TOP TO BOTTOM The Flåm Railway surrounded by the beautiful Flåmsdalen Valley, home of the Vatnahalsen Hotel. Talk about some gracious hosts. Krish Lerånd, backside 50-50 on the deck of the Vatnahalsen Hotel. Originally built as a sanatorium in the 1890s, the structure never served its original purpose. It’s been run as a hotel ever since, chang-ing ownership numerous times and even being occupied by German soldiers for a stint during World War II. Despite changing hands, an untimely fire, subsequent reconstruction and other less than fortu-nate mishaps over its 115 years of operation, Vatnahalsen has long maintained its reputation as a solid place to shred (excluding that unfortunate time when Nazis occupied it). These days, its winter visitors mainly comprise backcountry skiers, with guided tours be-ing a prominent aspect of the operation. Yet as far as we know, few snowboarders have come to take advantage of this area. There are only a handful of other guests here and the entire area is quiet and still, except for the occasional train whistle. Carve your own path. Find your own way. Both mottos of the youth. Here at Vatnahalsen, that is exactly what we intend on doing. We splitboard straight out of the hotel, and as we begin our journey up into this powder firmament, the peaks and lines become clearer, revealing their potential for adrenaline and glory. THE SNOWBOARDER’S JOURNAL 031
The Snowboarder's Journal The Snowboarder's Journal 21.2: Page 31
