Arctic Norway 🇳🇴 - Ride above the polar circle - Lofoten - Kvittinden - Episode 7

Arctic Norway 🇳🇴 - Ride above the polar circle - Lofoten - Kvittinden - Episode 7

The Kvittinden trail was the last trail I rode before leaving the Lofoten Islands and heading north by ferry. Unfortunately, this ride perfectly illustrates why finding good, rideable trails on the Lofoten can be so challenging.

The ascent started off promising—beautiful views and a manageable push all the way to the summit. However, as I neared the top, clouds began to gather, completely engulfing the summit by the time I arrived. The panoramic views that could have been spectacular were entirely hidden in a thick mist. To make matters worse, it was so cold that my beard began to freeze!

The descent was a different kind of challenge. With no visibility and slippery stones, it was hard to find a clear trail to follow. Much of the ride was guesswork and freeriding, navigating across rocks and moss-covered surfaces, which were treacherously slick with water running down the mountain. Taking a wrong path could lead to dangerous rock gaps or unstable footing.

Once I reached the lower sections, a visible trail finally emerged, allowing for some flow and enjoyment as I descended to the bottom. But overall, the ride lacked the continuity and fun of a well-defined trail.

If you plan to tackle Kvittinden, I strongly recommend marking your intended route on the way up. Without a clear idea of where to go, you’ll spend a lot of time stopping and scouting your next move, which kills the flow. Riding it multiple times might help, but even then, it’s a tough trail to fully enjoy—especially in cloudy or wet conditions.

This trail is located near Svolvær, but honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it. The combination of poor visibility, slippery terrain, and undefined paths makes it more frustrating than fun.

Stay tuned for my upcoming videos, featuring trails on the islands north of Lofoten—those will definitely be worth the ride!

So long: Enjoy the ride!

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00:00 Intro
00:23 The mist
00:31 Downhill in the mist
02:00 The mist disappeared
05:57 Slippery rock surface
06:05 Visible trail section upper part
07:24 Chilled tree crash
06:05 Visible trail section lower part
09:21 Outro