Tromsø

For many, April is a time to reflect on the season and reminisce about the epic powder days and humming corduroy as the ski resorts begin to close down for the summer. Living very far north on the planet gives you more options. Scandinavia is known for Vikings and IKEA, but not so much for one of the best benefits, late season snow. In April we took splitboards and skis to Tromsø, ready to get lost in some of the many labyrinths of long fjords along the western coastline of Norway. When I first started to plan this trip, I sat in the library of Göteborg, Sweden reading in Jimmy Petterson book "Skiing around the world". He states that, "Norway is an appropriate place to begin a ski tour of northern Europe, for this is where it all started thousands of years ago. While skiing was primarily a form of transportation for many centuries, the Norwegians are given credit for starting and developing it as a sport as well." Looking back at our trip, a great feeling fills me. We met so many warm-hearted people during our adventure. We skied in breath-taking nature and could eat all possible variations of cod for dinner!

The whole world is talking about ski tours in Norway: Beautiful shots and lots of rave reviews - or is it all just a commercial trend that shouldn't be followed blindly just because it no longer seems spectacular enough in the local mountains? We decided to see for ourselves and packed our bags for 10 days of ski touring in the Lyngen Alps...

Zach Paley, a passionate year-round skier, has already spent his second spring in Norway and at least part of it on the Vulkana ski touring boat. Board, lodging and powder in exchange for helping with guest support and on board. A worthwhile deal for everyone, at least in Zach's opinion...!

Who doesn't dream of one of the legendary boat-and-ski trips through the Norwegian fjords: going on ski tours directly from the sea and exploring the fascinating wilderness of the Norwegian mountains?

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...

Full-time skier Zach Paley, known to many PG readers from Patrick Fux's Japan reports in recent years, spent the spring of 2013 in Norway. As a ski bum, he signed on to a ski touring boat, among other things, and roamed the powder and firn in many places in Scandinavia: from Tromso to the Lyngen Alps to Riksgransen.