Kviar ski touring, Hornstrandir Nature Reserve

Join Jokull, local IFMGA certified mountain guide, for an epic 6-day ski touring program in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, staying at the Kviar farm.

6 Days

Apr, May

High

Intermediate

Description

I invite you to a magnificent ski touring week in Iceland. We will stay in the beautiful Kviar, an old abandoned farm in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. It's definitely a remote location, and a hidden gem for sure!

Kviar is the perfect place to stay to enjoy the area both in summer and in winter. We will leave it in the morning and only come back at night, but the food and sauna will be waiting for us. To explore the area we have the Bjarnarnes speedboat. Indeed, a boat in this location is almost necessary to get to the best ski touring spots.

The difficulty of the trip is from moderate to challenging. There are many options with different levels. Besides, not everyone needs to do the same, we can choose different slopes. Please check out the itinerary that I propose below but take into account that it can change. Our main goal is to find the best snow every day.

And if you have the time, I recommend that you stay an extra day in Ísafjörður since there are amazing ski options in the area!

Tempted to skin up and ski down the slopes in Northwestern Iceland? Then please get in touch with me! And you can also check this other ski touring trip that I love, in the East Fjords.

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Transport during the trip

- Transportation start and back

Price details

Transport is included from Ísafjörður, not before or after.

Itinerary

Day 1: First ski day in Kvíar

We meet at Ísafjörður after lunch and we leave on the Bjarnarnes, the speedboat. We go to Kvíar. Here we will explore for good snow. We will also go over some safety recommendations. Be prepared (well fed and well dressed) before we start this first ski day! Then, a well deserved dinner at the farmhouse.

Day 2: Lónafjörður Fjord

We go to the head of Lónafjörður Fjord by boat. Here, we can either go to Rangali and skin up to Rangalaskarð Pass, or to Miðkjós and skin up to Snókur and Breiðuskarðahnjúkur. Then we return to Kvíar by boat. We can pick mussels from the beach to have as starters at dinner! There’s a sauna to relax.

Day 3: Veiðileysufjörðu

Today we go on the big Zodiac to Veiðileysufjörðu. Here the plan is to ski over to Lónafjörður Fjord. We end at Rangali, and take the boat back to Kvíar.

Day 4: Hrafnfjörður

Today we explore the mountains in Hrafnfjörður, the Raven’s Fjord. There are some great smooth runs all the way from the tops of the fjords. I particularly like the runs from the top of Hvítserkur and Mt. Bláfell. Also from the pass between Bláfell and Mt. Hattarfell. And if you are looking for a steep descent, we can go down the West face of Hattarfell.

Day 5: Mt. Tröllafell

Today we go by boat to Höfðaströnd Beach. We skin up to the top of Mt. Tröllafell, the Troll Mountain. here there’s a mixture of steep couloirs and open runs. Many options of virgin terrain here!

Day 6: Ísafjörður

We transfer by boat early to Ísafjörður. Here we can still do some skiing near the town before ending the trip.

About the guide

Jökull

Mountain Guide

I'm Iceland's first and only IFMGA internationally certified mountain guide. I'm a member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides ACMG with whom I finished my certification. I have climbed and skied extensively all over the world, and I lived and worked in both the European Alps and the mountains of Western Canada.
I have brought this wealth of diverse experiences to Iceland and the Arctic North where I have to my name over a hundred first ascents and descents in Iceland and Greenland.
My love of the mountains grew from an early age working as a shepherd on my grandparent's farm on the Troll Peninsula in Northern Iceland. Or maybe it had something to do with my name, which in English would translate directly to Glacier Mountain man.
If you want to discover this beautiful country, please get in touch with me and let's leave together for incredible adventure!

Languages

English

Certificates

ACMG | IFMGA

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