The Lyngen Alps between the Ullsfjord / Sörfjord and the Lyngenfjord, with their sharp peaks, narrow ridges and crests, are undoubtedly one of the wildest, most alpine and least developed mountain regions in Scandinavia. There are numerous opportunities for ski touring, climbing and trekking in the breathtaking and lonely landscape, which leaves nothing to be desired at any level of difficulty.
The English-language guidebook "The Lyngen Alps" was published in 2013 and covers many of these opportunities. On a total of 320 pages, it offers a very good overview mainly of ski tours and climbing routes in the Lyngen Alps, making it the only guide to date that deals exclusively with this mountain range.
Our ski trip to the Lyngen Alps in spring 2014, we were able to test the guidebook extensively.
About the book
The Lyngen Alps provides some helpful general information on safety and behavior in emergency situations, weather and climate, as well as general tips that should be considered when ski touring and climbing. The difficulty rating used in the book is also explained. The reader will also find useful tips on arrival and departure as well as accommodation and local transport.
A short chapter on the history of alpinism in the Lyngen Alps provides a nice introduction to the Lyngen Alps.
The main part of the book is dedicated to ski tours and climbing routes: divided into five sectors from north to south, a total of 108 summit options are described, many of which are both climbing and ski tour routes.
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A topographical overview map is located in front of each sector, clearly showing where the individual routes are located. This is followed by the individual route descriptions for this area. Each route description starts with an overview photo that serves as orientation and from which the different descent and route variants are clearly indicated by clear numbering and coloring (differentiated according to ski touring and climbing routes). However, the individual routes are not shown separately in a topographical map section, so that you have to use the photo, the short descriptions and a separate topographical map to find the route yourself, but this is easily possible.
Below this you will find brief information on the difficulty, maximum steepness, time required, altitude, exposure and the date of the first ascent or first ascent for each variant. There is also a sufficiently detailed short description for each variant, which also goes into potential dangers and any special features of the individual routes.
The guide also offers additional overview photos for individual mountain massifs, which also make it easier to get your bearings when planning the tour. The suggested tours include something suitable for every taste and ability.
Afterwards, "The Lyngen Alps" presents 14 special waterfall ice climbing routes in the Lyngen Alps in a short chapter, which are described in the same way as the skiing and climbing tours.
The final 44 pages of the book are dedicated to trekking and hiking options in the area. First, the well-known 8-day Lyngen trek is described. After some advice on accommodation and the best trekking time, the route is described in detail in its individual stages. The guide also provides an overview map showing the daily stages. However, here too, it is strongly recommended that you purchase a topographical map with a larger scale, as the individual stages are no longer shown separately in topographical map sections.
Afterwards, 25 day hiking routes around the Lyngen Peninsula are listed and again located on a small overview map. The individual hiking routes are only described very briefly and there is no information on difficulty, altitude and exposure. In this area, the guide remains superficial.
Overall, "The Lyngen Alps" offers a very large variety of route options, especially in the area of ski touring and climbing, which are also described in detail and in very good quality. The guide is definitely recommended here and this is clearly the focus of the guide.
If you are planning a trekking trip to the Lyngen Alps, you can only get ideas from "The Lyngen Alps", as the descriptions of individual routes are only very rough. Here you should also refer to other literature.
Information about the book:
The Lyngen Alps: Skiing / Climbing / Trekking
Authors: Sjur Nesheim & Eivind Smeland
Friflyt AS Verlag, Oslo, Norway
Language: English
320 pages, numerous color photos and overview maps
Price: 66 euros
ISBN: 9788293090199
