Tahtarvumchorr Ridge is a wide summit plateau just a 30 minute drive from Kirovsk. Being situated within the Khibiny Mountains of Russia this area is loaded with steep couloirs. Being one of 3 major bowls it offers steep rock walled lines before an open apron below. Being technical climbing the area requires crampons and ice axes if conditions are firm. If you are looking for agressive lines while ski touring in the Kirovsk area then Tahtarvumchorr Ridge is the place to go.
Click here for a locals breakdown of the area
With the snow finally improving in the Khibney Mountains Ilkka and I looked at the maps and decided to check out Tahtarvumchorr Ridge. The area offered some steep couloirs within about an hour and a half away from the car. The weather conditions were pretty bad visibility wise so we decided this would be the best place to go couloir climbing near Kirovsk in the Khibiny Mountains.
Starting our Tour West of Kirovsk
We parked our car at the base of some snowmobile trails before starting off on our ski tour. Being two days into a storm we could barely see the faint outline of the summits in the distance. Leaving the snowmobile trails we started making our way towards Tahtarvumchorr Ridge which was still buried behind clouds.
Hiking to the base of Tahtarvumchorr Ridge we were in an open alpine area known as Hollywood bowl by locals. Looking above us we could see blue skies and hoped that the weather would improve but at the moment we would be climbing in whiteout conditions.
Climbing up to Tahtarvumchorr Ridge
Not being able to see much we made our way towards the first obvious couloir. Putting on our crampons and taking out our iceaxes we started our long bootpack to the top. Being four days into our trip the snow had changed for the better. By now we couldn’t feel the ice underneath the slopes.
Steep Couloir Snowboarding
After an hour of kicking our way up we made it to the summit of Tahtarvumchorr Ridge. The moment we walked over the crest we were blasted by winds so we walked a meter back down into the couloir to transition. By now the clouds had moved off but we were still dealing with flat light conditions.
It’s always scary making your first turn in a steep area wondering how the snow will hold under your edges. After a few turns we had confidence in the slopes and would switch off making turns before traversing over to a safe spot.
The couloir was steep and tight being only a few meters wide but before we rode down into the lower apron. By now we were kicking up snow with every snowboard turn and riding towards the flat basin below.
Not being able to see much we trusted in what was below us as we made fast turns into the basin. Having just climbed up the route we knew there was nothing below us to worry about.
Heading Back up to Tahtarvumchorr Ridge
Hanging out at the bottom we still had two hours before it became dark. Wanting to make the most out of our day we decided to climb the south ridge that would give us access to a bowl that drained directly into the valley. In the photo below you can see the couloir we rode off Tahtarvumchorr Ridge directly above my splitboard.
Making our way up to the ridge we climbed directly up the steep bowl. While most of the area was lined with rocks near the summit we were able to find a snow filled section. Making our way up we had our crampons on with an ice axes in one hand and ski poles in the other one.
Once out of the bowl and onto the ridge we could see down what we planned for our final descent of the day. While the previous valley was broken up with a flat basin this line went all the way down to the valley. Walking up through the snow we were happy with our choice to take a second run.
Our Final Run of the Day
Reaching the edge of Tahtarvumchorr Ridge we were standing on top of our final descent of the day. By now the sun was starting to set and the area had an erie glow. Switching over to ride mode we dropped in finding great powder conditions for the 1,600 foot run.
Around halfway down the run it turned into a gully with rock lined walls making visibility better. Chasing the last of the sunlight we rode the line fast all the way down to the valley. While the run before was good this was the highlight of the day.
After arriving in the valley we switched back to skinning and within 10 minutes we were back at the car. We had made the most out of the conditions and happy that the conditions had improved since the beginning of the week. Thought there were no views to be had we were riding powder in the Arctic North of Russia.
Thank you for reading and If you enjoyed reading this and want to see more ski tours within the Khibiny Mountains check out this link