How Very Scandinavian of Us

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Brian

climber

California

Jun 4, 2010 - 10:09am PT

How long is the rock season (as opposed to the ice-ski-hotsprings-reindeer stew season) up around the Lofoten Islands? Gotta be pretty short no? I'm asking because it looks incredible and I'm currently living in Europe.

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Jun 4, 2010 - 10:13am PT

Did you get to enjoy lutefisk?

cowpoke

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 4, 2010 - 10:24am PT

Brian, I haven't been yet, but here is what the guidebooks and locals tell me: because of the gulf stream, the climate is suprisingly mild, albeit wet, in Lofoten. Late spring through early fall is doable, with fall colors being spectacular. From the end of May through mid-July, you also have the advantage 24 hours of daylight! Go.
Eric

edit: Donini, haven't done that yet either. Our friends in Norway had a fun debate about whether feeding us lutefisk would be too cliche and "touristy." We've got a few more trips set up in which we hope to try it all, cliche or not.

Nutter

climber

Europe

Jun 4, 2010 - 10:34am PT

Brian, I had a couple of friends who went to Lofoten last year in mid May. They had a splendid time! some snow on descents here and there. I've been there myself a couple of times (mid-summer) and it is truly wonderful. Been to many places round Norway, and Lofoten is my favorite by far! If you got the opportunity, go. You woun't regret it!

Ottawa Doug

Social climber

Ottawa, Canada

Jun 4, 2010 - 12:06pm PT

Now that's a good TR!

Cheers,

Doug

Daphne

Trad climber

Mill Valley, CA

Jun 4, 2010 - 01:44pm PT

How beautiful! Thanks so much for the tr.
Yum, the food sounds amazing. I'd go for some reindeer sausage on my next summit...

EdBannister

Mountain climber

Jun 4, 2010 - 02:02pm PT

we spent the majority of our trip on the water and in the mountains

wow, funniest thing i have read here at least today, though I have not read any Wallingcomments, which are normally cause to chortle.

Isn't that kind of like going to Pismo and saying we spent most of our time on the beach or the dunes?? If you were outdoors in Norway, you were either in the mountains or on the water, I recall a band of threeeeee FEEEET in between mountain snow, and ocean.... just enough for the intertidal, so other than the Ed Rickets zone, that is it.

cowpoke

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 4, 2010 - 02:26pm PT

^^^ha! good call.

...the context for the comment was an urban start (We spent our first two days in Oslo.)

...although not mentioned in the original TR, we also had an urban ending, bar hopping in Oslo. We spent the night listening to jazz and reliving the water and mnt adventures (with free kidwatching provided by Stine's sister).

Festus

Mountain climber

Enron by the Sea

Jun 4, 2010 - 02:35pm PT

Been a long while, but I spent a couple months backpacking there and DNT was a great resource (not to be confused with DMT, or LEB).

http://www.turistforeningen.no/english/

I bought a year's membership just for the time I was there, and it paid for itself in discounted meals and lodging on the rare occassions when I used their hut system--I'd usually just pitch a tent in some spectacular spot miles from any hut, but the membership was still worth it. If you land in Oslo, it's worth going to their office just for info. on hiking, climbing, etc. Many of their publications are in English, and you'll undoubtedly find someone there who speaks your language.

If you're a backpacker the route from Finse to Kinsarvik, around Hardangerjokulen, is spectacular, as are many loops you can do around Gjendesheim, through Jotunheimen, around Rondane, in the Lofotens, etc., etc. And, yeah, you'll see climbing possibilities pretty much all over the place. Closest I came to roped climbing was renting a beach cruiser and pedaling to the base of the Troll Wall from Andalsnes just to look up at it for a few hours, but the third class scrambling everywhere I went easily put you in places with postcard views in every direction. It would also be an incredible place to take your kids/family. I can't wait to go back with mine.

cowpoke

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 8, 2010 - 09:25am PT

Just got back from round two.

Much more work than play this year for me, but we managed to get in five days of family adventures. Some of the highlights:

Chiloe

Trad climber

Lee, NH

Jul 8, 2010 - 02:18pm PT

Cool, refreshing Norway scenery in those photos. Looks like another great family trip.

cowpoke

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 8, 2010 - 03:53pm PT

yeah, Chiloe, it was sunny and around 23-25 deg celcius most of the trip, but midnight hikes in the rain can be fun too in the land of midnight sun:
edit: Lolli, we did have cloudberries on ice cream! many, many fresh strawberries and blueberries on waffles too.

cowpoke

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 15, 2011 - 12:16pm PT

Down to our last unopened jar of cloudberries, Lolli.
But, heading back in two weeks and getting psyched for round 3 of all things Norsk.

cowpoke

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 7, 2011 - 04:52am PT

ah, summer in Norway.

A full day at work, a sushi dinner, a glass of wine, an espresso...and then head to the roadside slabs.

perswig

climber

Jul 7, 2011 - 06:49am PT

Pretty roadside slabbing.
This is a summer tradition, Cowpoke?
Nice!

I had forgotten how much many your pics look like New England climbing, and I esp liked the girls circling the summit maypole from last year.

Thanks.
Dale

cowpoke

climber

Topic Author's Reply - Jul 7, 2011 - 07:23am PT

Hey Dale, my friend Henrik says, "The first time you visit Norway it is a happening, the second time is repetition, and the third time is tradition."

But, we don't plan to stop at 3...