Holiday shots

 Sweating and beating out the office dust is a crucial part of a successful holiday.

Second stop in Straumen. A very nice boulder place which I have visited four times in the past but always ended up just window shopping in the rain. This time I actually got to climb something.

Waiting for the ferry to Lofoten in Skutvik and thinking if it is possible to be tired of this view.

My first classic rack pic. 

My first jamming tapes. I never thought I would were these. It feels so awkward and uncomfortable to jam but in the end I started to get the hang of it and could actually enjoy it. 

Continuing with my firsts... Stand.

My hostess checking out my second stand :) on the classic Bare Blåbaer. I did not have that much experience in leading trad before arriving, two times three years ago and once this summer on a 7 m wall so I was very excited about the possibility to hop into a longer route during my first day.  

Almost finished. When repelling down, the thing that I have been the most scared off happened, I dropped my atc. Luckily there was a small ledge where it stopped so I was able to climb down and get it. I had forgotten or was unsure how to do the simple italian hitch knot which saves you in situations like these. Now I know it and have tattooed it in my mind. We got home at 3 am and it was still daylight outside. It was the best climbing day but also the toughest, it took me several days to recover completely, mainly my calves were the problem and were aching for ages.   

Back home in Henningsvaer.

Cloudberries beside Presten boulders. This time I bouldered only once and that was because of bad conditions to do traditional plus we wanted to just get outside and have fun. Experiencing a tiny bit what the huge pillars have to offer I am afraid to say this, but I would never ever go to this place to do just bouldering anymore. 

 Rainy days offer walking tours in a beautiful landscape.

On the way back home I had a little city vacation in Umeå and I must say I was positively surprised how nice and lively this northern Swedish city was. Mosjön boulders

Something to look forward to..

The new album of M83 is one thing. It has a great timing of bringing fireworks and dreamy melodies to the dark autumn ahead.

Intro (ft Zola Jesus) by M83

Another thing to look forward is that I absolutely have to move closer to mountains. I realized it this weekend when I was in Innsbruck celebrating my dad's 60th birthday. That might be a bit longer wait though, but some day... Such a beautiful city surrounded by all the activities one can wish for every season through out the year.

Rocklands...

At the moment the hot spot to go bouldering is Eastern Finland, but as usual I'm late in trends sooo finally after planning and wishing for so many years the trip to South Africa is now booked and bought. Flight tix check, accommodation check, duration 29 days. Six months to go... Some drums for cold nights and while waiting here.

Costa Blanca

I don’t have so many positive things to say about my holiday over there, so I think I will save my words, except that the company, wines and sunsets were good. Some photos though. I tried to do some B&W photographing realizing how difficult it is, I mean to get the light right and shadows and aalll, totally different approach and very challenging without colors. Oh and check the documentary film about North Korea, link in the previous post, it is good!

Terminal 4 in the Airport of Madrid (Barajas), I stared that ceiling for hours without getting bored, beautiful building.

Bumbed into some beach hedgehogs.

I don't know how long these two lovebirds had been running, but boy were they thirsty and happy together.

Another runaway.

Favorite pink birds flamingos.

Salt lakes.





Summer memories

This summer was finally the summer when I was able to do a quick visit to Lofoten Islands, Norway. I’ve been dreaming of it since the day I saw an inspiring movie made by the dads of finnish bouldering. I did not have my hopes up for good weather though; first climbing trip to Norway sort of flushed the hope of good weather for the following decades too. So concidering the fact that we had only 5 climbing days it would have been totally possible, almost inevitable, to have rain during the whole visit, buuut…. I guess someone from our team had a good climbing karma, because it didn’t rain at all...

In the following pictures is Kvalvika beach, which is absolutely one the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. And, the good thing is, that there are lots of boulders too. No guidebook available, but there are two hiking paths that lead to the beach, so it is very easy to find. Other tips that would’ve been appreciated: Think twice, about taking the biggest crash pad with you, because it is a long walk. Also, dogs should be kept on leash because of the grazing lambs and as an owner of a lovinglambsasfood&leashhating-dog, it brought some extra spices for the walk.  

Most of the people come to Lofoten Islands to do bigger balls. Sport climbers should wear a disguise, like couple of cams hanging from your backpack or cut your knuckles. Boulderers are okey. Anyways, the thing is, that there is everything an active person would wish for. Just the scenery is so zen and feng shui put together that it would be enough for me, without any activities. And the people are nice too. I mean, how often have bakery ladies brought you cinnamon buns straight from the owen while you are bouldering?
  

Info

http://www.lofoten.info/ 

Climbing

http://forer.mittnettsted.com/

http://www.rockfax.com/areas/area.php?id=1007