Gear Junkie

Signing off from the Daily Dose blog—and life in general—for a few days here as I pack my bags and jump on a plane, skis in tow and headed to Norway. Specifically, I’ll be ski-touring in the Romsdalfjorden region, where fjords snake as long slate passageways around mountain peaks with names like Ytstetinden, Skjervan and (my favorite) Trolltinden.

This unique trip, led by Pro Guiding Service of North Bend, Wash., is boat-based, meaning we’ll live and sleep onboard the craft, motoring into deep fjords to gain access to mountains far off the beaten path.

We will tour 3,500 to 4,500 feet per day, skins on skis and chugging uphill for a few hours before the big descent back toward the water.

Norway’s coastline is among the most complicated and labyrinthine in the world, a steep and winding topography that juts from the ocean. Old fishing villages dot the shore in Romsdalfjorden, which is a UNESCO world heritage area.

For this trip, I’ll be testing a full alpine arsenal, including gear from Black Diamond, Scarpa, Outdoor Research, Arc’teryx, and several other outfits. Watch for the full trip report—and a gear dissection—upon my return late next week. . .