By now it had been cloudy during the days with a brief window on clear skies around Midnight. After a few days of resting at Tamokhuset we finally got a brief window from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Wanting to make the most out of it Jarkko, Saana and I made plans to go check out Nerotinden. We would ascend via the ridge and if all worked out well descend the NE bowl. Then after riding down we could potential come up with something else to ride.
Heading out to Nerotinden
It’s amazing how much cell phones have changed ski touring. These days we can just check a weather forecast and know pretty much when clouds are going to clear out. We left Tamok Camp under cloudy skies with the hopes that in a few hours they would all be gone. Following a Snowmobile road we quickly made our way up the valley before cutting off and heading for Nerotinden.
In the distance we could see the NE bowl as we approached the ridge. It looked as if there was a route through the cliff bands but it was still hard to say. Fortunately we were breaking trail in a few cms of new snow on the lower slopes so hopefully it would be even better up higher.
Heading over to ridge we started cutting switchbacks up the slope. The previous time I had bootpacked the area but with some new snow it was much easier to keep skinning.
After 45 minutes we made our way onto the upper slopes right as the clouds started burning off. We still had 90 minutes before sunset and we wanted to ride our line in the morning alpenglow. Knowing we were too early we decided to rest in the sun for a while and take in the views.
It was time to get moving again as by now we were surrounded in blue skies. The ridge in front of us was mellow with one small rock section in the middle.
Once we arrived at the rock step we dropped down a few meters onto the North side and found a mellow ramp all the way to the summit of Nerotinden where we could see the upper slopes of the NE bowl.
Arriving on top we waited for the sun to set and light up the slopes below us. We could only see the upper section but it was obviously powder below us.
After a few seconds of chatting it was decided that I would drop in first and find a way through. It’s always a bit intimidating dropping into a line you aren’t 100% sure goes but a turn at a time I made my way down the line until I found a safe spot past the first crux.
With the first crux down it was time for the main event below us. Luckily the snow was a bit heavy and super responsive as I made turns down the face trying to spot a way through the cliff bands.
After I confirmed I made it through the rest of the group made there way down and we started the long traverse towards the valley.
Round 2: Cahcevahnjunni
Once out of the flats and near the descent into the valley we rested a few minutes and came up with a plan of what to do next. Jarkko was heading back to the hut while Saana and I would go check out the Finndalen valley for an alternative route to Cahcevahnjunni. The hope was that since the snow was good in Nerotinden hopefully it would be the same out there.
After skinning up the valley I had skin issues so we decided to bootpack a steep lower slope before reaching mellower terrain above.
After around 30 minutes of bootpacking we were back to skinning up a mellow bowl I had scene during the previous trip out there. By now we still had around 30 minutes before sunrise skinning in the faint blue light.
We made it to the top of Cahcevahnjunni just as the sun started to rise. Our slope still had a few minutes before it would be in the morning alpenglow so we waited around for a bit and took in the views.
Looking down the line it seemed that there was great snow up high but a bit of avalanche debris below. We were happy that we climbed up the much mellower route on the South instead.
Since I had dropped into Nerotinden first this time Saana would get first tracks so we strapped in and she was making turns down the upper face.
Though the snow up high was really good it quickly got much worse as the lower slopes were covered in avalanche debris. We found little strips of smooth snow a section at a time as we made our way into the valley.
Where the snow was smooth it was great but where there was avalanche debris it was horrible. Looking back up at our tracks from the valley below we were happy to have decided to head out there. We had made the most out of the weather window and it was time to skin back through the valley to our car at Camp Tamok.
Heading back to the car we had one final view of our tracks on Nerotinden. We could faintly see our skin track on the ridge as well as our tracks in the bowl. This was a line I had wondered about for years and it felt good to finally tick it off the list.
Both of the lines are great and it was nice to link them up. It was great to get out with both Jarrko and Saana before it was time to end the season. I had only a few days left before heading back to Finland so if the weather cooperated hopefully this wouldn’t be the final tour of the 2022 season.
Thanks For Reading this and here is a link if you want to check out more
Ski Tours in the Tamokdalen area
Options for Other Ski Tours Tours Abroad
Snowboarding in the Cascade Mountains
Exploring the Khibney Mountains of Russia
Lyngen and Lofoten in Northern Norway
Huge Thanks to Jarkko, Christel and Aadne for having me help take care of the Tamokhuset.
Thanks For Reading this and here is a link if you want to check out the area
Ski Tours in the Tamokdalen area
Options for Other Ski Tours Tours Abroad
Snowboarding in the Cascade Mountains
Exploring the Khibney Mountains of Russia
Lyngen and Lofoten in Northern Norway
Huge Thanks to Jarkko, Christel and Aadne for having me help take care of the Tamokhuset.