Pure Senja

A Storied Island

Norway boasts several of the best ski touring areas in the world, and some of them are to be found on Senja, Norway’s second-largest island. Senja is sometimes referred to as a “Norway in miniature”, as the island’s diverse environments reflect those of Norway itself. It’s an incredibly scenic panorama for ski touring, with the ocean as our backdrop at all times. We’re based on the western side, right by the water. The landscape is characterised by steep, rugged mountains rising directly from the ocean. The environment is high-alpine, with jagged peaks topping out between 600m asl and 1,100 m asl. One of Senja’s advantages is that distances are short, offering us many different options for ski touring given weather and wind conditions. Moreover, as some peaks are lower, we can sometimes fit in multiple tours per day. Daylight hours — and our legs — are the only limits.

Pure Ski Touring only hires IFMGA Mountain Guides

What is a Mountain Guide?
A Mountain Guide is a specially trained and highly experienced professional who is certified by authorities or mountain guide associations. They are considered experts at a high level and are hired to instruct or lead individuals and small groups in mountain environments that require this advanced expertise. The profession of mountain guide originated in the mid-19th century when alpine climbing became recognized as a sport.

IFMGA Certification
The title IFMGA Mountain Guide is reserved for individuals who have received full certification through their country’s national mountain guide association, whose curriculum and training are approved by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). Certification is obtained through a rigorous examination process that includes rock climbing, alpine climbing and ski mountaineering. Certification usually takes between three and seven years to complete.

Swedish Mountain Guide Organisation
The Swedish Mountain Guide Organisation (SBO) is Sweden’s only professional organisation for mountain guides. SBO trains and examines guides and offers further training. The organisation promotes the interests of its members nationally and internationally and administers information, fees and meetings. The requirements for authorisation are high and include technical skills, teaching and leadership skills. SBO cooperates with other organisations and is a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA), which gives Swedish guides the right to work internationally according to the federation’s standards.

Our IFMGA Mountain Guides at Pure Senja are

Christian Edelstam

Oscar Wahlund

Josef Westerlund

Senja the island

Senja is a municipality in the Norwegian region of Troms, with Finnsnes as the nearest town. The old Norse form of the name, “Sændja” is thought to be derived from the verb “sundra”, which means “divide” or “separate”, perhaps a reference to the west coast of the island which is fractured by so many small fjords. Senja’s northern coast is facing the open ocean, whereas the west faces the islands of Andøya and Krøttøya.

Accommodation

Surrounded by mountains, and right by the ocean shore is Hamn i Senja, our base camp for four nights. In the village itself there are only 50 permanent inhabitants, and the nearest town is Finnsnes, about 20km eastwards. The hotel burnt to the ground around 20 years ago, but has been fully rebuilt and today sports every facility you can ever want as a ski tourer. There is a sauna and a “hot tub boat” placed right on the shoreline. There is something for everyone here: the ocean, the mountains, nature itself, gastronomy, adventure and the Aurora Borealis. A great base camp for ski touring in the area.

Travel

You can travel by air or by rail to our destination. Regardless of choice, you’ll get the same number of ski days. If you prefer you can also make your own travel arrangements, and join up at Hamn i Senja, in which case we’ll adjust the cost accordingly.

We can also help you book flights t&r London – Bardufoss (via Oslo). Then select: “Price package excluding travel” when booking and state in the booking that you want to fly from London and we will contact you.

Train

If you decide to travel by rail your journey commences in the evening from Stockholm Central Station. Note that the train journey starts a day earlier! Taking the sleeper northwards, we arrive at Abisko Östra the following day just before noon. We’ll have some lunch and then we have our own bus transfer to our hotel, Hamn i Senja. We’ll break the journey along the way to stock up on snacks and drinks if we want to. The bus journey should take around 3h30. We’ll arrive around 20:00 and check in. On the way back we drive the bus to Kiruna and take the sleeper train south from there, arriving back at Stockholm Central the following morning.

Air

For those choosing to travel by air, the trip starts at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, destination Bardufoss, after a short stop-over in Oslo. From Bardufoss we drive mini buses to our hotel, Hamn i Senja, and we’ll provide sandwiches and beverages. The drive westwards to Senja should take 1h30-2h. For the return journey we retrace our steps, and we fly from Bardufoss in the afternoon, via Oslo, and arrive back at Stockholm Arlanda in the evening. We can also arrange flights from Gothenburg, Malmö, London etcetera on request. Contact us at info@pureskitouring.se for details. If you travel from Gothenburg you’ll make your own way to Olso and join us at Gardemoen Airport for onward flight to Bardufoss.

Itinerary, Rail
SJ sleeper, April 1, Stockholm C – Abisko Östra 18:11-10:34 (+ 1 day)
SJ sleeper, April 6, Kiruna – Stockholm C 18:28-09:25 (+ 1 day)

Itinerary, Air:
Norwegian, April 2 Stockholm ARN – Bardufoss 18:15-22:30 (via Oslo)
Norwegian, April 6 Bardufoss – Stockholm ARN 14:20-18:00 (via Oslo)

Itinerary, Air, Gothenburg
SAS, Feb 15, Oslo – Bardufoss 20:55-22:45
SAS, Feb 19, Bardufoss – Oslo 15:15 – 17:05

We’ll ascend around 800-1,200 vertical meters per day at a moderate pace. Ratio: 6 guests per guide.

