A tough journey, and that’s the point

Sápmi High Passage is a Red Label expedition. Challenging in design, independent in execution. In nine days, you cover approximately one hundred kilometers on backcountry skis, pulling a pulka. You are on the move for seven of those days. You spend six nights in an expedition tent, with the first and last nights spent indoors.

We don’t follow a fixed route between huts, but instead seek out the exposed terrain between two high mountain passes. Conditions can be tough, especially when the wind picks up on the passes. Those are exactly the moments you’ll remember.

Can I handle this?

This is the question that holds most people back, so here is a concrete answer. You don’t need to run a marathon. Assume that you can walk ten kilometers at a normal pace with ten kilos on your back, for ten days in a row. If you can run ten kilometers without stopping, you’re good. The strain is mainly in your knees and lower back.

Experience with winter camping is not required. For many participants, this is their first time sleeping in the snow. If you have doubts about your fitness level, just give the guide a call. That five-minute conversation will give you an honest answer.

What a day looks like

The alarm goes off around seven, but you start by having breakfast quietly in your sleeping bag. On the way, we alternate strides with short breaks. In the late afternoon, the guide finds a suitable campsite. Melting snow, cooking, eating, and then looking up at the sky.

Equipment

We provide all the winter equipment for you to borrow. Backcountry skis, backcountry ski boots, skins, poles, a pulka with a harness, the expedition tent, a sleeping bag comfortable down to minus 25, and a winter sleeping mat. We also take care of the group gear: stoves, fuel, navigation, communication, and the first aid kit. All food is included.

You arrange your personal clothing, your flight to Luleå or Kiruna, and your insurance. You can rent a down jacket from us for 50 euros. As a participant, you receive a 10 percent discount at Bever.

The group

We go with a maximum of seven participants and one guide. That is no coincidence, but a conscious choice: in a group of this size, everyone knows each other within two days and the guide can give attention where needed. The trip goes ahead from five registrations.

This could be your first winter expedition. For some, it is the stepping stone to Sarek or Greenland.