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video |thea kopala røhme |storfjellet descent |ski touring |ski |self-sufficient ski tour |remote ski destinations |premium content |premiere |odyssey of loppa film |norway ski adventure |news |mountain expedition |loppa region |lisen strøm |first ascent |featured |extreme skiing 2024 |arctic circle
Lisen Strøm and Thea Kopala Røhme have just pulled off an epic, four-day ski touring adventure through Norway’s wild and remote Loppa region, pushing themselves to the limit in spring 2024. They covered 62 kilometers and climbed 4,500 vertical meters in bone-chilling Arctic conditions, all while navigating terrain that had never been skied before. This groundbreaking traverse, which is likely a first ascent, took them through untouched landscapes in the Arctic Circle, including an unforgettable descent down Storfjellet’s iconic northeast couloir. Their journey is brought to life in the film Odyssey of Loppa.
Facing temperatures as low as -30°C and hauling 30-kilogram packs, the duo tackled a region with no official ski touring guidebook, unsure if their routes—let alone the couloirs—would even work. “That’s what made it so exciting,” Lisen says. “We didn’t know if anything would go as planned. We were making it up as we went along.” A cocktail for adventure, I'd bargain.
Their route linked the isolated areas of Tverrfjord and Bergsfjord, crossing through rugged mountain passes on Finnmark’s wild peninsula. “You really have to dig deep and use every mountain skill you have,” Thea explains, highlighting the technical challenges of this self-propelled mission.
Behind the lens was Anders Vestergaard, a Danish-Norwegian photographer and videographer, who captured their entire journey. Co-produced by Lisen, Odyssey of Loppa showcases their adventure through one of Norway’s most remote and untouched ski touring destinations—accessible only by boat and home to fewer than 900 people.
The film first premiered at Norway’s Fri Flyt film festival in 2024, exactly two years after Lisen and Thea met at the same event. Since then, Odyssey of Loppa has been wowing audiences at top festivals, including the BANFF Film Festival and the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, earning rave reviews along the way. This is one adventure you won’t want to miss!
