Rjukan Ice Fest Meet - 2 - 16 February 2012 |
Latest update January 20th:
Dear fellow ice climbers. Hope you had a great Christmas. Interest is still growing for this Meet and there is plenty of time for newcomers to join us.
The 2012 Ice Fest Meet is fully on. The Gjestegård Hostel in Rjukan knows we are coming; those members and guests who are already on the Meet list have confirmed their beds with me, together with the in-house breakfast, and I have responded to the Hostel with the details.
Very shortly, I will receive confirmed notification of the bed night cost and the additional in-house breakfast charge for next February, the breakfast allowing us uncontrolled access to day food supplies (and plastic bags for the use of). I've already booked my nights with the hostel. Last year the costs were circa £25 per night per person and circa £6 for a breakfast. The bedrooms are 4-bed bunk style (the cheaper ones are) but they are extremely warm and comfortable, just what you need after a cold day out in the Vermork Gorge or at Ozzimosis. The drying room simply takes some beating, spacious and perfect for getting the stuff dry for the next morning. It’s a fairly relaxed start each day as the days are long enough anyway and there seems no need for ‘crack of dawn’ starts unless going further afield. Almost all the locations in the guidebook (Heavy Water) are close to the hostel.
We all self-cater inexpensively in the small kitchen of the hostel (bring your own large mug for your tea or coffee). Shared with other hostel users, the room is small but we get along OK. Just outside the kitchen is a warm spacious eating and relaxing room. Superb.
The actual dates of February 2nd to 16th for the Meet are still, as per the Climbers' Club website. These dates are not set in stone, and members are invited to come and go when they please. Most of us start on the same day (2nd) and leave when muscles are aching or at the end of a week or so. I have now booked and paid for my flight on the basis of February 2nd to the 16th, giving me 15 days overall, 14 days climbing and 13 days accommodation.
As for climbing partners, we always have had a good scene going with flexibility in climbing partners, and have, in four great Meets so far, always been able to organise ourselves into great teams, if not done so before leaving the UK.
Car hire and sharing will of course be relevant to the teams, which we usually organise between ourselves, usually from the airport through the usual Hire companies’ websites. The usual Norwegian (but for car-hire, as usual, quite expensive) costs apply so it’s good to get a car-full. I tend to be a go-between and help people get together if needed.
My usual spreadsheet for information and advice is available below - click to view. It shows members who are already booked on, so if you need to car-share, get in touch with them (or me) and get it sorted.
With cheap flights in our minds, we switched a while ago from Ryanair (Grrr) to Norwegian air (
) and found it was a much better service, to a modern spacious airport, open late, allowing TWO 20kg hold bags per person plus 10kg carry-on bag - ample even with ropes, boots, crampons and all, and cheap enough!
Many of us fly from Edinburgh but there are many other UK departures. (Note: if you are car sharing, make sure your arrival coincides with your car partners?).
So, let's get it organised and get ready for some great fun climbing again.
I look forward to your continued support on this great Meet. The Option to travel out west (Aurland, Laerdal or Hemsedal and other locations) is always a possibility for the keener, and not necessarily) harder climbers. We can consider a quick trip elsewhere and back to the hostel in due course. However, to date we have always stayed in the comfort zone of the hostel and Rjukan for the climbing. It’s enough for most.
If you have ANY queries, please let me help you solve them.
Looking forwards to hearing from you soon.
Yours,
Smiler
