Dates: No dates set. Customized Trip only. Call us for more information.
Days: 9 days (7 days of skiing)
Airport: Arlanda, Sweden
Price:
Latitude: Storulvån 63° 30' N
Style: Two ski tours will be offered each day. The weather, snow conditions and group health will be our gauges for setting the pace during our daily tours. Crossing Latitudes emphasizes safety, good judgment, sound outdoor traveling skills and having a great time.
Skiing in the mountains can be tough but extremely rewarding. Wind and snow might blow in the face and distances can range from 6-12 miles (10-20 kilometers) or 4-8 hours. Elevation gain can be between 600 - 2400 feet (200 - 800 meters). Our staff will always brief you on distances, elevation gain, challenges and rewards before each day so you can decide what would be best for you any given day.
When we ski between the three mountain lodges our luggage will be transported with a snowmobile. Sometimes there is room for passengers as well if you rather not ski.
Day 1: Welcome to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden! We'll meet at the Grand Central Railroad Station in downtown Stockholm at 6:00 p.m. (dinner will be provided this evening). On the main level of the Railroad station there is a hole in the floor (it enables people to look down on the floor below). Around this hole there is an ornate iron railing. This is where we will meet at 6:00pm.
The Stockholm Railroad Station is next door to the main Bus Terminal where buses from the airport arrive. These terminals are only 15 minutes walk away from the busy downtown, the historic Old Town and the Royal Palace. If you arrive early we recommend that you put your luggage in the self-storage lockers and enjoy the Old Town for the afternoon.
After introductions and dinner we will make sure everyone has all the necessary equipment for our adventure. Please read through the Equipment List for recommended clothing and gear. Storulvån, our first lodge, has just about everything you need if you are looking to rent ski equipment. We highly recommend that you bring your own ski boots.
Our train departs Stockholm around 9:30pm. The train has sleeping cabins with 2-6 beds with shower and bathrooms in the hallway. Prepare yourself for a relaxing ride through the Royal Kingdom of Sweden.
Day 2: After a light breakfast onboard the train we'll arrive in the small community of Enafors at 09:00am. After a short taxi ride to Handöl village we can either take a cab (if the road is open) or if there's sufficient snow, ski ride the snow mobile to Storulvån Mountain Lodge. The distance is approximately 9 km.
Upon arrival to Storulvån we will have lunch and then check into our rooms (double occupancy with a wider bunk bed and a standard bed plus bathroom and shower in each room). After helping people with their rental gear we'll take an afternoon ski trip. Today we will also teach you or help you to further develop understanding of avalanche transceivers. We do not expect to ski in avalanche terrain but we'd rather be safe than sorry. It is of paramount importance to us that everyone understands how to use their transceivers and what is expected of them in case of an avalanche.
Expect white open space, high mountains and grand views that will take your breath away! Good sunglasses and ski goggles are important! After dinner you are welcome to a slide presentation about the ecology of the mountains. Kicking back with a book by the fire is also a great option.
Day 3: After a hearty Swedish breakfast and creating our own “niste pakk” (lunch bags) your Crossing Latitudes staff will offer one or two tours. The weather, snow conditions and the groups interest and abilities will decide where and how far we go.
Each day we hope to offer one easier trek with less elevation gain and a more relaxed pace. Being out in the winter wonderland is our purpose and everyone should be able to enjoy the views and being outside.
We also hope to offer a peak ascent of either Getryggen (the Goat back 1,382 meters), Tväråklumparna (there is no translation available of this name 1,409 meters) or Snasahögarna (no translations available 1,463 meters). Expect slow going up but fabulous skiing back home!
Once back at the lodge you can enjoy a sauna or relax in front of the fire. After dinner there is a historical presentation about the 3,000 Swedish "Karoliner" soldiers who all died in these mountains 300 years ago. We have also rented the indoor climbing wall for those who would like to try some moves, or just have a great work out. If you never climbed before our staff will teach you all the basics and we are sure you will find it both challenging and great fun.
Day 4: Another glorious day in a white paradise! We are always preparing for nasty conditions but hope for sunny days and great skiing. Today we will once again offer two different tours in the surrounding mountains.
Dinner is served at the lodge as usual and tonight we will offer an early night as tomorrow will be a moving day.
Day 5: After breakfast we will pack up all personal belongings and dress for a cross-country ski day. Our destination is the Blåhammaren Mountain Lodge 12 kilometers away. A snow mobile will once again transport our luggage and we will ski and follow the marked trail to Blåhammaren.
