18-04—–21-04-2016

Fjell to Fjord

This trip was one of the most variable in activities. We were (outdoors students) on this trip for 3 nights and 4 day’s, and on these days we were canoeing, climbing and cycling.

Before the trip we have to prepare all together the route kart (plan) with canoeing. Our professor told us that we are responsible for first 2 days of canoeing  pace-speed, direction, pairs in canoes, distances between brake-lunch stops, sleep overnight stops), also some of us were responsible in the beginning of the trip to show us basic paddling techniques.

Like always before the trip I made my food plan. Now it was a little bit more difficult, because there is no more snow and weather is quite warm so I could took with me cooked meet only for one day. But this time for breakfasts I always had tuna cans, canned meet, smoked sausages, for lunch first day meet balls, on other 3 days –peanuts, some sweets, energy bars –for energy-because our lunches was short, and for dinners buckwheat and meet (first day),for other dinners pasta, dry food witch you can cook in storm kitchen. This food provided for me my daily nutrition norm- protein, carbs, fat, high percentage of Kj. and kept me energised.

First day of our trip we were canoeing in Byglandsfjorden, it’s a fjord, and when our group were paddling there, we always were surrounded by steep green hills (trees and plants on it). On the way there is some islands. Water of this fjord is fresh and you can drink it (that’s surprised me), because it is melted snow from hills around the water. Also in this area there live some animals, mostly birds, but there is some fish too like fresh water trouts.

So this trip started by taking buss from Kristiansand and going to Bygland. When we arrived at the place where we planned, there was also our professor Len, with canoes. So we (outdoors) unload canoes and other equipment (paddles, life saving jackets), checked our stuff and took what we need for one and a half day ( canoeing stuff- dry clothes, food, rope and tarp for shelter, sleeping bag and mat, storm kitchen), because other gear (climbing and cycling) went to Evje- TrollAktiv. After checking our gear and unloading equipment, we picked our canoes, and took them in to the water with our canoe partners (mine was Joey). Before we started our canoeing route, few of our group more experienced members showed us some paddling techniques, how to hang paddle, how to steer, paddle, how to make turns with canoe ( wide paddle strokes, strokes close to canoe). Also they explained what both people have to do on canoe (for example they can’t paddle in the same side, if one of them paddling on right side, other have to do that on left), what we can’t do (negative strokes, paddle backwards- because that’s stoping canoe), if canoe is unstable don’t hang on the sides of it. So after short “lecture” we warmed up a little bit, done some turns, maneuvers and after this went on our planned route. I had never before canoed with one bladed paddle and steered, so at first it was hard for me to find comfort zone and pace. But after while and some advices I felt better and later it was really ok. While we were canoeing Len told us to keep eye on the maps and time to time check where we are, so we also were practicing some orienteering. But orientate in this kind of area, where you following flowing water, and weather conditions are quite good it’s much easier than in the mountains. Weather was quite good while we were paddling, most of the time no rain (sometimes few drops), sun time to time were shining at us, but the wind was blowing in front of our faces, so that’s  make us slower. On the road we stopped for the lunch and just some islands to rest. Before we made to our overnight sleep island, we had to face really wild wind which was blowing in front of us, So Len told us how to handle it-no backward strokes and some techniques, and after some time of strong and intensive paddling we reached our final checkpoint of this day. When we get out of our canoes, Len walk us around the island, helping and showing us the spots where we can make our shelters, explaining negative and positive aspects, where wind is blowing more, where it is going to blow at night (direction). So after walk trough we started to settle down and make our shelters. Me and Joey combined our tarps, wrap our rope around 4 trees (with Len’s help) and make shelter with 3 walls and one opened entrance. Walls were covering us from wind.

After we settled in our shelters we got some dinner, set up fire and after some conversations, “chill” and relax went to sleep. Next morning after breakfasts, we all (outdoors), we packed all our stuff, get in to canoes and had some practice again. This time Len was showing us some new techniques and maneuvers, how to turn 360 degrees, how to turn, but now one of the canoe partners was responsible for turning left other for turning right, not like yesterday steering person had to turn canoe in both ways. Also Len showed us how to move sides and after some warm up we went on our planned route. Today I tried to sit in the front of canoe so I could know what it feels. This day wind was blowing on side to us, and was making waves, so canoe always was turning left and that’s made paddling a little bit difficult. Also waves were bigger than yesterday and were flowing sides to our canoe, that’s why we had to keep our canoe more front in to waves, because there was moments when we tried to paddle in normal direction ( by sides to waves), but canoe was shaking with, very unstable and there were possibility to capsize. When we reached lunch brake checkpoint, wind got even more wild, and Len suggested to make group decision what we want to do next. Our group members where sharing with ideas, making discussion and decided that there is now a big risk to capsize so better would be to call to TrollAktiv and ask to pick up us and canoes. So after while there came a van, we collected and load canoes and gear, and went to TrollAktiv. When we came there we settled in to wooden Tipis to sleep overnight. Later we went to play on climbing wall at TrollAktive, so it was like a little practice before climbing on rocks. After we done with climbing later in the evening we had some dinner, ,,bbq”, and after that we ( outdoors) went to sleep.

Third day we started on mountain bikes. At first we were cycling in normal pace on old cycling road, warming up with turning gears, adopting when we need to turn higher or lower gear (going on hill- lower, from hill –higher) and checking if our bikes comfortable for us. Then after while we reached in the city a bakery, where everybody had some pies, pancakes, coffee and could rest a little bit.

After this we (outdoors) were cycling through the city and after 22 km. we reached our camping place where we planned to stay overnight and do some rock climbing. Before climbing Len take us around area where we gathered, again showed some places where we can make our shelters and sleep, where we more protected from the wind, were is less noise ( because we were near the road), were we can get some sunshine in the morning and evening. After this Len also showed and explained how to prepare and tie up ropes for climbing or abseiling (have to tie up rope around the tree or throw around special metal rings, who are on rocks for climbing, by using knots like –figure of eight, “figure of nine” or clove hitch, slings. Also he explained if we want to make sure that abseiling or climbing safety rope would keep better, we have to make safety rope like shape of V ( from one anchor tree or ring to another) and on the nose of the shape of V ( where the knot is) lock karabina and climbing rope. After this we done some rock climbing with 4 different routes- from easy ones to hard ones. Later Len also let us to do some top rope climbing- style in climbing in which a rope, used for the climber’s safety, runs from a belayer at the foot of a route through one or more carabiners connected to an anchor system at the top of the route and back down to the climber, usually attaching to the climber by means of a harness. That day I made all routes, even hard ones so I was proud of Myself. After climbing session we had some dinner, collected some wood for bonfire (some of us were social loafing doing nothing but sitting, while others collect wood) and of course made it. Then everybody just sat around the fire, and were talking and socialising together, and that strengthen our relationships more.

Last fourth day we all woke up early in the morning, got some breakfasts, packed our stuff and with bikes went towards to Kristiansand. We were going through old cycling roads, with nice view around- rivers, dams, trees and good weather. On the road time to time some of us had to lead all group- cycle in front, set up normal pace and make sure that everyone was happy. Also we were stopping time to time to rest. And later after 70 km. we reached Kristiansand and our homes.

To sum up, in this trip I got a lot of new experience- paddling techniques with one bladed paddle, steering, feel of canoe, shelter making and finding good spot for it experience, rock climbing and abseiling experience. Also cycling, navigating experience and again we done some group dynamics, increase our groups cohesion by discussions, socialising and common decision making. So this trip was another great dose of fun for me.

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