Ski & Snowboard Touring in the Sunnmøre Alps.

The Sunnmøre Alps rise straight from the fjords south and east of Ålesund, to around 1,700m. Because most tours start at or near sea level, even mid-height peaks give big, continuous descents — often 1,000m or more, finishing at the water.

The heart of the range is around Hjørundfjord: Kolåstinden (1,432m), the classic; Slogen (1,564m), the iconic pyramid; and Skårasalen (1,542m), with its steep north-east side. Terrain runs from open bowls and broad ridges to couloirs and steep faces, with birch forest down low.

There are no big lift systems. Everything is on skins, which is why a typical day on our trip is 1,000–1,500m of ascent and 6–8 hours out.

The touring season runs from about February into May. February and March give colder, deeper winter snow and shorter days; April brings more daylight, more stable weather and corn snow on sunny aspects while north faces still hold powder. Our trips run from late March into April.

The coast brings fast-changing weather. That's why we use a mobile basecamp: if one valley is in cloud, we move to the next.

We don't publish snow depths or forecasts on this page — they go out of date within hours. These are the sources we check ourselves: Windy for wind, freezing levels and storm tracking, and the resort or regional forecast for snow detail. On a guided trip your guide checks them, plus the snow on the ground, every morning before any plan is set.

Windy — Hjørundfjord / Sunnmøre Alps
Varsom — Sunnmøre avalanche & weather

The coastal snowpack here is different from the Alps — wind and fast temperature swings matter as much as fresh snow. The official avalanche bulletin for this area is published by Varsom — Sunnmøre (Norwegian Avalanche Warning Service, NVE) — read it every day you go out, and read the whole thing, not just the danger level.

⚠ Conditions change fast — this is for planning only. Always check the live bulletin and consult a certified local guide before heading out.

On our trip the guide reads the bulletin and the snow every morning before choosing the day's peak. Beacon, shovel and probe are mandatory, and companion rescue is practised at the start of the week.

Big lines like Slogen are the maximum, not a promise. Conditions come first, then the level and wishes of the group.

Search and rescue in Norway is coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (Hovedredningssentralen) and run on the ground by police, volunteer rescue teams and the air ambulance. Raise the alarm through the national emergency number 112. Coverage is good near the coast and poor in the deeper valleys — our guides carry satellite communication in remote terrain.

Travel and medical insurance with mountain rescue and helicopter cover is essential and is not included in our trips. We recommend Austrian Alpine Club (Alpenverein) membership, which includes mountain rescue cover.

Fly to Ålesund (AES), with connections via Oslo and other European hubs. The touring areas around Hjørundfjord are about an hour or so by road from Ålesund, with ferries on some routes.

On our trip we travel in shared motorhomes and park at the trailheads, so there's no daily commute. Independent groups need a car.

Motorhome basecamp — our trip lives in shared motorhomes at the trailhead, self-catering. We bring pre-cooked meals from Hotovky.cz, so dinner is warm-up-and-mix, not a cooking project.

Ålesund — the Art Nouveau town makes a comfortable city base if you're arriving early or staying on.

Fjord hotels — the historic Hotel Union Øye (from 1891) and the Juvet Landscape Hotel near Valldal are the region's famous stays; book well ahead.

Touring rental exists in the bigger towns but is limited — bring your own or ask us to arrange it in advance.

Bring or rent through us: touring skis or a splitboard, touring boots, climbing skins, ski crampons, adjustable poles, beacon, shovel and probe, a 30–40L backpack, headlamp, layered clothing for wind and wet coastal weather, spare gloves, goggles and sunglasses. Helmet mandatory on our trips.

Motorhome life: bring a warm layer for the evenings and slippers or hut shoes. Bedding is provided.

Norway is expensive, so self-catering is the smart way to eat on a touring week — hence the pre-cooked meals in the motorhomes. When you do eat out, the coast is all about seafood: fresh cod, klippfisk and fish soup in Ålesund.

Ålesund was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style after the great fire of 1904 and is worth a wander. The Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is within reach for a rest-day drive, and a sauna followed by a fjord plunge is the local recovery plan.