Backcountry Ski Touring in Iceland’s Troll Peninsula

Things to know

• Covid measures in the Troll Peninsula, Iceland

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Troll Peninsula, Iceland, please refer to Iceland’s official COVID-19 travel advice website.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

• What’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • An evening tour of Akureyri, Iceland
    • Five full days of backcountry ski touring
    • Accommodation for the duration of the tour
    • All group and emergency gear

  What’s not included:

  • • Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
    • Accommodation in Reykjavík
    • Transportation
    • Food and snacks
    • Gear rental
    • Trip Insurance and Global Rescue Insurance

  Iceland is quite expensive, and the meals there are often $20-$30/person. Please factor this into your budget. If you wish to save some money, it’s possible to cook at the lodge.

• How fit do I need to be?

  In order to enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to have a decent level of fitness. You will be on your feet for 5 full days. While there is terrain for all skill levels in the Troll Peninsula, you will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

  This is an objective-based adventure that often leaves little time for education along the way. You can expect the guides to make many decisions without explanation. Their primary focus is providing an experience that is fun, memorable, objective-based and most importantly, safe. Objectives match the guests ability and outcome desires.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  All participants in this backcountry ski touring tour must be skilled skiers or split borders. If you wish to take part in this tour, you must have prior backcountry experience and be comfortable skiing 35-degree terrain in variable conditions. Skiing in the backcountry has little resemblance to resort skiing. Participants should be comfortable ascending at least 3000 feet of elevation gain in a day.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis, or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
    • Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
    • Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Helmet
    • Sunglasses or ski goggles
    • Gloves and hat
    • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Down jacket or vest
    • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
    • Swimsuit
    • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
    • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
    • Water bottle and 1L of water
    • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
    • Food you can eat on-the-go
    • First aid kit
    • Sunscreen
    • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
    • Camera — optional
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:

  • • Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe
    • Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots and poles can be rented from the Hlíðarfjall ski resort in Akureyri
    • Splitboards can be rented from the Hlíðarfjall ski resort in Akureyri

  Keep in mind that backcountry ski gear is hard to come by in Iceland. We recommend you bring replacement parts as well as a small tool kit in order to fix common issues with your setup. We do have a location we can get to rent skis or fix minor issues should the need arise.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes:

  • • For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 4:1.
    • Costs per person decrease as the group grows for private lessons, so it’s the perfect opportunity to climb with friends and family.

  Ski touring in Iceland’s Troll Peninsula can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis. If you plan to ski with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Akureyri, the starting point of your tour, most people fly into Keflavík Airport. Your guide recommends flying with IcelandAir. Their rates are around $500 – $650. From there, you can take a bus, shuttle, or taxi to Reykjavík. You should then rent a car and take a 5-hour drive to Akureyri. After booking, your guide will send you the emails of the other participants so you can coordinate rental cars and split the cost of the rental and gas.

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet in Akureyri. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ski ability of the group.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person secures your reservation. The balance of program fees will generally be due 90 days prior to the starting date of the program. It is your responsibility to adhere to the fee payment schedule. Late payment will result in cancellation of program reservations and forfeiture of all fees paid.

  If you decide to cancel the trip, the following policy applies:

  • Up to 30 days before your adventure: Full Refund will be issued
  • 29 days – 72 hours before your adventure: Full Refund in the form of Northeast Mountaineering credit will be issued
  • Within 72 hours of your adventure: No refund will be issued
  • In the event that you have a positive COVID-19 test and need to cancel within 72 hours, you will be issued a Northeast Mountaineering credit for your adventure
  • If Northeast Mountaineering cancels your adventure due to weather or another unforeseen reason, you will receive a Northeast Mountaineering credit.