Rassevarri is a great ski mountain located in Balsfjord municipality. The name Rassevarri means “Grass Mountain,” and it is the southernmost 1,000-meter peak on the Lyngen Peninsula. It’s possible to complete the entire ascent of Rassevarri without entering terrain steeper than 30 degrees, making it a good choice on days with some avalanche risk. Here’s the trip description from my ski tour to Rassevarri.
The starting point for this tour is the construction road that leads up to Storvatnet, about 2 kilometers from the center of Nordkjosbotn. There is parking available at the bottom of the residential area in Steinvollan, just a few hundred meters from the E8 highway.
I followed the construction road, cruising along scooter tracks in terrain that encourages a steady rhythm. After about 1.5 kilometers (around 270 meters above sea level), I left the road and crossed the river, continuing toward the wide western ridge of Rassevarri. After a steep start along the road, the terrain flattens out slightly as you approach the ridge. Along the way, you get great views of Storvasstinden, which definitely earned a spot on my list of future ski objectives.
Once on the ridge, gaining elevation is fairly straightforward. There are a few steeper sections that require some traversing, but the gradient remains mostly below 30 degrees. I followed the ridge up to about 950 meters, then ascended the final stretch on the south face of Rassevarri, before returning to the ridge for the last few hundred meters to the summit. The top offers breathtaking views of local gems like Piggtinden, Otertinden, Rieppetinden, and many classics in the Tamok Valley.