GUIDEBOOK: Arctic Circle Climbing reviewed by Chris Craggs

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 UKC Gear 07 Sep 2007
Chris Craggs, one of the most experienced guidebook writers in the UK, takes a look at a new guidebook to climbing in arctic Norway on the western Norwegian coast. Chris is himself preparing a climbing guidebook to the nearby Lofoten Islands.

Polarsirkelklatring (Arctic Circle Climbing) by Sveinung RÃ¥heim and Sten Stenkjaer

Read it here: http://www.ukclimbing.com/gear/review.php?id=501
 Simon Caldwell 07 Sep 2007
In reply to UKC Gear:
Having decided last week that Norway is the best country in the world (excluding Scotland), this is just the sort of place I might end up visiting. (Especially when Lofoten gets too busy due to the forthcoming guidebook).

What's it like for punter-grade routes though? The extracts on their website don't have anything at 5 or below...

 Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 07 Sep 2007
In reply to Simon Caldwell:

Good spread of grades including easier stuff, single pitch

http://www.pbase.com/image/85191171/original

or bigger stuff

http://www.pbase.com/image/85191172

and sporty stuff

http://www.pbase.com/image/85191177/original

Great scenery

http://www.pbase.com/image/85191176
http://www.pbase.com/image/85191173

All in all well worth combining with Lofoten if you are going all that way!


Chris
 Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 07 Sep 2007
In reply to Simon Caldwell:

Oh - and some intriguing peaks if you fancy getting off the beaten track!

http://www.pbase.com/chris_craggs/image/85191174


Chris
 Simon Caldwell 07 Sep 2007
In reply to Chris Craggs:
Some of those have a distinctly harder-than-5 look about them !

P.S. your blog mentions a sprinkling of snow on the high tops further south. The snow level in Jotunheimen last week was 1300m, with 2 foot of fresh powder on the summits
 Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 07 Sep 2007
In reply to Simon Caldwell:

We drove over the road from Lom to Lustrafjord a week last Wednesday (1400m), it was midday and it was zero degrees and sleeting! Not bad for August!


Chris
 Simon Caldwell 07 Sep 2007
In reply to Chris Craggs:
We were driving along the same road last Wednesday

I hope you stopped at the Lom bakery for some of their superb Danish pastries...
In reply to Chris Craggs:

Chris

Does this mean Rockfax arn't oging to be produceing a Lofoten guide?

Where is the book avalible in the UK?

Cheers,

Tom
 Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 10 Sep 2007
In reply to Tom Ripley Mountain Guide:

The reviewed guide doesn't cover Lofoten, just the stuff on the Mainland either side of the Arctic Circle - hence the name. I assume Cordee will hold it.
I am on with the Lofoten guide - it will be out early next year - its looking good already.

Chris
 BelleVedere 10 Sep 2007
In reply to Tom Ripley Mountain Guide:

Its available through cordee

(We reviewed it on SC ages ago...)
In reply to Chris Craggs: Souynds great. I'm tempted by an Norway climbing road trip next summer.
 Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 11 Sep 2007
In reply to Tom Ripley Mountain Guide:

Its a long way from Chamonix though - and you'll not do it for free!


Chris


 Simon Caldwell 12 Sep 2007
In reply to Chris Craggs:
> you'll not do it for free!

Indeed not. Though camping is pretty cheap
And even if you go for a proper campsite where you have to pay, it's still considerably less expensive than many lake District sites these days.
 Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 12 Sep 2007
In reply to Simon Caldwell:

Correct - the camping is amazingly cheap (especially considering the price of everything else) and high quality, and quiet - as you say VERY unlike the UK!


Chris

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