Oslo og Kyststien

Of course the weather was bad! Norway, you can be so beautiful in the sun, why do you always have to show from the bad side when guests are coming? Well - at least we had not to feel guilty when sleeping in at the weekends, listening to the rain knocking on the rooftop windows, slowly getting up with a big cup of coffee… almost like winter already :) Also a walk through the museums is much easier when its raining outside, so we enjoyed our time in the National Gallery, recognizing Norway's most extraordinary places on big landscape paintings, and squeezing our way in for a glimpse of Edvard Munch’s famous “Scream”. In the kid’s corner it was possible to try the own skills by sketching a statue of Gustav Vigeland with charcoal - or just by painting each other.

Luckily at last we had a single sunny day that we used for a nice walk along the Kyststien close to Fredrikstad. Surrounded by red rocks, rounded by the power of the sea, the blue sky above us, dark water below, and the strong wind in the hair - we felt very exposed to the forces of nature. The Kyststien is lined with sculptures, which are interesting as such, but much more so for a climber… . Micha couldn’t help himself and so he climbed on top of every single of the sculptures :)

I really hope that having a single sunny day was sufficient to leave a good impression of Norway :) It was great having you around, Helena!!

Romsdalshornet and some Puffins

A short "summer excursion" to the Western coast of Norway including the very popular climb “Nordveggen” up Romsdalshornet, a sports climbing session under the roofs of “Stryn” and of course some Puffin watching at the island “Runde”.

It was a very tough summer for mountaineers - even in July it snowed down to 1000 m, and everything higher up is still covered in thick layers of ice and snow from the winter. When we arrived at the base of Romsdalshornet at midnight, the snow on the mountain was glittering white in the moonlight. “No way I am going up there tomorrow", I thought. But a late start and a strong sun soon changed the thin layer of snow into nasty dripping cold water. Not sure if the snow would have even been better. Starting late also had the disadvantage that earlier groups were already on their way down, abseiling above our heads, with the likely consequences of stones being loosened by them. One really big one hammered just next to another guy into the wall and a smaller one splitting off hit his leg. Luckily Micha was some meters aside, and I could crouch behind a bigger block. Nobody was severely injured, and so did we all cautiously continue, and Micha and me finally made it up onto the snowy peak of Romsdalshornet! We were rewarded with a spectacular view down into deep the Romsdalen valley, and across to the impressive Trolltindene (Trollwall).

After this adventure I felt like doing some easy sports climbing, and so we continued to “Stryn”, a little town at the innermost end of Nordfjorden which has one of the most impressive roofs for sports climbing in Norway. The roof is huge, and it is even possible to climb there when it is pouring down with rain. Although some routes have really big jugs in the roof, the easiest route is still a 7B. We felt a bit too exhausted from the climb the day before, so we just did some easier - but nevertheless beautiful - routes at the edges of the roof.

Being in this area in July, it’s a must to pass by the bird-island of Runde. We’d been there the year before (see here) and it is so amazing how close you can approach the little black-white Puffins with their colorful beaks, that I had to go there again. Beside some spectacular Puffin landings and flights, we also observed a couple of Skuas, White-tailed eagle, Razorbills and Gannets.

That was a very short, but very rewarding little summer-excursion :)

Tur på Andersnatten

Finally summer arrived in Norway!!

Hach - for so long have we been jealously reading the German news about 35 degrees C and suggestions how to cool down... . Now, finally also we could make use of the advices! Oslo reached temperatures that made you wanna go swimming, BBQing on the beach and eat ice cream..!

A clear reason to packed the Yeti (our car!) at the weekend, some climbing gear, and an Australian girl, Heidi, who is experienced in coping with unbearable heat :), and to drive to the mountains! Our destination was the base of a 733 m small mountain called "Andersnatten" in Sigdal. The mountain has some nice multi-pitch routes, and we had plans to use the arrival day to practice on a 2-pitch route, but then climb an exciting 6-pitch route the following day.

"Unfortunately" (very unfortunate this warmth, really :)) it was just too hot to climb at all when we arrived in the afternoon. So, instead of climbing we enjoyed the sunny summer day with a hike up to the peak from the back side, abseiling down at the face, and swimming in the lake with a cool beer..!


The next day however, we got up early and successfully climbed the 2-pitch "practice" 6+. It took us a while though, and the lake and ice-cream was just too tempting... . So, instead of going up another route we went back to the lake and enjoyed the end of the first summer weekend on the beach with an ice cream. :) Happy summer weekend!!