During today's trip we'll be surrounded by mountains and there might be a chance to see ptarmigans, other winter birds and maybe some reindeer. Halfway to Blåhammaren there is a hut where we can eat our lunch and rest. Today we will gain approximately 1,000 feet. We will take it slow and everyone can take as many breaks as they want to enjoy the views. To the west we can see into Norway. Blåhammaren lies only a few kilometers from the Norwegian boarder. Once at Blåhammaren Mountain Lodge we’ll check into our new rooms (one night) and enjoy the excellent dinner this lodge is famous for.
Day 6: After breakfast we’ll once again load our gear on the snow mobile and then head out on our skis. Today we will ski south for a big travel day, a larger lunch bag will definitely be appreciated. The distance to Sylarna Mountain lodge is 18 kilometers and there will be ups and downs all day. The trail is marked and once again we will keep a comfortable pace of about 2 miles per hour.
Throughout our tour we will have the awesome mountains of Sylarna in front of us. Storsylen is actually located on the Norwegian side of the boarder and reaches an impressive 1,761 meters. Tomorrow, if the snow conditions and weather allow, we can offer some extreme skiing for those who have the desire to push harder.
The Sylarna Lodge is in the heart of the great Sylarna Mountains located below Fruntimmersklumpen peak (1,308 meters). This is a very remote area and only folks committed to great skiing find this spectacular site. Sylarna Lodge is a traditional mountain lodge with bunk beds in the rooms. Bathrooms, sauna and showers are in the hallway. We will spend two nights here and our staff will create tasty and nutritious dinners for you.
Day 7: Are you ready for some spectacular skiing and views? If you are interested in some serious skiing the top of Sylarna is waiting for you. The elevation gain can be up to 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) but the rewards of this hard work will be awesome.
For those with little interest in extreme skiing we can offer a nice, mellow day tour around one of the nearby hills. This region is absolutely marvelous and you might choose to just sit outside the lodge and absorb the spectacular views and fresh air.
Our staff will once again create a fun dinner as this small lodge has no restaurant. You can count on a great amount of food and a sweet desert.
Day 8: This is our last day in the mountains. After a casual morning we will pack our bags and load them on the snow mobile that will transport luggage back to the Storulvån Lodge.
For us skiers, we can expect 16 kilometers of mostly flat terrain. There are huts along the way to stop and enjoy the views, snack and rest. Upon returning to the lodge we’ll shower and enjoy our last dinner together in these beautiful mountains.
After dinner we will take a taxi back to Enafors where the night train awaits. If the road is closed, which happens every once in awhile we'll ride a snow mobile. Once again we will have sleeping cabins with showers and bathrooms in the hall way. The rocking rhythm of the train will help you sleep soundly.
Day 9: We expect to arrive into Stockholm Railroad Station around 06:00am. Breakfast at the Rail road station and final group photos will officially mark the ending of our trip. Please do not make travel arrangements until after lunch this day. We will gladly help you get to the right bus or train for departure to the Arlanda International Airport.
General Information:
Travel Insurance:The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. We recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.
Pre- and post-trip accommodations:
Weather: The weather in Scandinavia wintertime can be anything from mild to freezing cold. Sometimes the temperatures can be above 32 degrees Fahrenheit but more often they will range between low 30's and into the 20's . If the wind is blowing the actual temperature will be even lower on our skin. We can expect cold and clear days with not a cloud in the sky but also windy and blustery days with maybe heavy snow fall.
Currency: Each Scandinavian country has its own currency. Exchanges can be made at banks, airports, train stations and most hotels. Scandinavian currency is not interchangeable between countries as each has a different exchange rate value. Major credit cards are widely accepted throughout Scandinavia. Sweden and Denmark are part of the European Union but have chosen not to use the Euro. Norway is not part of the EU. Travel checks are not used in Scandinavia. The banks will charge a stiff fee if you want travel checks cashed.
Language: English is Scandinavia's second language and is almost spoken fluently throughout. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to speak the native tongue. Phrase books and dictionaries are a great help. All our staff are bilingual and speak English as well as Norwegian or Swedish.
Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Scandinavia, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Sweden: 070-670 11 53 (within Sweden) or 46-70-670 11 53 (from outside Sweden). Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.
We are looking forward to our adventure together!
Tim & Lena Conlan Crossing Latitudes
