Ice Climbing - Rjukan Norway

Rjukan - The Ice Fest

Follow the heroes of Telemark into the depths of the Rjukan gorge. Front-point to your heart’s content on superb steep ice, all accessible with ease from the town of Rjukan, arguably the World’s most famous ice climbing centre. Under Smiler’s close supervision, learn to climb (even lead) the big ice pictures safely.

Smiler is once again offering guided ice climbing in this wonderful centre of steep ice excellence in southern Norway.

The Climbing: Absolutely fantastic with grades and steepness to suit everyone from early or first-time ice climbers to seasoned tigers. Straightforward grade 2s to grade 6 or 7 horror shows and lots & lots of 3s, 4s & 5s, in between. Slabs, walls, grooves corners, overhangs, they’re all here. Many are single pitch climbs so a bomb-proof Top or Bottom rope system can easily be set up. The two or three pitch climbs are bigger undertakings using tree belays but sometimes requiring Abalakov (ice thread) belays.

Short approaches, adequate car parking above all the entry points into the gorge and unbelievable ice routes as far as one can see. We climb mainly in the Vemork Gorge (famous for the British 'Heroes of Telemark' wartime escapade involving the bombing of the German 'Heavy Water' plant) but also on the other locations above the town - lots of brilliant ice routes of tremendous variety. Most of the climbs in the gorge are approached by going DOWN various simple tracks (10 minutes or so).

Accommodation: We stay at the superb Gjestegård Hostel in the centre of this great little skiing town. The hostel is also located very near to all the descent routes into the Vemork Gorge and has great amenities - warm and cosy bedrooms - an amazing and spacious drying room - a superb lounge for pre-ice climbing and post-climbing relaxing and a kitchen allowing for inexpensive self-catering. There is a nearby supermarket where prices are not too different from UK costs. The in-house breakfast (which is a small extra to the accommodation costs) gives as much great food and drink as one can manage and the facility of an F.O.C carry-out for day food, allowing unlimited supplies of food - and plastic bags are thrown in as well!

Getting there: We recommend flights with Norwegian Air from various UK airports (Edinburgh, Prestwick, Stansted and Liverpool.) Baggage allowance on Norwegian Air is excellent and relatively cheap - two hold bags at 20kg each, costing £6 per bag each way plus10kg in hand luggage. All flights arrive at Gardermoen Airport just north of Oslo City. This is a modern, comfortable airport which is always open late at night (when we usually arrive) so all facilities are available.

Before we leave for Norway we will arrange car hire for the duration of our visit from one of the various well-known car hire companies - Hertz, Budget and many more. Once packed and the (mostly new and always warm) hired car filled with people and gear we are off into the Norwegian night with the sat nav set for Rjukan town, and the music on. In just over three hours we are snuggled up in our beds and anticipating the cold but pleasing early starts. Temperatures are usually just nice and cool between -6 and -10C and only -20C at bad times.

Costs:

Guiding cost will depend on group size, please contact Smiler for more details.

Accommodation: approx £23 per night per person plus £7 for breakfast and a packed lunch. Evening meals are self catering.

Flights: Currently (October 2010) around £65 return with one 20kg hold bag and the 10kg hand baggage. BUT please be aware flight costs get higher as the winter approaches.

Car hire: A hired car for three or four people is around £350 per week plus some winter insurance and fuel costs.

Contact Smiler - he will be happy to answer any questions and explain the full details.

01463 751230 smiler@smilercuthbertson.co.uk

2010, 2009 and 2008 Reports & Pictures still available on the blog

Ice Climbing in Norway