Does anyone know if the 2007 'Kvaloya - Selected Climbs' guide is still available from anywhere in Tromso or is it out of print? I've found no where that sells it online but http://tromsoklatring.no/Kval%C3%B8yaSelectedClimbs mentions that it can be obtained from an outdoor shop in Tromso.
I've found some topos and crag info on 27 crags (https://27crags.com/areas/kvalya) but it is quite sparse. If the guide isn't available, does anyone know where else we might find topos or other information about climbing on Kvaloya?
We'll be having a week's multi-activity holiday (bouldering, kayaking, walking sort of thing) so relatively accessible 1 to 4 pitch kind of routes would probably fit in best rather than big mountain routes from the hut.
> We'll be having a week's multi-activity holiday (bouldering, kayaking, walking sort of thing) so relatively accessible 1 to 4 pitch kind of routes would probably fit in best rather than big mountain routes from the hut.
Up to a certain limit (where I get bored) I can scan and email you as PDFs some of relevant chapters from the guidebook as I have a copy. Any idea on where you are going to go yet?
Thanks very much Toby. I'll email City to Summit and find out if they have any copies.
As to where we are going, having not seen a guidebook I don't know at the moment. We will be hiring cars and camping so will be flexible. Do you have any suggestions?
You can do a route on Baugen in a day from the road, it will just be a rather big day! At least it was when we perhaps unadvisedly took the "scenic but rough" route in from the east. At least when I did it there was absolutely no path so you just pick a route. My logbook says it took us 13 hrs car to car to do Gallionsruta which is one of the easier options there. Supposedly walking up the path to hut from the north is much more straightforward according to various mates who have done it since. I dedicate a day to doing a route up there as I think you'd feel a bit cheated if you don't. https://www.ukclimbing.com/photos/dbpage.php?id=51125
Mellomtind was fun and not nearly as epic. Again moderately pioneering feeling I felt, don't think the mountain stuff up there gets huge numbers of ascents - maybe the world classic hard stuff on Baugen - but that's all too hard for me! Mellomtind is a great view point out over the sea.
I've done some bouldering there as well, fun and great surroundings but bouldering isn't really my thing as much as bigger routes.
Brensholmen was a great spot for camping and the climbing was fun - smaller sea cliffs. It seemed to dodge the poorer weather in the mountains, I think you can get a ferry from there over to Senja too which could be fun.
Have a look on the UKC logbook map and you'll see the stuff I've entered there over the years. You've got some easier semi-alpine option not too far away also. The Hamperokken is a brilliant scramble, Crib Goch on steroids. The west ridge of Piggtind on Lyngen is alpine in scale - the rock is perfect though so alpine in feel too!
Thanks for all the top tips, Toby. Most of the group I'm with focus on bouldering but I'm hopeful that we might get some climbing in as well. It's good to work out some options beforehand.
Do you have any tips for good places to camp? Either 'wild' or campsite. You've mentioned Brensholmen, is there anywhere closer to Småbakkan that you would recommend or is it fairly easy to find places to pitch a tent for a couple of nights?
I remember driving onto a campsite, wandering around for ages trying to find anyone to pay, not finding anyone. Going and having a shower and using the loo. Wandering around more, now less smelly, still trying to find anyone to book in with. Failing again, giving up, driving off and camping between the road and the beach again on another 5* spot.
Basically you can camp anywhere short of someone's garden. You'll find endless possible spots where ever you are. It's more a case of where can't you camp than where you can!
Thanks, somewhat as I thought. It would be nice to have some facilities occasionally but it sounds like it'll be easier just to camp where we find somewhere suitable.
Fri Night Vid Finding Focus - Life Behind The Lens of a Climbing Photographer
This week's Friday Night Video is a portrait of a prolific climbing photographer from Wedge Climbing. Sam Pratt is well known in both the outdoor and competition scene but if you haven't heard of him, you've likely seen...
