Iceland’s North Mountains, 6 Day Group Ski Tour

Early pick up from accommodation at 8:00. An early morning departure from Reykjavík by road 1 to the north of Iceland. We arrive at our destination, west of the Eyjafjörður fjord, in the early afternoon. The first skiing will take place that day in Öxnadalur at Kinnafjall (1104m/3620’) when we skin up before skiing down the 600 m (1300 ‘) of elevation gained. Night in a country guesthouse.

Driving: 5 hours  Skiing: 3 hours   Ascent/Descent: 570 m (1900’)

Múlahyrna is a small peninsula situated between the villages of Dalvík and Ólafsfjörður, and here we will find todays skiing. A gentle climb up the Gvendarskál valley is rewarded with view to the dim blue sea of the Eyjafjörður and the North Atlantic Ocean.  From here there are various possibilities of descents.  Often we have one run down some excellent ski slopes that goes straight down to the valley, before we climb up again and choose a different descent. In good snow conditions it is possible to ski down a steep open slope that faces Eyjafjörður, with the ocean directly below your skis! After a good day of skiing we can relax in the hot tubs of the swimming pool in the village of Dalvík.

Skiing: 5-7 hours     Ascent/Descent: 900-1200 m (2900′-3900’)

At the East side of the Eyjafjörður fjord a beautiful mountain named Kaldbakur rises from sea-level to an altitude of 1200 m (3900′). The name Kaldbakur means “Cold back” and cold it can be! This impressive mountain boasts one of Iceland’s longest descent has abundant snow in the winter time. The scenery from the top is least to say incredible. A magnificent view of nearby mountains, the fjord and into the Icelandic highlands will salute us from up on the summit. After removing our skins, we hit the slopes and ski down to the coast.
On the way back we will experience a little of the local culture and history with a visit to the tuff farm at Laufás and the town of Akureyri, where it is possible to go for a relaxing bath at the Jacuzzis of the town’s swimming pool.

Skiing: 6 to 7 hours    Ascent/Descent: 1100 m (3500′)

The mountains over the village of Dalvík offer several good ski routes and a few of those can be found on the Sauðaneshnjúkar peaks (992m/3250’). The climb to the top is easy and from there we get a long descent down a great couloir back down to the valley. We can also take a detour to the Jökulbakstindur further in the valley for an a choice of different and possibly steep descents. On the way back we will visit a nearby microbrewery for a taste of the local brew.

Skiing: 6 to 8 hours    Ascent/Descent: 1000 – 1500 m (4920′)

Today we pick up and move further north to enjoy a couple of ski routes on the tip of the Trollaskagi peninsula. This area only came recently accessible with the opening of a new tunnel, and at the same time new possibilities for exciting ski routes came available. Our first destination is in the uninhabited fjord Héðinsfjorður where we will find the mountain Vatnsendahnjúkur. There we will climb up the Möðruvallaskál for a rather steep descent that offers an impressive view over the fjord and the ocean. After a good day of skiing we head back to the guesthouse for a nice dip in the hot tub.

Skiing: 5 – 6 hours    Ascent/Descent: 850 m (2780′)

Before heading back south to Reykjavík we are going to take advantage of the Siglufjorður ski area and use their lifts to get in position for one final ascent. Our target is Illviðrishjúkur (Bad Weather Peak) sitting to the west of the fjord Siglufjorður, with a steep descent that will take us right back to your vehicle. Return to Reykjavík in the late afternoon.

Skiing: 3-4 hours  Ascent/Descent: Ascent 250m (820′)/Descent 700m (2300′)