Good fitness is required, capable of sustaining an ascent rate of 350m/h
Off-piste skiing in all conditions, on slopes up to 35 degrees
Previous experience with ski touring technique and equipment, how to walk and kick-turn with climbing skins
Experience in using axes, crampons and ropework a plus.
Age limit 18 years old (16 years old if accompanied by legal guardian)

Mandatory Equipment

Skis with touring bindings
Climbing skins, contour-cut to your skis
Ski boots
Ski poles with baskets of a diameter of at least 6cm
Avalanche transceiver (not analog), shovel, probe. Check batteries.
Helmet
Avalanche backpack with inflatable airbag, 25-40l capacity
Shell jacket and trousers. Wind-, and waterproof.
Mid-layer in wool or fleece
Insulated jacket. Synthetic or down. Alternatively an extra fleece.
Base layer, top and long-johns. Wool or synthetic
Ski socks, wool
Underwear, wool or synthetic
Gloves or mittens, one pair of thick, one pair of thin
Hat and balaclava or Buff to cover your face
Sunglasses and goggles
Sun cream
Water bottle
Head torch
Passport and money
Travel insurance
Hand sanitiser
Personal snacks (chocolate, nuts etc) for touring

Senja specifics

Ski Crampons (Harscheisen)

Good to have,

Thin windproof/soft shell jacket
Soft shell trousers
Extra base layers
Extra underwear (wool/synthetics)
Extra ski socks (wool)
Day wear/civvies
Normal shoes
Thermos
Camera
Mobile phone and charger
Toiletries bag
Ear plugs
Blister tape

Always aim to minimise weight when packing.
If you’re missing some of the equipment listed above, we’ll be happy to help arrange equipment hire or purchase. Contact us on info@pureskitouring.se for details.

Reserve

Package, excluding travel

– we can help you book your flight from any destination. It is booked separately –
- Part in double room
- 21 500 SEK
- Estimated 1850€
- Single room
- 24 900 SEK
- Estimated 2150€
Package, including train travel

– to and from Stockholm Centralstation –
- Part in double room
- 24 900 SEK
- Estimated 2150€
- Single room
- 27 900 SEK
- Estimated 2400€
Package, including air travel

– to and from Stockholm, Arlanda –
- Part in double room
- 26 000 SEK
- Estimated 2250€
- Single room
- 29 500 SEK
- Estimated 2550€

Included:

4 days’ ski touring with certified IFMGA mountain guide
Avalanche safety training with certified IFMGA mountain guide
Ski touring technique skills with certified IFMGA mountain guide
Equipment orientation with certified IFMGA mountain guide
Demo equipment from Norrøna, Dynafit and Black Diamond
Personal account access to Pure Ski Touring’s website
Pure Ski Touring’s goodie bag
Accommodation, Hamn Lodge, 4 nights
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal, 4 days
Bedding and towel
Sauna and hot tub
Train travel Stockholm C – Abisko Östra return
Transfer Abisko Östra – Hamn i Senja Lodge
Lunch and beverage during bus transfer

Alternatively;
Air travel, Stockholm – Bardufoss, return
Checked luggage, 20kg and carry-on 10kg
Sport equipment luggage, 20kg (skis, poles and boots)
Transfer, Bardufoss – Hamn i Senja Lodge, return
Sandwich and beverage during bus transfer

Tuesday, April 1
- 18:11 Departure, Stockholm Central Station (rail travellers)
Wednesday, April 2
- 10:34 Arrival, Abisko Östra (rail travellers)
- 08:00 Ski touring in Abisko and then serve lunch and a beverage along the way
- 10:34 Bus transfer to our ski lodge Hamn in Senja (3h45)
- 18:00 Departure, Stockholm Arlanda (air travellers)
- 19:00 Check-in and dinner in the restaurant at Hamn i Senja
- 22:30 Arrival, Bardufoss Airport (via Oslo)
- 18:00 We meet up at the Bardufoss Airport
- 22:45 Bus transfer to Hamn i Senja Lodge (1h45)
- 00:30 Arrival and check-in at our ski lodge Hamn in Senja
Thursday, April 3
- Breakfast in the hotel restaurant
- 17:00
- Return to ski lodge for after ski on the veranda
- 20:00
Friday, April 4
- 07:30 Breakfast served in the restaurant
- We make up lunch packs from the breakfast buffet
- 07:00 Full day of ski touring with our guides
- 08:30 After ski at the Atlantic’s edge, still in our boots
- Swim, sauna – time to just relax
- 19:00 Dinner in the restaurant; locally caught fish
- 18:00 Dessert and coffee served in the bar upstairs
- 14:20 Depart Bardufoss Airport (air travellers)
- 18:00 An invited guest gives a presentation on Senja’s exciting current and future prospects
- 18:28 Måndag 7 april - ankomst Stockholm C (tågresenärer)
Monday, April 7
- 09:25 Arrive Stockholm Central Station (rail travellers)