Ski Mountaineering

Dramatic Ascents and Breathtaking Descents

Looking for an adventure beyond shoreline walks and wildlife watching? Our ski mountaineering trips offer an invigorating, up-close experience of the rugged peaks and majestic mountains flanking the high Arctic fjords.

Enjoy all the perks of polar expedition cruising: expansive scenery, exploratory outings, and the chance to see exotic Arctic wildlife.

How Our Ski Mountaineering Trips Work

Our ski mountaineering outings are led by certified and experienced expedition leaders and mountain guides, such as Phil Wickens and Tim Blakemore, who have been guiding in the Arctic for over a decade.

Each morning, guides lead small groups of six to eight skiers onto glaciers and into mountains, typically ascending around 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) daily, often stopping for a packed lunch mid-outing.

Ski excursions involve both easy mountaineering and off-piste skiing. As the expedition is ship-based, guides can reach the best snow, optimal weather, and various unique Arctic destinations.

To participate, skiers must be in good physical condition, have prior ski mountaineering experience, and possess their own equipment. Guests must demonstrate strong alpine skiing skills on unprepared slopes of up to 35° in various snow conditions.

For safety, all skiers must fill out a questionnaire highlighting their ski mountaineering experience beforehand.

What You Need to Bring on a Ski Mountaineering Trip

Ski mountaineering is technically demanding and equipment-intensive. Required gear includes:

• Skis with touring bindings
• Ski mountaineering boots
• Crampons adjusted to your ski boots
• Skins
• Ski crampons (couteaux / harscheissen)
• Ski poles
• Avalanche transceiver
• Snow shovel
• Avalanche probe
• Four screw-gate karabiners
• Two tape slings
• Two prussic loops
• Climbing harness
• Ice axe
• Appropriate clothing (detailed in a checklist distributed prior to the trip)