Zach Paley

Winter also ended early in Norway. Zach Paley and his ski friends took advantage of the stable good weather in May for an extended camping and couloir session in the Lyngen Alps...

It wasn't that giving chase to the dark horse was wearing me through. And by no means did I feel I'd explored most of what it had to give. Sometimes, one needs to take a step back, and regain appreciation what they already have, no matter how fickle its tendencies.

I've not been on land much lately. With a bonus trip unexpectedly added to my schedule, the past two weeks have been anything but full of rest and skiing the photogenic terrain I seek in Lyngen. Flat light and terrain drive the mind to wander towards bigger things. That said, the skiing has, finally, been pretty good.

Slowly, Lyngen is loosening its vice grip on things. Or so it occasionally seems. It's been a difficult week with high but inconsistent payoff. There's been no shortage of bushwhacking towards good snow, getting chased out of the alpine by wind, and a few good turns when things cooperate.

Just like last winter (2013), Zach Paley will once again be reporting on his tours and trips through the magical Lyngen Alps in Norway. Even though the conditions in late winter 2014 are significantly worse than a year ago (but which northern Alps skier needs to be told that?), Zach will once again inform the PowderGuide readership about his experiences and solo expeditions with his trip reports, which are well worth seeing and reading. We are already looking forward to it and hope that Zach's winter will continue...

In the final part of Zach's winter extension in Norway, we go from the icy cold waves to the early summer glacier snow in the ski resort of Stryn for a summer ski finale.

Hoddevik makes even the quietest of surf towns look like a bustling metropolis. With a population of 19, the largest concentration of it being at Stad Surfing, we found ourselves at one of the most peaceful and relaxing places imaginable.

As the days get longer and longer and the snow in the Lyngen Alps continues to melt, Zach Paley makes his way to Oslo...

Zach still hasn't had enough. Together with his ski buddy David, he sets off in search of the perfect steep slopes on the northern Kjosen Fjord. And what could be more obvious than simply using a canoe as winter draws to a close? This boat trip had its pitfalls ... read for yourself!

I came down from the mountains after my first session camping to refuel and meet an old friend in Lyngseidet. CH is currently dealing with some malpractice legalities and would prefer not to be named. Like I discovered earlier, Sweden is a weird place. We packed the car and headed for the southwest end of the peninsula: the one area I hadn't gotten to ski much in Lyngen.

While we went climbing in Ticino, Zach Paley went camping. So far, so unexciting. However, he pitched his tent in the snow-covered expanses of the Lyngen Alps. What did he do there? You can find out in this report!

Zach Paley, an undaunted year-round skier, once again signs on to the Norwegian ski touring trawler Vulkana. Just the right weather, just the right snow, just the right people. Life in the mountains and by the sea can be just perfect...