Day 3 saw the clients on the sharp end of the rope for a change and a wee rest for the guides.
Both Dave Hollinger and myself took our groups to a great icefall at Hegge. It suited our needs well with 3 pitches of grade 3/3+ that the clients could lead followed by a harder pitch at the top which we would climb. The walk in was like a beefed up version of walking into the Cromlech in N Wales, apart from the scree was covered in snow. It was all minging, and I was heard more than once having a moan about it on the way in and over a beer after. Dave Ken and Chris did a fab job busting a trail to the base where all 6 of us geared up.
The forecast was for snow and for once it appeared right, big wet flakes fell as Russ started up the first pitch. Despite his speed on the lead both Chris and I were pretty cold and wet by the time we moved off. Moving quickly to keep warm we were soon at the stance and it was Chris’s turn to lead. To safe guard him I led the pitch first putting in a couple of Key screws in case something went wrong then coming back down to the stance. He didn’t really need the screws I put in (it was piece of mind for me though) as he cruised a fine pitch in good style and quickly set up the belay. Russ’s next pitch was pretty steep but the boy barley broke sweat even stopping mid crux to place a screw, what a show off !!!.
As Dave and his group of Ken and Steve were climbing just off to our left we were all able to get some good pics of one another, as well as hurl abuse at one another. This kept sprits up, as the weather got gradually worse as the day wore on and we all got wetter and wetter.
The final pitch was a huge wall of steep ice about 40m high and maybe 30m wide. There was a huge crack at about 25m that went all the way across, this didn’t look too good but a few words between Dave and myself saw me launching up skywards. It was a long lead that worked its way first right, then back left before finishing up a steep pillar on the right. It was with tired arms and aching calf’s that I finally reached the top. The boys did a great job following with Russ coming straight up the front face in an arm busting 20m of vertical ice, well done to the boy.
The abseil down was quick and soon all 6 of us were squeezed into the car for the ride back, no mean feat if you saw how big Russ is. Yet another great day out in Norway on the ice, that’s 3 down and 3 to go!!
Take care out there
Kenton
Day 3 saw the clients on the sharp end of the rope for a change and a wee rest for the guides.
Both Dave Hollinger and myself took our groups to a great icefall at Hegge. It suited our needs well with 3 pitches of grade 3/3+ that the clients could lead followed by a harder pitch at the top which we would climb. The walk in was like a beefed up version of walking into the Cromlech in N Wales, apart from the scree was covered in snow. It was all minging, and I was heard more than once having a moan about it on the way in and over a beer after. Dave Ken and Chris did a fab job busting a trail to the base where all 6 of us geared up.
The forecast was for snow and for once it appeared right, big wet flakes fell as Russ started up the first pitch. Despite his speed on the lead both Chris and I were pretty cold and wet by the time we moved off. Moving quickly to keep warm we were soon at the stance and it was Chris’s turn to lead. To safe guard him I led the pitch first putting in a couple of Key screws in case something went wrong then coming back down to the stance. He didn’t really need the screws I put in (it was piece of mind for me though) as he cruised a fine pitch in good style and quickly set up the belay. Russ’s next pitch was pretty steep but the boy barley broke sweat even stopping mid crux to place a screw, what a show off !!!.
As Dave and his group of Ken and Steve were climbing just off to our left we were all able to get some good pics of one another, as well as hurl abuse at one another. This kept sprits up, as the weather got gradually worse as the day wore on and we all got wetter and wetter.
The final pitch was a huge wall of steep ice about 40m high and maybe 30m wide. There was a huge crack at about 25m that went all the way across, this didn’t look too good but a few words between Dave and myself saw me launching up skywards. It was a long lead that worked its way first right, then back left before finishing up a steep pillar on the right. It was with tired arms and aching calf’s that I finally reached the top. The boys did a great job following with Russ coming straight up the front face in an arm busting 20m of vertical ice, well done to the boy.
The abseil down was quick and soon all 6 of us were squeezed into the car for the ride back, no mean feat if you saw how big Russ is. Yet another great day out in Norway on the ice, that’s 3 down and 3 to go!!
Take care out there
Kenton
