PERFECT SPRING – Sun, camping, splitboarding, powder, lines and couloirs

Jonas at cauliflower camp pointing at the next line

Eventually sky did open,  almost just about the same time as the bird had to leave. How coincidental? We did get some stuff done with the help of the spinning blades but it was like nature was working towards getting us on our feet the whole time this spring. First high pressure showed up on the forecast the same time as the helicopter was still visible in the horizon flying away. But it didn’t really bother me or any of us. Of course it makes filming easier and access faster but at the same time creates this pressure and takes little something off from the peaceful feeling of  being in the mountains. I was happy to return to my own feet and splitboard.

On the way up to plateau in Stordalen

Now we had pretty good idea of the snow conditions in the valley and had a solid plan what to do when the weather finally opened up more than just few hours. We packed our camping gear into big backpacks and hiked up to Stordalen. (Autti, Hagström, Siivonen, Autio, Lahtinen, Kärppä and Ollilla). Jonas came in few days before and brought the swedish luck with him. I was happy to ride with him again!

We had decided to set camp on a plateau in about 1000meters where we had great access to all kinds of riding above and below us. It was a hike an a half to get up there with 30kg backpacks but the spot paid off and back ache disappeared in the surrounding views.. We were in a big bowl between Postdalsfjellet and Sorjfjelltinden. From the tent you could see lines around 270 degrees and the rest was dedicated to a view of the fjord. You could not ask for a better spot! We spent the next days hiking up straight from the tent and riding lines back to camp, fueled up and repeat. The remaining time we spent admiring the sunsets and the amazing views. It was just perfect. Me and Jonas ended up staying one more night since the weather seemed to be on our side this time and could have stayed even longer but food ran out even when the others gave all the remaining food to us before they left. It felt amazing to be all alone in the mountains but in the same time we had to remember that when riding – help was not close either if something happened.

Riding the cauliflower face. Pic: Jonas Hagström

Mid line

Screen cap mid line

Scenic piss

One of the most scenic pisses

camp at night

Night sets at camp

Sunset

Sun sets never gets old

camp site

hike up or drop down staight from the tent

Frozen boots

Only difficulty was to get the frozen boots on in the morning

heavy backpack

heavy load?

chilly tent

Chilly morning

Ode ripping the pink sunset

Ode Siivonen ripping the pink sunset

Pussy couloir

the crew

Crew having a break. Antti Autti, Jonas Hagström, Teemu Lahtinen, Jani Kärppä, Matti Ollila, Ode Siivonen and Tatu Autio

View from top

View from top of one of my lines. tents are set in the middle on the knoll plateau

COULOIR HUNT

When the sun comes out for days this time of the year it’s obvious that it will warm up the snow pretty fast too. At this latitude it rises up early already in April and sets late which gives a lot of time during the days (and nights) but also effects the faces longer. The high pressure that we had during the camping mission heated up the mountains and we had to turn to northernly aspects and sheltered couloirs to find the best snow. We did find some awesome couloirs in Lyngen and Tamok. Sometimes the snow was still amazing powder and sometimes we had turn back or ride more challenging conditions. My legs and body started to feel the stress of the previous non-stop month too. The weather was warming up even more so it was a time to take a little break. I dropped Jonas off in Tromsö airport and drove home admiring the mountains along the way. It was time to visit friends and traditional season ender events and parties but I was planning to come back as soon as the conditions would settle again…

Jonas dropping in unnamed couloir in Lyngen. Our footsetps guiding the way

FIRST DESCENT AT PÖTSI – The NIGHT SHIFT

Approaching Pötsi at 4 am. photo: Mikko Lampinen

I returned north in the beginning of May. Conditions had settled but snow hadn’t melted at all. It hadn’t snowed much either but there was some jewels still to be found. I teamed up with Ape Majava, Tero Ainonen and Mikko Lampinen. Ape had seen this couloir in the backside of Postadsfjellet that might still be in good condition. It is facing northeast and gets the early sunlight. We started at 2 o’clock in the night to catch the best light and for safety if things started to warm up too fast. The sunrise and the light on the mountain were specially beautiful this night and our couloir looked seductive. So we raised the pace. We reached the bottom around the same time with the sun at 4.30. We discovered that the snow was still dry and amazing, tougher to hike up but rewarding to ride down. The sun was fast and we were trying to beat it almost running up the couloir as fast as possible. I didn’t feel too comfortable under the big wind lips and tried to keep my pace fast. We reached the top of 600 meter vertical couloir before six am and were soon ready to drop in. Snow and conditions were awesome and riding was easy besides the leg burn from the fast hike. We succeeded on the first ascent and descent and the couloir got the name Pötsi. One of the best missions of the season for me.

Ape ripping the first turns. May Pow!

Spines

Little spines in the couloir

top of pötsi

top of Pötsi

guys and windlip

Ape and Mikko careless and cheerful in spite of the huge windlip lurking behind them

break

drink break before 4am

sunrises at pötsi

Early bird at snow line

Early bird at snow line. photo: Mikko Lampinen

hike up

ready to start boot packing. photo: Mikko Lampinen

At the top

waist deep at the top. photo: Mikko Lampinen

FROM BEST TO WORST

Ominous Otertinden couloir. almost 1000m vertical of slippery ice.

Few days after one of the best missions of the year, I did one of the worst. I Hiked up solo this long, almost 1000m vertical, couloir at Otertinden in similar aspect as Pötsi hoping still for good snow or at least soft spring snow when the sun heats it up. I trusted the forecast too much and was concentrated on the hike that I neglected the conditions. I was few meters from the very top of the narrow, partly 45-50 degrees steep and still icy couloir when I realized that the sun was hiding behind the clouds still and would actually not warm up the icy surface at all. I had been to eager to reach the top and had nobody but myself to blame. After swearing for a while and waiting for miraculous clearing of the sky  I had to admit my mistake and make my way down somehow. Teemu was filming from the road below but the low clouds were circling between us so he could not even see me all the time – not the best situation. I started jump turning down the slippery chute with ice axe in my hand in case of slipping. It was one of the worst runs of my life and little sketchy too but in the end I had no troubles of making down safely. Teemu said that he could hear my turns and sliding to the road from kilometers away – that’s how good the snow was! Learn by doing and from you mistakes could be the lesson from this one. Well, anyway I was one experience richer and I did see a wolverine and a snow weasel on the way up crossing the snow field.

Scratching and side slipping my way down.

MAY POW – WINTER AND SPRING CONTINUES

Snow was not really going anywhere. It still stayed reasonably cold the following week and we found dry snow on higher altitudes. It even snowed a little every now and then which gives a short time window for the next day to score some really good may pow on sheltered places. But you also have to be up an early bird to catch the worm otherwise you might get flushed by the slough. May is still awesome time to spend up in the northern mountains even when the snow starts to change quick as the sun circles the sky endlessly. The weather is better usually and there is almost 24h in the day to spend outdoors.  As the sun begins to heat the norhtern world round the clock the sea starts to look more and more tempting…

Sea view from powder house

Caravan life – my home in Tamok from end of March to mid May . Surfer mag awakes hunger of surfing. Luckily the sea is not far…

Special thanks to Tero Ainonen for the additional footage, Jonas Hagström and Mikko Lampinen for photos and everybody else too riding and enjoying the time in the north. Next up surfing… and snowboarding!