Cool winter kitesurfing at Rosebud

Session 594. Cold conditions but plenty of wind when we arrived at noon. I pumped up my Wave 6m kite and headed off feeling quite rusty.  Wow, what a blast!  Nice bay waves and even some sunshine.

I followed the surf line down enjoying the waves then headed back when the wind dropped.  I made it back to the main kiting location then walked back to our launch site.

We were chatting on the beach for a while. I took out James' 10m Cabrinha then the wind came back in.

Another short session on my 6m kite. I came in when my hands got too cold. I will wear gloves next time.  So good to be back on the water.  Quite a few other kiters were out too.

Click on photos below to see bigger pictures.

Great snow and skiing on Raudtinden to finish our Narvik tour

Fresh snow overnight and improving weather at last. James and Andy chose to go to Raudtinden, a route we attempted last year but didn't get to the top due to low cloud. This is a place to ski near Narvik when there is poor weather forecast.

We skied on a trail up through the trees, stopping for one quick lap in fresh snow then continued up above the tree line over a series of bulges to reach the summit.

The run down the other side was excellent skiing with fantastic views to surrounding peaks. After three marvellous runs we headed down into trees and then back along a return trail.

A visit to Stetind then an avalanche rescue scenario in wet conditions at Snubba

Rain, low cloud, warm temps and wind forecast so we headed to Stetind, Norway's national mountain, to check out skiing up in the bowl, but there was not much snow down low due to warm temperatures and rain.  I found out later there was snow down to the road two days earlier.

We drove back through Narvik to Snubba on the road to Evenes. Skied past some curious sheep up to a snow slope in wet snow and light rain. 

We did an avalanche rescue scenario followed by an evacuation with a compact emergency sled that fits over skies.  It was rather wet so it was good to get back to the hotel to dry things out and have a nice dinner.

Force 10 winds forecast for tomorrow so it might be a day off.

Ski laps on Mjelkefjellet dodging low cloud and bad weather

James and Andy selected this area to ski due to forecast bad weather and rain. We got going in the morning and did laps in the trees with reasonable visibility. 

We dodged some big tiger traps where meltwater in streams was opening up big holes in the snow. 

It was tricky skiing wind slab up higher, the skiing was better lower down. 

We got back to the vans just as the rain arrived.

Excellent weather and snow on Litletinden

Litletinden. Wonderful weather, a fantastic day skiing. 

We skied up through the woods. Above the snow line we did one hot lap to warm up. 

We followed the ascent route veering to the right over a ridge and then along a steep skin track through some interesting terrain with great views down to the fjord and back to Narvik.

We got to the saddle with Sovende Dronning (The Sleeping Queen) looming above, a spectacular location with views to the Frostizen massif and back to Narvik and surrounding mountains.

The entry to the descent route down the Vale looked sketchy and was in the shade so we skied below our ascent route in great snow.

Coming back through the trees got read interesting towards the end. A cracking day out.