Trip Report
Video: Ice climbing in Rjukan

by Cragcloud
Monday March 12, 2018 4:38am
[Click to View YouTube Video]

Rjukan is one of the very best places to go ice climbing in the Europe and stands equal to places such as Ouray, Colorado or Valdez, Alaska to peers in the ice climbing community. Whether you are a novice or an ice climbing demigod, Rjukan is worth a visit. The rather small and narrow valley features several landmark ice climbs such as Juvsøyla (WI6) and Lipton (WI7), but also entry level climbing and several single pitch ice crags. There are plenty of local guides to hire or you can go by yourself. The approach to the majority of the routes are rarely longer than 30 minutes and finding the routes are pretty easy.

As part of a trip in February 2018 I created this video to show case some of the climbs in Rjukan.

You can also ready the full climb report on one of the climbs, Sabotørfossen (WI5) on this link: http://cragcloud.com/sabotorfossen-ice-climbing/

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Credit: Cragcloud
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Cragcloud 		About the Author
What motivates me about climbing is not the adrenalin rush that some might seek, nor the outdoor life or the vast amount of beautiful places that traditional, sport or technical ice climbing can take you to – like the Cinque Torri in the Dolomites, or a tent under the stars at the foot of Mont Blanc – although those are nice side effects. What truly fascinates me about climbing is the focus. Climbing blocks out everything else. I have a stressful day job, two kids and a load of responsibilities – you know it, right? You also have responsibilities. That’s not a bad thing – I love my two beautiful daughters and I enjoy my work. But belaying my mate at the belay stance on the third pitch on an ice climbing multi-pitch or clipping a quickdraw to a bolt on a sport climbing route, just removes all thoughts about everything else. You are there – 100%. Everything else doesn’t matter.

Comments
Nick Danger

Ice climber
Arvada, CO
  Mar 12, 2018 - 03:19pm PT
Wonderful video and some great ice, thanks for posting this. I loved watching your thoughtful and efficient movement on ice. God I just love this sport. I climbed ice in Norway a number of years ago and I think the ice there is fabulous, the people are beyond compare (beautiful, friendly, strong, generous), and the countryside is just gorgeous.

Thank you so much for posting this up.
cheers
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
  Mar 13, 2018 - 03:13pm PT
I know there is much bigger ice in Norway than what is shown in the video. Is there any big ice in this area?
Cragcloud

Trad climber
Denmark
Author's Reply  Mar 16, 2018 - 12:39am PT
Thank you for your comments.

Hemsedal further North has big ice, but there are a few very long routes in Rjukan as well. Rjukan Marathon is 17 pitches 😄 But more prominent routes are Lipton (WI7), Juvsøyla (WI6) and Rjukanfossen (WI6). All long ice pillars.
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