Join us for Ski & Sail 2012

Explore North is a adventure company  specializing in Ski & Sail expeditions along the Norwegian coast. In 2012 we have set up six day long Sail & Ski expeditions in Hjørundfjorden or Steigen and Lofoten. Come join us for an experience of a life time.

Hjørundfjorden

We start from Ålesund and from there we sail right in to the Sunnmøre Alps. We have classics such as Skårasalen (1542), Slogen (1564), Grøtdalstinden (1331), Dukhornet (1412) and Risenosa (1573).

Check out this video:

Getting ready for the downhill run in untouched powder.

This area is one of the absolutely best areas for powder skiing with its long winters and lots of snow. You will have a local mountain guide ready every day of our trip. Their local knowledge will make sure we reach the best areas, while their education and experience will grant you a safe trip.

Explore North at the pier in Eresfjorden

Every day we can sail to the foot of yet another untouched mountain, and when you return to the boat the dinner will be served.

Step hills give fantastic view and skiing

The trip starts and ends in Ålesund every Friday. See www.sas.no or www.norwegian.no for flights.

The 43 foot sailing yacht (2008) has three double cabins, two bathrooms, dinghy, kayak, and diving equipment on board. We can sail you to the foot of the mountain so that you literally can start your top climb from the deck of our boat.

When
February to end of April 2012. Please let us know your wishes. A typical trip starts and ends Friday.

Prices

Please contact us for offers.

Included
Food and non-alcoholic beverages on board Explore North.
Local mountain guide for six days
Avalanche safety equipment and safety west on the boat.

Reliving the day that has gone inside a vwarm boat.
Reliving the day that has gone inside a warm boat.

Not included
Trip to and from Ålesund
Personal tour equipment
Alcoholic beverages can be bought on board

Other

Explore North also arranges tailor made expeditions on sea and in mountains all along the Norwegian coast – summer and winter. Please call to discuss.

For more information, please contact:

Jon Amtrup
Tel. +47 932 28 926
jon@explorenorth.no

Steigen and Lofoten

Steigen is just a few hours sailing away from Bodø where our 45 foot sailing yacht is located. This area is untouched and wild with easy access to the summits with our yacht. We seldom run in to other skiers or sailors here, so you most likely will have the area for your self. This is a rare experience you will not find in places like Lyngen where there is a lot of skiers on every summit.

When

Start from Bodø every Saturday-Saturday from Februar 12th to May 7th.

Please contact us for price offers.

Bodø is only 90 minutes away from Oslo with plane, and the tickets are moderately priced. See www.sas.no or www.norwegian.no for flights.

The boat is only 10 minutes walk from the Bodø airport, and the adventure starts here.

Please contact sture@explorenorth.no for more information and booking.

Included
Food and non-alcoholic beverages on board SY Lille Polaris

Not included

Trip to and from Bodø
Personal tour equipment and avalanche safety equipment
Alcoholic beverages can be bought on board

Other

Explore North also arranges tailor made expeditions on sea and in mountains all along the Norwegian coast – summer and winter. Please call to discuss.

You can watch a video from one of our Ski & Sail trips:

For more information, please contact:

Sture Ellingsen
Tel. +47 975 01 706
sture@explorenorth.no

Explore North with Svalbard guide

Jon Amtrup, skipper and partner in Explore North, has just published the book Sail to Svalbard. Here’s the teaser:

The book Sail to Svalbard

If you want to sail in the high latitudes some day, then the new book Sail to Svalbard could be the first step in the right direction. It is the most comprehensive sailing guide for the Svalbard archipelago, with descriptions of 96 anchorages and harbours. The guide also takes you through the preparations, planning, equipment and how to apply for the permits.

-  We circumnavigated Spitsbergen, the biggest island on Svalbard, last year and it was an adventure that had it all: Remoteness, ice, Polar Bears, total silence, scary moments and interesting people, says Jon Amtrup, author of the book.

The preparations, research, fitting out of the boat, acquiring permits and planning for such an adventure is extensive and the book Sail to Svalbard takes you through the paces. It also has the most comprehensive harbour guide for the area. It describes 96 anchorages and harbours on the islands thoroughly.

- Svalbard is the high latitude area that is most easily reached. Tromsø to Svalbard on your own keel will take 3-4 days, and put you right among icebergs, glaciers, polar bears and stunning wildlife, says Amtrup.

Sail to Svalbard is the first and only cruising and harbour guide that focuses on the arctic area. Last season some 80 yachts came to Longyearbyen, the “capital” of Svalbard, and the number is rising fast.

- The climate is changing and the number of visitors increases with every year. If you have a dream of visiting the Svalbard wilderness I recommend that you start setting a date and begin making your plans. It will be worth it. You might even catch the polar bug, says Jon Amtrup

You can view an online extract from the book here.

You can order the book here – or you can buy it for your Kindle, iPad, Mac, Iphone, smartphone etc here.

About the author

Jon Amtrup is an experienced offshore sailor and has cruised extensively in the high latitudes in Norway and the Svalbard archipelago. He also advises sailors on expeditions in high latitudes and weather. He has written The Harbourguide 4 Bergen-Kirkenes, and Ramsalt The history of the Shetland Race, and now Sail to Svalbard. He is also an journalist and Ocean Editor of Explorersweb.com, and runs the company www.explorenorth.no.

Please contact jon@explorenorth.no for pictures and more information.

Pro photos from Hjørundfjorden

Kim Young enjoying the fjord.

The Ultimate Grooves girls brought pro outdoor photographer Gabe Rogel to the Ski & Sail expedition to the Sunnmøre alps this Easter. The Gabe did his magic. See the slide show here.

Ski & Sail guests makes the headlines

The SummitDaily story

Our fantastic guests from Ultimate Grooves made an impression on the people of Ålesund and Hjørundfjorden this Easter. Well back home they also made sure to spread the word about their adventure. What more can we possibly ask of our guests? Thanks girls – and Gabe.

See the SummitDaily for the whole story. And by the way; Just the name of the news paper is worth the click.

Spring skiing in Hjørundfjorden

Sarah getting ready for her first day in the Sunnmøre Alps

Just returned from a fantastic week in Hjørundfjorden with the fantastic girls, and Gabe, from Ultimate Grooves. See more pictures here. Hjørundfjorden made an impression with sunny days, good skiing, good people and high party factor under the mountains. We will be back next year.

On our way

Gathering on the dock in Sæbø

Romsdalen days

Explore North has just spent a week in Romsdalen with some very fit Italian skiers. Watch this slideshow: http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649

On Wednesday we are doing a two boat Ski & Sail expedition in Hjørundfjorden.

Good days on Kjerringøy

The guests on S/Y Lille Polaris had some fantastic days ski touring in Steigen and Kjerringøy. Enjoy.

A gale wont stop us

S/Y Lille Polaris is now on a Ski & Sail expedition in Valnesfjorden in the Bodø area. The weather is not the best, but the guests are. So we managed to find a mountain with some serious powder.

 

 

Full on in Lofoten

Explore North has signed up for a membership in Destination Lofoten, and the first step in this exciting cooperation with the rest of the travel industry in this area was to attend the big travel trade show in Lillestrøm last week and weekend. We got a lot of positive feedback from both potential partners and customers alike.

We are looking forward to more Ski & Sail adventures in Lofoten. The sun has just returned to this magical landscape, and the snow conditions are perfect. Sailing around in this landscape with skis on deck creates great moments. With the boats we can get to the foot of mountains  that otherwise is very hard to reach.

Ski & Sail in Steigen