Northern Norway

Jakub had a week off work, so gathered a few people together for a week in Northern Norway. We jumped in the van with Adrian and Dag and, leaving fairly late in the day, we were treated to a spectacular sunset before meeting Filippo and Bety near Oppdal.

Norwegian sunset – sunrise about 3 hours away.

The next morning we decided to run one of Adrian’s old local runs, the Gråura of the Driva. I think this is a river that could have gone either way for me. As it was, I loved it from start to finish, and it was one of my paddling highlights of the year. The gorge is amazing, the white water is amazing, the group could not have been any better and even thinking about it now, nearly 6 months later, makes me want to jump around with excitement. It was a day of paddling at the top end of my ability but doing it with confidence and, probably because of this, doing it well. It doesn’t always happen! Of course, I have no pictures, so you’ll just have to believe me!

Our next campsite was just outside of Hattfjelldal and also a beautiful spot.

Dag disinfecting after the Driva

Because we had paddled the Driva, we had to disinfect all of our kit to prevent the spread of a parasite that kills salmon. There was quite a bit of discussion about how useful and/or effective this treatment is but concluded that it wasn’t too much effort on our behalf, and if it helps then that is good!

The boys ran a river called the Unkerelva which is pretty much a section of fast, steep slides back into the lake. It looked like fun, but also a bit out of my league for the moment! After a trip to Hattfjelldal for some supplies, we discovered that there was another group staying at a campsite nearby. We decided to go and join them and see what they were up to.

Another campsite, another view.

This was a lovely campsite, but unfortunately we managed to fill the van with mozzies the first night, inviting them in with our tempting cooking smells!

The rivers in this area are beautiful but pretty difficult. The boys were really nice and generally did an easier run during the day, for which I would join them, and then go and do something harder and I would try to find a good vantage point for some photos! This works really well for me, because I find that the stress of new rivers is cumulative. I need a break in order to reset my brain to something sensible again. It also means that I get the opportunity to watch and hope that one day I’ll actually join them! A bit like this really.

One day…

Something to work up to.

All in all, it was a fantastic week. I met some really nice people, did some great kayaking and, of course, saw some amazing scenery. I’ll be back next year, for more kayaking and more adventuring!

Life in the Sjoa Valley – Part 1

I arrived to a flood in the Sjoa. The river was grey and very, very high. However, as in Valsesia, my arrival coincided with the annual Sjoa River Festival. Festivals are a fantastic way of meeting new friends and new paddle buddies. The Sjoa Festival offers guided descents of the local sections for paddlers who are either new to the area or looking to push themselves safe in the knowledge that someone is looking out for them. I joined a trip on the Utta led by the lovely Paula and Beth. This section is about grade 2 I think, but as it looked more like an inland sea to my “new to big volume” eyes, I was more than happy to start off easy. After a successful and fun trip I was feeling much better about the whole thing!

High water play run

The festival is based in Heidal, conveniently close to Strie Strommer, the local kayaking shop, with some people choosing to stay at the Sjoa Kayak Camp lower down the river. The festival is a great week, with lots of kayaking including a team race on the Playrun, the Ula Extreme Race and the Sweet Rumble. There is also coaching clinics and a fairly infamous party. More than anything else, the festival was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and make plenty of new ones. Many of whom I would continue to paddle with throughout the summer.

Unfortunately I don’t have many photos of the week, I was too busy having fun I guess!

No way? Norway!

So, my plan had been to head to Canada. It didn’t really turn out that way.

After Italy, I returned to Exeter for a week. My ticket was booked to Canada, all I was waiting for was a piece of paperwork to hand over at the border to prove I had obtained a working holiday visa. I wasn’t really stressed, these things usually work out. Two days before I was due to leave, the paperwork still hadn’t arrived. Stress levels rising somewhat. My friends Kelsey and Andrew’s wedding was two days after I arrived, that was the reason I had decided on Canada. I head to AS Watersports to distract myself with some kayaking chat… raise the option of going to Norway instead. All I’ve heard during the spring is how beautiful Norway is, and about its amazing whitewater. Liam is immediately enthusiastic – go to Norway!

The day before I’m due to fly to Canada I call the airline and cancel my ticket, call the man who wants to buy my car and tell him it’s no longer for sale, spend hours on the phone with the amazingly helpful Norwegian Embassy about visas and finally, sadly, call Kelsey to say I won’t make it to the wedding. My friends think I’m mad but, apart from the last minute rush, I’m not stressed. A year of adventure should contain some spontaneity I guess!

Valsesia, Italy

What: Kayaking, hiking

Where: About an hour and a half northwest of Milan

When: May/June 2014

Every spring, a migration of sorts occurs. Kayakers from throughout Britain and beyond head to Valsesia, a collection of valleys in the Italian Alps known for their superb steep creeking. Many of these find their way to the campsite Il gato e la volpe where they recover from their journey with pizza and litros of beer.

After scaring myself silly here last year, I timed my visit this year to coincide with both the Valsesia River Festival and a Gene17 steep creeking course. The River Festival is held on the last weekend of May every year, with races, clinics and lots of socialising to be had. I arrived a day prior to the start of the festival, and had a week of coaching booked for the following week, so just stuck to the socialising at first. It was a good way to begin a holiday!

The week of coaching by Simon and Chris was great. The first day we did a section of the Sesia in order for the coaches to assess the level of the group. From there on, we practiced and practiced all sorts of skills which enable us to confidently (mostly) and safely run the rivers that we had all heard so much about; the Gronda, Sorba slides and the Egua. It was fantastic, and so much fun, to be running such beautiful rivers in such an amazing location.

Sorba slides – photo courtesy of Gene17

After the end of the course, I stayed on in Valsesia in order to be able to do some hiking. I have found on previous kayaking holidays that I become intimately acquainted with the rivers but miss out on the surrounding mountains. It was a great decision! The paths in the valleys are really well marked and the scenery is incredible. There is something about isolated summer hamlets that makes me feel fizzy with happiness.

Otra, surrounded by summer pastures and mountains