Arctic Lines Episode 14: The New Year’s Rocket - Special Line in Lyngen Alps

The snowpack has settled a bit since our previous mission. Time to go for a special midseason mission and attempt The New Year's Rocket. A line that holds the potential to be one of the steepest couloirs yet in the project. Antti is joined by mountain guide Fredrik Aspö, an experienced climber and skier residing in Lyngen, one of the most spectacular mountain areas in the Arctic.

Enjoy!

Is located in Tytebærtinden, which is considered a climbing destination, not something you would find in a guidebook for freeriding.
The bottom half is very tight and has a cliff band. In hard conditions that can make it a no-fall zone.
Couloir gets a bit wider in the middle, and this is the place where you can potentially enjoy some good turns – if the snow is soft enough.
The top part is difficult and has a major choke. It’s very tight and steep. It can have holes, ice and rocks hiding underneath the snow. This is the most critical and dangerous section of the couloir.

Safety

Because of it’s steepness and minimal safety spots New Year’s Rocket should only be attempted when conditions are very stable. If you decide the attempt the couloir you will be exposing yourself in the climb for at least 2,5 - 3,5 hrs before reaching the top (conditions dependent) On top of that you will be over a cliff band the whole time so it is critical to understand snow conditions and weather effects before making the call for an attempt.

How to find interesting terrain part of the mountain

The best way to find terrain such as New Year’s Rocket is to learn how to use topographic map. Combining this with application such as FATMAP and integrating Suunto watch will help you to identify more specific features and routes for the location you are about to go to. Also having a good local knowledge will get you there but it’s good to have a sense of understanding where you are when making a plan for your adventure.

GEAR USED DURING THE ADVENTURE