Saturday, February 18, 2012

Ice Climbing in Norway

For my second week in Norway I was joined by fellow instructors and friends Mark "Baggy" Richards and Sandy Paterson along with Brett, Mick, Paul, Martin, Will and Simon for a week of ice climbing in Rjukan.

On Monday we all headed to Ozzimosis area and climbed 6 routes each from WI2 to WI4 including the classic of the crag Ozzimosis itself. This gave a great warm up day, was very sociable and allowed us to refresh skills for those that had climbed ice before and teach them to those that hadn't.

On Tuesday we split into 3 teams. I took Mick and Brett to climb Tjonnstadbergfossen (WI4) which have 4 pitches of lovely ice above Rjukan town centre and a great abseil back down again. Baggy took Paul and Martin to the Vermork Bridge area and climbed Vermorkbrufoss Ost (WI4) and Tungtvann (WI4) whilst Sandy climbed with Will and Simon also in the Vermork Bridge Area. The temperature rose quite dramatically during the day, starting off at minus 4 and increasing to plus 6.

Wednesday was a rest day so we all headed to the local ski resort and enjoyed a day of skiing together in the sunshine on great snow and with barely another soul on the slopes.

Thursday saw us back out on the ice for another day of multi pitch routes. I took Mick and Paul up Lysloypa (WI4) which gave 5 nice pitches in Rjukan town centre. Both of the boys did a spot of leading and we enjoyed a day of sunshine into the bargain. Baggy took Brett and Martin up Klappfoss which was the same grade and alongside our route whilst Sandy took Will and Simon down into the lower gorge for the day. We all then met up at the end of the day to climb Svingfoss (WI4) which is a truly roadside crag!

Our final day saw us all head down into the Krokan area. We climbed an unnamed WI2 (x 2 variations), an unnamed WI5, Topp (WI5), Bullen (WI3 x 2 variations) Gaustaspokelse (WI4) and top roped De Kaller meg Fjard (M7). We the headed back to the hairpins to finish the arms off on Svingfoss again.

We had a great week in great company and got lucky with the weather. Thanks boys!

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