on the way back to Finland we made a rando to Låktatjokka fjellstation in Björkliden. It was a total white out and rain on the way up to Låktatjokka.

Making an after ski table wasn't that easy.

Amazing trip and amazing friends.

Five star camper life.