Mighty everyday mountains

The year is 2003, and rumours of a legendary powder paradise in Voss are quickly spreading. Experienced mountain guide and ski touring enthusiast Stein Falsen Møller swiftly packs his skins and ski gear, hitting the steep, winding roads from Bergen to Voss.

"Back then, all that was here was a tiny ski lift. I rode it partway up the mountain and set off into the untouched powder snow."

Stein was immediately hooked as he went off-piste in the mountainside. Since then, he has continued to return, whether for personal visits, training, or in his role as an avalanche instructor and guide.

Cabin dream

Now the sons, Eirik (9), Sondre (5) and Iver (2), will soon be swooshing down the slopes for fun and play, just like dad has done for years. That's the hope, at least.

Together with his partner Ane, he has purchased a cabin plot in Hagamyra and moved into the new cabin in December 2022. "We are enjoying ourselves and have settled in well," he says.

Stein's 5 best skiing tips:

1. Spend time working on your skiing technique on the slalom slope. It will pay off when ski touring and free-riding in different snow conditions. A day with a ski instructor may be a good investment! Book a lesson here.
   
2. Before you embark on ski touring, you should acquire knowledge about avalanche risk assessment and companion rescue. Consider taking an avalanche course.
   
3. Always bring a wind sack and a warm jacket when skiing off-trail and when ski touring. It can save lives in case you're unlucky.
   
4. Always ensure your mobile phone is fully charged before heading out. It's an essential tool for emergency communication.
   
5. Most importantly: Take a trip to Myrkdalen after a snowfall! You won't regret it!

The couple looks forward to creating memories here with the family, inviting friends, enjoying themselves in the kitchen, cooking together, and looking out at white mountain peaks through large window panes.

Inclination for steep slopes

The couple hopes that Myrkdalen will become their «local mountain.»

"We want to spend our weekends in a place where we are guaranteed snow, a place we can go without long car rides and hassle. With the climate changes we are experiencing, with everything seeming to get milder and wetter, we are considering Myrkdalen as the most snow-sure place within a two-hour distance from our home in the Bergen area", says Stein.

He loved the outdoor life of his childhood in the spruce forest of Krokstadelva outside Drammen, but now he can't imagine anything better than the steep mountains of western Norway. He calls himself a topography refugee.

Stein was first introduced to mountain skiing and climbing in the military at Setermoen in Bardufoss. Since then, he has been on the hunt for steep slopes and untouched snow. After studying geology and spending 12 years as a rescue professional at Aak Safety, he now works as a technical rescue advisor at the Norwegian Air Ambulance.

Set for skiing joy

As the leader of an alpine rescue group in his spare time and a certified mountain guide, he has long desired to be close to the mountains. For now, he imagines that the family will enjoy themselves mostly in the ski resort. The children will get their skiing skills in order before dad takes them on off-piste skiing and ski touring.

"Being outdoors means a lot to Ane and me. We want to pass that on to our children. Maybe they will experience the same joy of skiing as we do? By buying a cabin here, at least we facilitate that opportunity for them. Then we just have to hope that they really go for it, quite literally!"