Mike Pow 52 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 With no chance of a cold snap in Wales and (very) late spring conditions in the Alps it was time to head north for some powder. Snowforecast was calling for close to 1m of fresh in Narvik, so a quick email was sent to Mike Prosser who's living and working in the resort to see if it was worth a trip. I'd worked with Mike in the Niseko Resort Area of Hokkaido, Japan in the winter of 06/07 and Mike has worked ski patrol and lift ops in Narvik the past three winters, after riding his motorbike across Australia and then from Vladivostock to the far north of Norway. He's recently returned from riding from Narvik to cape Town, South Africa. It was snowing and blowing, and I was going. Mike sent me these pics from the day before I was due to leave http://kjetil-janson.blogspot.com/2011/04/etter-snesluddregn-og-take-kommer-solen.html DAY 1 : WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL 2011 Caught the last train to London the night before and slept in Heathrow. Surprisingly comfortable and warm. Was expecting to pay an excess for baggage with SAS but my one checked ski bag weighing 15kg got through ok. SAS must have the most convulted baggage restrictions out there! Return train travel from Aberdare (home) to London Heathrow - 88 euro Return flight from Heathrow to Evenes, Norway (via Oslo) - 425 euro Return bus travel from Evenes Airport to Narvik - 54 euro Arrived in Evenes at 5.30 pm and the 1-hr bus ride to Narvik was spectacular. Sunshine, clear skies, snow right down to the fjord in places, jagged peaks reflected in tidal pools. Met Mike at the Gran Hotel bar, and after a couple of drinks it was back to his digs to unpack. He (and the other Narvik employees) stays in the Best Western Hotel just across the road from the gondola on a very cheap monthly rental. Has an en-suite hotel room and shares a fully equiped kitchen with 4 other people. DAY 2 : THURSDAY 21 APRIL 2011 During the mid-week Narvik is open between 11am and 8pm. Mike headed off to work at 8.30am and I walked across to meet him for first lift at 11. You can either take three t-bars to the top restaurant or take the 6-person gondola. The gondola has three cars travelling up at any one time, so if there's a line it's quicker to take the t-bars. At the top of the t-bars / gondola it's a short skate to the 2-man chair that takes you to the top of the resort which accesses the best inbounds terrain and also the hike to the slackcountry shots. http://www.narvikfjellet.no/ Narvik Resort Map A day ticket costs 41 euro, and at this stage of the season it's worth buying by the day due to rising freezing levels (read rain) and wind closures. Narvik gondola Great first day on the hill. Not that cold either, between -5 and +5. It was snowing lightly off and on all day and even with limited views the setting is spectacular. Mike Prosser heading to the ocean Stopped off for lunch at the top restaurant with Rob, a ski patroller from Sweden who lives across from Mike. Excellent burger and fries. One of the best I've eaten in a ski resort (second only to Wazza's Brick Burgers in Hirafu). Not cheap though. 20 euros. Mike (left) and Rob in the top restaurant, Narvik As we left the restaurant the snow was coming down, but it quickly turned to drizzle at the base. Evenings were spent eating in and drinking supermarket beer, cider and the duty free rum I brought in. DAY 3 : GOOD FRIDAY 22 APRIL 2011 Much the same as yesterday, with dry, chalky powder in the upper bowls and soft, spring bumps on the out. Mike Prosser doing ski patrol today Marcus, another Swede on ski patrol Mike Prosser, it's a dirty job but someone has to do it DAY 4 : SATURDAY 23 APRIL 2011 What an absolutely brilliant day. Sunshine, no wind, dry, blown in pow on the upper mountain, about 5 cm penetration. Hiked solo from the top of the resort to see what I could see. What I saw made me smile. Morkholla Narvik from Tredjetoppen Partisan Peak from Tredjetoppen I dropped in from Tredjetoppen and skied the ridge line that separated two big alpine bowls Bowl below Partisan Peak Bowl below Tredjetoppen Met up with Mike at the bottom and we went back around and did another lap. Mike Prosser looking at Morkholla. Biggest cornices I've ever seen Mike Prosser on Tredjetoppen with Narvik Ski Resort in the background Yours truly on Tredjetoppen (Mike Prosser photo) Mike Prosser skiing off Tredjetoppen Great turns. Chalky pow at the top, corn in the mid section, and spring bump fest on the out. Got the gondola back up to the restaurant area and enjoyed a barbecue in the sun DAY 5 : EASTER SUNDAY 24 APRIL 2011 Rain at the base high winds closing the gondola meant a day off skiing. It cleared up by the evening and Mike, Karen (head of Ski Patrol), Marcus, Kaj (rentals) and I drove across the other side of the fjord to watch Karen and Marcus do a spot of climbing. Marcus Kaj Mike, Marcus and Kaj with Rombakstotta in the background Karen Mike, Marcus and Kaj Marcus DAY 6 : MONDAY 25 APRIL 2011 Rained all day. No thank you. DAY 7 : TUESDAY 26 APRIL 2011 Drizzle at the base and high winds, so Mike and I decided to make the 1-hr drive to Riksgransen, Sweden for the day. http://www.stromma.se/en/Riksgransen/ Snowing off and on and then the lifts closed at the end of the day due to high winds. Admitedly we didn't hike to Nordalsfjall but I was quite underwhelmed by the terrain and pitch. Great setting though and loads of snow. On the way back Mike spotted a perfect spot to try kite skiing for the first time. He was having a ball. Mike Prosser kite skiing near the Norway-Sweden border All in all an excellent trip. Norway is expensive, but well worth the expense. Thanks Mike and thanks to all that made me feel very welcome. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 you sure get around Mike! I didn't realise that Norway was in the Euro, I thought they had their own currency Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 Been very lucky this season. They're not in the euro, but easier for many who read my posts to convert from the euro. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 ah ok THIS season??!!.......every season...no?! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share Posted May 11, 2011 This season for the variety Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Awesome. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 Great stuff Mike. Link to post Share on other sites
masher of moguls 0 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Love it Mike, looks like you had an amazing time. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted May 12, 2011 Share Posted May 12, 2011 Wonderful. I particularly like these two shots Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share Posted May 12, 2011 Thanks all Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Yeah really great report thanks Mike. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 That kite skiing looks fun too, wouldn't mind giving that a go. What's the setup for that Mike? Does he own that gear? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 Yeah he owns that gear. It's kite surfing gear. Mike did say he would use a board not skis next time. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Quote: Was expecting to pay an excess for baggage with SAS but my one checked ski bag weighing 15kg got through ok. SAS must have the most convulted baggage restrictions out there! Missed that. Airlines seem to make this stuff up as they go along, or perhaps the person you are lucky or unlucky enough to get when you check in. Link to post Share on other sites
sand 17 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 wicked stuff, would be interested to give kite skiing a go for sure. Link to post Share on other sites
JellyBelly 1 Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Me too looks like that would be a lot of fun. Did you have a go Mike? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 No. Too dodgy for my old knees Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Sad isn't it, I'm in the same boat. Great report Mike thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Bradley 0 Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Sweet, MikePow. Never been over to Europe. It's on the list, after Japan/. Link to post Share on other sites
billingsby 0 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Great. I was in Norway last winter, along with a dodgy knee so no action, but saw some of those mountains. Loved it over there. Hope to go back some day to experience it myself. Link to post Share on other sites
JQuigley 0 Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Great stuff Mike brings back memories, I was up there about 4 seasons back. Scenery up there is just stunning. Those pics of the dude smoking a pipe made me laugh, seems to be something of a thing they do up there. Link to post Share on other sites
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