Ski Touring Norway – Adventure in a Campervan (ENG-INT)

Freeride pros Anne and Eric “Hoji” Hjorleifson spent their honeymoon in the fjord landscapes of Northern Norway. Spring skiing under the midnight sun, fresh fish from sea to pan, secluded islands, and magical moments – here is their story.

For years, Anne (former Wangler) and Eric “Hoji” Hjorleifson navigated an intercontinental relationship. Anne, a former top Alpine racing talent from Germany, now lives in Innsbruck, Austria. Hoji, one of the greatest freeriders of our time, is from Canada. All the back and forth between continents due to limited visas was a strain on both of them. So, it was time to make a commitment – or time to forge a ring on a lathe (that’s how Hoji created the engagement ring). After that, they headed to Norway, Anne’s second home.

Anne, why did you two choose to go to the far north for your honeymoon?

I spent every holiday in Northern Norway with my parents, truly for as long as I can remember. Fishing, hiking, picking blueberries and mushrooms in that endless expanse between the mountains and the sea. Later, I drove up there by myself and would spend months at a time. A big part of my heart is in Norway.

And what about Hoji?

He had been there for shootings but never truly experienced the country. I hadn’t been to Norway since 2020. First, there was the lockdown, then we were shuttling between Canada and Europe because he only had a tourist visa.

Still, why Northern Norway specifically?

Every time I cross the Arctic Circle, it feels like I’m passing a magical line. Everything just falls away; it’s all good. The landscape is jaw-droppingly beautiful, and the combination of mountains and sea is just so special. The people might seem reserved and a little distant at first. But once they open their hearts, you’re in – and you’ll never leave.

You headed north in mid-April for six weeks. Was that a good time to go?

It was the best time. I basically just wanted to chill after a hectic winter season and all the time- and energy-consuming bureaucracy. But Norway had a top-notch winter season, so we did a lot of ski touring. We went out almost every evening.

In the evening?

Yeah, in April, you almost have the midnight sun. So you live your day upside down – as it would simply be a sin not to. The light at night is just magical. Pinks, oranges, purples, all the colours reflecting on the water. We would skin up around 6 or 7 p.m. and be back at the camper by 3 a.m. Then I’d go fishing, and 20 minutes later, the fish was in the pan. We would go to bed around 7 a.m. It’s a good thing the blinds in our CLIFF 4×4 camper are so effective at blocking out light…

CLIFF 590 4×4

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Did you travel around Northern Norway a lot?

We didn’t cover huge distances, but we were always on the move. We’re just so curious and always want to know what’s around the next bend. Unlike the Lofoten Islands, it’s still as quiet north of Lyngen as I remember it from my childhood: nothing but reindeer. Near Alta, we took a (free) ferry to a secluded island. The crossing itself was an experience, including whale watching. The water just does something to you. You sit in your camper, watch the otters and eagles, and lose all track of time.

In Norway, the right to roam applies…

Yes, but the basis of the right to roam is also that you treat people and nature with respect. If we don’t all follow that, it will become a problem.

And what does Hoji think of Norway now?

He left a piece of his heart there, too. “There is more than a lifetime of skiing here,” he once said to me. There’s just so much to explore. We’re curious people, and we want to see as many beautiful places in the world as possible. But I think we’ll repeat our honeymoon every year at the end of the season and head back to the Arctic Circle.

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