Svartisen
norway’s second biggest icecap
svartisen - a stunning
and well kept secret
Some years ago, we did a test trip across Svartisen, Norway's second largest glacier. It was the weekend around 1stof May, where people go in long queues over the Jostedal glacier. On Svartisen we met no one! Not many have crossed this jewel of a glacier. Now is your chance to join this trip led by our local guide.
You can see more photos from 2013 trip here.
There is something fascinating about glaciers, a kind of primitive raw force. But of the large glaciers that carved out fjords and valleys in this land, and created thousands of islands as a guard against the North Atlantic, there is only a handful left. And they decrease rapidly... Svartisen, which before was one glacier, is now divided into two, the east and west - ice...
Date: 24.04.25*
Price: NOK 10.500
Deposit: NOK 3.000
• The trip is set for same time every year.
• Expect 1 leader and 6 partisspants pr team
• Meeting point: Mo I Rana train station, an easy journey from Bodø.
• Finish: Glomfjord on Sunday evening**
Day by day
Day 1: The tour starts in the morning in Mo i Rana. You can take the morning train from Bodø, which may involve accommodation in Bodø the night before, or if you get to Mo i Rana the evening before, either by train from Bodø or Trondheim, and overnight there.
From Mo i Rana, we take a car into Svartisvannet and walk up a side valley to reach the glacier. It is a beautiful valley. Some cottages at the start, and a snowmobile trail, but then just wilderness. We'll see how far we get the first day, but we need to climb many metres. Parts of the ascent are relatively steep, and the skins need to go on underneath our skis. Up on the "edge" we look straight down on Svartisvannet, it is rather steep down there. We will hardly reach the glacier today and the first camp is in this valley.
Day 2: The transition to the glacier is "smooth" so high up, no cracks were spotted along the route when we were there in 2014, but we could see the crevassed areas further down to the west.
We keep the height and ski along on a kind of ridge, with nunataks sticking up both to the right and left. Mount Svartiskongen can be seen in the distance, but first we need to descent from the east ice. It's May and most crevasses are snowed in. The use of rope will depend of conditions, which might change from year to year, in poor visibility we always rope up.
Between the two glaciers it is a nice little valley. If conditions have been good and we get down in the valley we camp here.
Day 3: This day also starts with a long ascent, but not as steep as it was going down from the east ice. We find the mountain ridge that blend into the glacier, and then we are on the West Ice. This is the finest part of the trip; the sea can be seen down to the west and in the east; mountains and plains far away towards Sweden.
We started early and have the whole day and evening. The bright nights enable us to go as long as we want. Over the last hump and we have a great downhill skiing in wait, before we turn down towards the hydro-dam in the northwest end of Storglomvatn.
We're going down the construction road from the dam, which at the top is not cleared of snow yet, and it can be a bit tricky the first kilometre. Maybe we take the backpack, since the sledge tends to capsize in the sloping terrain. Further down it becomes gentler, and after some two kilometres we reach the cleared road. Here we get picked up by car and driven to Glomfjord.
Camp 4 will therefore be in a hotel or barrack in Glomfjord. The airport shuttle leaves around 0700 the following day, enough time to catch an early flight to Oslo, or elsewhere.
Should we be delayed on the glacier and must camp higher up instead; we should still have plenty of time to reach Glomfjord during the afternoon and get home during the evening.
What is included:
Included on trip price we will provide all general equipment such as tents, navigation, sleds, pulling harness if needed, and security, communication and safety essentials.
What is not included:
You bring your own personal clothing, skis, boots and poles, sleeping bag, mattress and stuff-bags. You choose and return travel and pay for board and lodging (if needed) before and after the trip.
You must have your own travel / cancellation / medical evacuation insurance.
You may be asked to contribute if you have food allergies, intolerance, etc, so that we can be sure you have enough and safe food.
Any unforeseen delays / weather / change of plan may also result in extra cost.
meals:
We include breakfast and dinner once we leave "civilization" behind and until we are back in town.
Breakfast is Borge's special enriched porridge recipe, coffee/tea.
Lunch and snacks during the day, is up to youand NOT included. But ba aware, we do many short stops to eat and drink regularly rather than only one.
Dinner is composed of Real Turmat / DryTech expedition food
signing up / Deposit / invoice:
The system works as follows: Your Booking Form will give you a place in the queue. We willt hen send you a Deposit Invoice. This is non refundable according to our Travel Conditions. Once paid, your place on the trip is guaranteed and you are on your way.
3 months before the start of the trip we'll send final invoice with remaining balance
