Advanced Ice Climbing

You need to be competent at lead climbing (sport or trad) and have at least 2-days experience of ice climbing. You'll already know how to lead belay, clip bolts and the basics of swinging an ice axe.
If you're not quite there yet, why not check out our other two trips:
- Beginners Ice Climbing - for total beginners, with no experience required.
- Ice Climbing Improver - for those who have either some top-rope climbing experience, or who have tried ice climbing (e.g. on our beginners course). This one is also great if you are more experienced, but don't want to progress to lead climbing.

Please see 'Inclusions' section above for full info.

All specialist equipment is provided. You must bring with you: Appropriate clothing (similar to ski wear) including waterproof trousers and tops. At least 2 pairs of gloves/mitts and winter mountaineering boots (you can also rent these from the hostel).

Documents
• Passport
• European Health Insurance Card (if appropriate)
• Travel insurance details
• Boarding passes for flights
• Wallet
• Driver’s license & rental car details (if needed)


Clothing
Please make sure all clothing is not cotton – cotton clothing is great for the summer but loses heat very quickly in the winter.
• 4 base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts)
• Fleece/soft-shell jacket
• ‘Booster layer’ e.g. second fleece
• Waterproof jacket
• Down jacket for warmth, if possible (from e.g. Rab, Alpkit, Mountain Equipment)
• Spare clothes for evenings
• Underwear
• Base-layer trousers (optional)
• Soft-shell trousers or other warm trousers
• Waterproof trousers
• Swimwear for the sauna
• 4 thick wool mountaineering socks
• 2 pairs of waterproof/snowproof gloves or mitts
• Winter mountaineering boots that fit crampons (these can be rented directly from the hostel if not owned. The cost of rental is 250NOK)


Other
• Small rucksack
• Water bottle/thermos
• Sunglasses
• Glasses/contact lenses (if needed)
• Sleeping bag liner for the hostel (you can rent sheets if not owned)
• Bathroom items including towel
• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor (French plug style), phone & charger
• Lipsil
• Book/mp3 player for flights

Climbing equipment (optional)
If you own any of the following, you may bring them along as well (otherwise they will be provided free of charge):
• Harness
• Helmet
• Ice axes
• Crampons
• Ice screws
• Ice clippers
• 4 screwgates
• 2 prussik loops
• Belay device

Transport (airport transfers and getting to climbing sites) is not included in this trip.

There are 2 main airports serving the area: Oslo-Gardermoen and Oslo-Torp. Oslo-Gardermoen (north of Oslo) is the main airport where most international flights arrive. However, Ryanair uses smaller airports, so they also fly to Oslo-Torp (southwest of Oslo). Rjukan is about 2,5-3 hours west of Oslo.

You have a few options for getting to Rjukan from the airport;

1. Share a rental car

When you sign up, you're added to a group chat on your Skyhook dashboard. We highly recommend chatting here with the other participants (each group has 12 people), as most people arrange car-sharing to get to Rjukan from the airport. Splitting the cost of a rental car is typically the cheapest and fastest way to travel. If you do this, we recommend allowing 3 hours for the drive so that you can take your time and have a break along the way (you'll be going past a beau Mtiful frozen lake). Renting a car means you can easily get to and from the climbing sites.

If you rent a VW Golf for three days (in January), it should cost around 1500 Norwegian Kroner/NOK (roughly £110). If you add the price of fuel, it's more like 3000 NOK (roughly £220 ).

2. Buses and trains

If you fly into Oslo Gardermoen airport to Oslo, there are busses and trains. The central bus station and train station in Oslo are
500 meters apart, which makes it easy to switch transport.

If you fly into Oslo Torp airport there is a bus heading towards Oslo(check this website for schedules: torpekspressen.no ) If you take the bus from Torp towards Oslo, you will have to get off at the Lysaker stop. The bus towards Rjukan also stops at Lysaker, so it's possible to switch to a bus directly to Rjukan instead of first going to Oslo.

From Oslo to Rjukan, it is about 2.5-3 hrs west by bus. You can look at schedules and prices on this website: vy.no

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances, including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip.

We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, Rise & Shield. They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim.

They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover.

Other popular providers include the BMC, Snowcard, and Dogtag Insurance.

Temperatures can range from - 10 to - 25 degrees Celcius. You should come prepared and ensure that you have lots of warm layers.

You stay in the Old School Hostel .
The hostel is a small and friendly hostel with basic dormitory-style accommodation. It has comfortable beds, good cooking facilities and pans, warm showers, a sauna, Wi-Fi and a drying room for gear. Bed linen is included. There is no reception desk – just come inside and ask for the owner Jakob, who is also your head guide.

If you arrive during the day, it is likely that everyone will be out skiing or climbing. Feel free to put your feet up and make yourself a coffee before the guides come back. In the evening your guide will introduce you to the rest of the group and start your course briefing.

Yes, no problem - just let us know when you complete your registration form.

Weather conditions in Rjukan can get very cold in the winter months, with temperatures dropping as low as -25 Celsius. Travellers need to be prepared for these weather conditions. For more information please read the kit list provided.

The hostel has cooking facilities where you can prepare your own meals or cook together as a group. You will get your own crate to store your groceries during your stay.

The local supermarket has a broad selection, with equivalent prices to a higher-end supermarket in the UK (e.g. Waitrose). It's a 5-minute drive from the hostel but is also possible to walk there.

There are limited takeaway options in town, including pizza.

A moderate level of fitness is required.

Absolutely yes - most people book alone. It can feel a bit intimidating, but you will do introductions when you arrive, and you’ll get to know the others in no time!

You will stay in the Rjukan Old School Hostel. You can find them on Facebook and book extra nights.

The minimum age for all our courses is 18.

The currency used in Norway is the Norwegian Krone (KR). There is 1 ATM machine in Rjukan, but it’s worth getting money before you arrive.

Rjukan Old School Hostel, Knut Dahlesvei 31, 3660 Rjukan, Norway 

Here is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rjukanoldschoolhostel/