Info About Kvalvikdalen Valley
Kvalvikdalen is an East to West facing valley that branches with 3 separate drainages. Being just out of Lyngsedit in the Lyngen Alps of Norway it is lined with numerous mountains for potential ski descents. The main access route is to the East where a trail leads to the valley basin. This area offers terrain of all aspects for all sorts of snow conditions.
Heading out for a camping trip in Kvalvikdalen
With a high pressure system coming into the area we had a multiple day weather window in front of us. Plans came together that Zach, David, Elias David’s son and a guy named Pete that I met there went out on a camping trip. Heading up the Kvalvikdalen valley we arrived at the spot where all of the valleys junction together and set up camp. I joked around and called it Camp Kvalvikdalen.
It was getting late in the day but Pete, Zach and I were itching to go out and ski something. By now it was Mid May so though the sky would get dark we were days from the Midnight sun. Heading up the valley we spotted a chute lower down and decided to head for it.
We rode the line around Midnight without the use of headlamps. It was a tick list thing to do in Norway and I could take it off my list. Being satisfied with our run it was time to ride back to Camp Kvalvikdalen. The photo below was taken of our tracks the next day.
Day 2: Powder Frenzy
Waking up we went back to the bowl we had rode the previous night. It was the closest North facing powder to Camp Kvalvikdalen. We had only scratched the surface the day before and we wanted more.
Heading up the bowl we started a steep line that ran all the way to the ridge. Throwing our gear onto our packs we worked as a team putting in the bootpack.
Once on top of the ridge we threw our gear on our feet and dropped 2/3 down the bowl. While the line before was good it was nice having good visibility this time around.
After a few steep turns it opened up to a wide bowl where every turn would kick up snow.
Going up for Another Lap
The snow was so good that we quickly put our skins on our skis and started climbing again. Instead of heading up the ridge this time around we would be heading up to the col at the top of the valley.
Once on the col I got my first view to the south. There was a wall of mountains with great looking ski lines. I quickly realised why the Lyngen Alps are a spring touring mecca.
Dropping in we played down tracks on the upper face before reaching our older tracks. By now we had somewhat tracked out the area so it was time to head back to Camp Kvalvikdalen.
Heading Out for a Sunset Run
Hanging around camp we decided to head out for another tour to see the sunset from up high. Our previous ski tour had been to the west and this time around we went for the Rundfjellet to the South.
A switchback at a time we gained elevation up the wide open slopes. By now the sky was starting to bask in alpenglow and we were excited to see from the summit.
After climbing a mellow ridge we made it up to the flats of the summit. The sun would come and go as the clouds moved with the wind.
Sitting on the summit we decided to ride down the West face of Rundfjellet before heading back to Camp Kvalvikdalen. Being steep wide open turns it was great from top to bottom before arriving in the flats. The top of the slope was still basking in alpenglow.
Day 3: Heading out to Bredalsfjellet
We woke up and pondered where to go next. Off to the Southwest was a nice looking face we had seen earlier and we decided to go check it our. Putting back on the snowboard boots we started heading up the mellow valley towards the base of Bredalsfjellet.
Looking at the tower known as the north face of Bredalsfjellet we were excited to potentially ride it in powder. The face seemed steep and we would climb to the highest point we could before riding back down.
The deep powder snow made ski touring easy as we laid in steep switchbacks. From our vantage point we could start to see the peaks at the west end of the valley.
Once the terrain got steeper we switched over to bootpacking and switched duties breaking in the trail. By now we could see the Lyngenfjord in the distance.
Snowboarding Back Down to the Kvalvikdalen Valley
We were able to climb to just a few meters below the summit before riding down. Knowing that it was steep we rode from top to bottom managing small sluffs along the way. We were able to ride back to Camp Kvalvikdalen with a small skin through the flats in the middle section.
Going for my Final Run in Norway
After taking a small break we went up for another run on the open slopes of Rundfjellet back to Camp Kvalvikdalen. This would be my final run of the trip as I needed to leave on a bus the next morning back to the airport in Tromsø.
Standing on top of the open face I watched the snow glisten in the sun as I dropped in with every turn kicking up snow. It was a solid way to finish my trip to Northern Norway and this one camping trip made me want to come back as soon as possible.
It was time to make my final turns down to camp before packing up and heading out. We had skied some great runs while staying in the Kvalvikdalen valley. While the Lofoten Islands had skunked us on weather the Lyngen Alps had provided. I only wished that my Lofoten crew had stuck around longer and we could have shared powder turns together.
