Lofoten Ultra-Trail race 2016

Photo: Lofoten Ultra-Trail race leaders passing Selfjord, Moskenesøy, Lofoten Islands, Norway. June 3, 2016

Today was the first Lofoten Ultra-Trail race running 100 miles (160 km) from Kirkefjord in the west to Svolvær in the east – crossing some of Lofoten’s most wild and isolated terrain. Organized by Arctic Triple, it is the first of a series of races occuring on Lofoten in the coming year.

I had originally planned to head up into the mountains above Horseid beach to catch the action there, but after a week + of calm, sunny weather, the forecast had deteriorated for the start of the race. My backup plan was for a shorter hike to the trail above Kvalvika beach. But as hale and sleet battered my window in the morning, I finally relented to the easy option of catching the runners as they passed Selfjord, and then again as the lead groups passed the Fredvang bridges. Bad timing with the weather unfortunately, as today is the worst day in weeks. So it goes here in the north.