Photographing is important part of his trips	Jan writes his name up to Varden (370m) often 3-4 times per week

Jan R Olsen "The king of Giilavarre"

Jan R Olsen lives in a place, of which most of the telemark/freeskiers can only dream of. Olderdalen locates in Kåfjord municipality at Tromso county about 60 km from Skibotten to north. The massive Giilavarre and Nordmannviktind mountains are raising straight from Jan's backyard, both of these mountains are popular outdoor activity places. In front of his house opens the dominating sea and Lyngen peninsula mountains that are dropping straight to sea level. So, no wonder that Jan has always been interest of nature of this area! Jan works as a photojournalist in Framtid i Nord Troms newspaper, but he is well known as a professional nature photographer. His hobbies like telemarkskiing and other activities at the mountains are also connected to his interest about nature and photographing.

Jan started his telemark hobby about 20 years ago. At first he was riding on the mountains with short skis without climbing skins, but after seeing someone climbing with skins he decided to get a pair for himself. After that he has done great amount of skiing trips and has conquered for example his backyard mountain Giilavarre almost 20 times. Jan was also our guide at Giilavarre and led us to the top. We asked him some questions and let's see what he told us about himself and Kåfjord area.

How many mountains have you peaked?

I have not counted them, but it is about 50, summer and winter, not so many, but several of them I have climbed twice or more.

Tell us one of your unforgettable trips?

Maybe the trip over Jiehkkevarre from Holmbukt to Jøvik. The weather was good, but when we reached the top, the fog came. We were two skiers and had no navigation. The only thing we could navigate, were almost invisible ski tracks. For several hours we had to trust only this and we were lucky when we came down on Fugledalsbreen (glacier). The trip took 15-16 hours. The snow conditions last week is also one thing to remember: Exactly the same conditions from 1480 meters above sea level down to the road! That was the trip to store Kjostind in Lyngen.

Who do you ski with and how often do you ski alone?

I have some skifriends around, which are from Skjervøy, Lyngen, Kåfjord and Tromsø. I did ski a lot more alone before, but it was more on phototrips to the tops of mountains with tents and a lot of stuff. I don’t often go on such trips anymore, maybe I’m getting lazy? Now I ski alone 40 percent of trips.

Favourite mountain?

It is nothing like skiing in the summertime, like Nordmannviktind and Kågtind you can go skiing to the top in midsummer and get a long skiing down again.

Kilometers are running..	Jan arrives to the top of Giilavarre

Do you make skiing trips only at Nord Troms area?

Yes, there are so many trips to do here, so I don’t want to go anywhere else.

The most beautiful season in Norway?

Difficult to say, but autumn when the insects are gone and you can go fishing in the river and eating berries is nice and all the colours.

Something about Kåfjord area and people?

Its a sami-community. The people are known as fishermen and farmers, but fewer and fewer are doing this. Kåfjord has everything, from fjords to mountains and flat mountain areas.

How popular hobby is telemark in Norway?

In Norway I think it is more and more popular, but in the districts like Kåfjord not so many do telemark. For example in Kåfjord you can count on one hand fingers the people who are regularly doing top tours. Maybe only 2-3 are doing top tours.

Where would you like to go with skis?

Some new mountains in Lyngen, in the Jægervasstindan or further north and in the Lakselvtindan. I would also like to go along all the Lyngsalpan from the north to the south with skis.

Have you ever skied in every month of the year?

Yes I have and I will make a story of that on my website. It was the winter two years ago I skied every month in the year. I think I going to try it again this year.

Something about photographing and your work?

I have done calendars for 10 years (Nord-Troms kalenderen) and Lyngsalpankalenderen for 2 years. I also work in the local newspaper since 1997 as a photojournalist, so that is my main work. Maybe I will be a full time photographer one day, only doing trips?? I switched to digital for 2 years ago and I’m happy with that. I use Nikon and have D100, D200, 10,5 mm, 12-24mm, 17-35mm, 28-70mm, 80-200 mm, 200 mm micro and soon the 200-400 mm. I did some medium format for some years (Mamiya645), but it was too heavy to bring with me both medium and 35mm format, so I do not use it anymore.

About 15th time on the top of Giilavarre	Visit at Jan R Olsen great website: www.naturfoto-jro.no