Guided Ski Touring in Sunnmøre for Beginners | Uteguiden

You don't need to be an expert to try ski touring in Sunnmøre, Norway. You need to ski confidently on varied resort terrain, have a decent base fitness level, and go with a certified guide who assesses the snow, weather and avalanche danger for you. The guide picks the tour based on conditions and the group, and teaches you skins, kick turns and safe travel along the way. You learn the rest on the tour.

What is ski touring, and why Sunnmøre?

Ski touring (also called backcountry skiing or alpine touring) means you climb uphill on skis with climbing skins attached underneath, then ski down through untracked terrain. The Sunnmøre Alps in Western Norway, within driving distance of Ålesund, are famous for mountains that rise straight out of the fjord. You can start close to sea level and finish your descent with a view over the fjord. That makes for long, varied tours and plenty of options when wind and snow conditions change.

For a beginner, that variety is exactly why you should go with a guide. The terrain is steep and beautiful, but it takes someone who can read the snow, choose safe lines and turn back in time. Uteguiden is based in Stranda and has been guiding in these mountains since 2012. If you want a ready-made package, take a look at the Ski Touring Weekend in Sunnmøre or the longer Ski Touring Week in the Sunnmøre Alps.

What you need to know before your first ski tour

Skiing ability

What usually determines how much you get out of the tour is how you ski down, not how you go up. A good rule of thumb:

• You can ski in control down most red runs at a ski resort (roughly intermediate level).
• You can turn and stop whenever you want, even on slightly uneven snow.
• You have tried skiing off-piste, or you are ready to learn.

You don't need to ski deep powder gracefully. The guide adapts the pace and terrain, and many people learn a lot about off-piste technique on their first tour. If you want to build your skills first, a ski course or a basic ski touring course in Stranda is a good place to start.

Fitness and endurance

A ski tour involves several hours of steady uphill walking, with breaks along the way. If you have mountain fitness, for example from summer hiking, cross-country skiing or running, that is enough for an adapted beginner tour. The key is to keep a steady pace you can hold for a long time, not to go fast.

What you learn on the tour

You don't need to know these things beforehand. A good guide will teach you along the way:

• Putting skins on and taking them off quickly, even in wind.
• Using the heel risers on your bindings on steep sections.
• Zig-zagging uphill and doing kick turns in steep terrain.
• Switching from walk mode to ski mode at the top.
• Keeping your distance in exposed terrain and following the guide's instructions.

Safety in ski touring: the most important things to know

Ski touring comes with several kinds of risk, and that is an important reason beginners should go with a guide. The most common problems are falls and injuries, such as twisted knees, fractures or hitting rocks and trees on the descent. Other hazards include hard or icy snow, steep terrain, cold, poor visibility and fatigue. Avalanches happen less often, but when they do, the consequences are often very serious. That is why avalanches call for specific knowledge and equipment.

Avalanches

Varsom.no is Norway’s official avalanche warning service. It publishes forecasts with a danger level from 1 to 5 for different regions. The danger level is only one of several factors in the assessment. The guide also looks at slope angle, wind-transported snow, temperature and how the snowpack has developed through the winter.

As a participant, you must carry and know how to use three items:

• Avalanche transceiver (beacon): Switched on at the start and checked before the tour.
• Shovel: Used to dig out a buried person.
• Probe: Used to pinpoint exactly where the person is buried.

On guided tours you usually go through a short companion rescue drill before setting off.

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Falls and injuries

Most accidents happen on the descent. You lower the risk by skiing in control, adjusting your speed to the snow and visibility, and staying within your ability. Good fitness and well-fitted equipment also help, especially correctly adjusted bindings. Bringing warm clothes, food and drink means you are better prepared if the tour takes longer than planned. A guide chooses the route and timing based on the conditions and the group.

If you want to understand more yourself, we recommend an avalanche course. It is useful whether you later want to tour with a guide or on your own. Also read our safety rules.

Gear for your first ski tour

Many people don't own touring gear the first time. Uteguiden rents out both skis and avalanche equipment, so you don't have to buy everything before you know you enjoy it. This is what you need:

• Touring skis with bindings that have a walk mode, and skins that fit the skis.
• Touring boots or compatible boots with a walk mode.
• Poles, ideally adjustable.
• Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
• A backpack of around 25–35 litres.
• Helmet and goggles, plus sunglasses for the climb.
• Layered clothing: thin merino wool next to the skin, a light mid layer and a windproof shell. Also pack a warm jacket for breaks and the descent.
• Two pairs of gloves (one thin, one warm), a hat and a neck gaiter.
• Drinks, ideally something hot in a thermos, and plenty of food and snacks.
• Sunscreen. The sun reflects strongly off the snow, especially in spring.

A classic beginner tip is to wear few layers on the way up. You warm up quickly, and it is better to add a layer at the top than to get soaked in sweat.

How a guided ski tour works

Before the tour

The guide reviews the avalanche forecast, weather forecast and observations from recent days. The objective is chosen based on conditions and the group. That means the plan may change, and that is a sign of good guiding, not a failed trip. At the meeting point, gear and transceivers are checked.

On the way up

You climb at a calm, steady pace, with breaks for food, drink and adjusting layers. Along the way, the guide explains why the skin track is set where it is. It is a great way to learn to read terrain.

At the top and on the way down

Skins off, bindings in ski mode and a final check. The guide skis first and gives clear instructions about where to ski and where to regroup. The descent is often split into shorter sections so everyone stays in control.

Choosing the right tour as a beginner

Which option suits you best depends on how much time you have and how much you want to learn:

• One day to try it: Ski Touring in Sunnmøre is a good way to test the ski touring life.
• A weekend: Ski Touring Weekend in Sunnmøre gives you several tours in a row. That is where you really start to feel progress.
• A full week: Ski Touring Week in the Sunnmøre Alps suits you if you want lots of tours and to develop throughout the week.
• Ski touring with a social vibe: Stranda Ski Festival combines the joy of skiing with community in one of Norway's best-known freeride scenes.

Not sure about your level? Contact us at travel@uteguiden.com or +47 40 55 46 70. Tell us a little about your skiing experience and fitness, and we will help you find the right tour. You can also browse the full range under ski touring.

Summary

Your first ski tour is more about safety and good decisions than performance. If you can ski in control on resort runs, have reasonable fitness and go with a certified local guide, Sunnmøre is a fantastic place to start. The guide handles the avalanche assessment and route choice. You get to focus on learning, enjoying the view and skiing down towards the fjord.

Frequently asked questions

How good at skiing do I need to be to go ski touring?

You should be able to ski in control down most red runs at a ski resort, and turn and stop whenever you want. Deep-snow experience is not required, as the guide adapts the terrain and teaches you technique along the way.

Do I need my own ski touring gear?

No. Uteguiden rents out skis and avalanche equipment, so you can try ski touring before buying your own gear. Contact travel@uteguiden.com to arrange rental.

Do I need an avalanche course before my first guided ski tour?

It is not required when you go with a guide, because the guide does the avalanche assessment. You learn to use the transceiver, shovel and probe before the tour. An avalanche course still gives you a better understanding and is strongly recommended if you want to keep ski touring.

What happens if the weather or avalanche danger is bad?

The guide always chooses the objective based on conditions on the day. That may mean a different mountain, a shorter tour or more sheltered terrain. Safety comes before the original objective.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation is free until 15 days before departure. From 15 to 7 days before, you pay 50 percent, and later than 7 days before, you pay the full amount. Cancellations must be sent in writing to travel@uteguiden.com.

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