Although it barely feels like the winter has even started here in the Wasatch, spring is just around the corner and now is a good time to make plans. I’ll be returning to the Wrangell-St.Elias range in Alaska for a week of guiding the first week of April, and my friends Doug and Karyn from Ice Axe Expeditions are putting together a trip to Spitsbergen (Svalbard) in Norway, as well as running the world famous Antarctica Ski Cruise next November.
Spitsbergen – May 17 – 25 / May 25 – June 2, 2015
This is a sailboat based trip to some of the highest skiable northern latitudes on earth. The trip begins in Longyearbyen (LYR), which at 78 degrees north is the northernmost airport in the world with public scheduled flights. From there, the trip just keeps getting even more interesting with wildlife such as polar bears and walrus, and a huge variety of skiing. The agenda always varies based on conditions, but one of the likely stops is at the old Russian ghost town of Pyramiden.
Doug Stoup and Vladimir Lenin outside the assembly hall in Pyramiden.
Svalbard natives. Watch out for Mom…
The wildlife and wild location are only surpassed by the wild skiing.
For more information, check out the Ice Axe Arctic Circle Ski & Sail webpage.
Wilderness Ski Week – Wrangell St.Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska – March 29th – April 4, 2015
Of the top ten most memorable ski runs of my life, about half of them are from this area. With a skiing zone larger than Switzerland and packed with mountains, it’s one of those places you have to see/ski to believe. The biggest issue with skiing in the Wrangells is access, as the 13.2 million acre range is almost completely roadless. In the case of the Wilderness Ski Week, it helps to have friends with planes and lodges, which is why the trip is based out of the Ultima Thule Lodge. For the past 4 years, this trip has provided the best skiing of the year by a long shot.
More skiable terrain than you can shake a Super Cub at.
Topping out on Solidarity Peak. Video details of the descent below.
For more information, check out the Wild Alpine Ski Week webpage here.
Antarctic Peninsula Ski Cruise – Nov 7-19, 2015
Even among experienced travelers and skiers, a common response to this outing is “The trip of a lifetime!” Just being in Antarctica is amazing, but to be able to get off the boat, see penguins and seals up close and then go ski touring is surreal beyond description. When you add in trips across the famous (infamous?) Drake Passage, a group of likeminded people from all over the world and excellent food, it is penultimate backcountry skiing experience.
I’ll be guiding on this trip for my 5th time and hope to put together a group of similar skiers who are interested in longer tours and challenging terrain. If you are interested, please contact me directly or mention it to the Queen of the Antarctic, Karyn Stanley at Ice Axe.
Looking over at the 9,000′ Bull Ridge.
What can you say? Amazing to look at, even better to ski.
For more information, check out the Ice Axe Expeditions 2015 Antarctic Peninsula Adventure Cruise webpage here.