norona-ice-festival-header
norrona-ice-festival-@MatthiasScherer

Norrøna Ice Festival

Presented by Scarpa and Petzl

Norrøna Ice Festival

Presented by Scarpa and Petzl

From USD 1268

Welcome to our 4-day all-inclusive Ice Festival at Rjukan and Norrøna House, Norway, in collaboration with our great partners Scarpa and Petzl. Experience unique ice climbing in Rjukan, ski touring on the mighty Gaustatoppen peak, our speed climbing competition, product testing, presentations, social dinners, and much more. We will divide into different groups, so both beginners and experienced are welcome.

Highlights

  • 4 days of ice climbing and ski touring with Norrøna ambassadors and local guides at Rjukan, Telemark, Norway.
  • Clinics for all levers: beginners, intermediate and advanced.
  • Indoor climbing at Gneis Lysaker, Oslo.
  • 3-course dinner at Norrøna House, Oslo.
  • Speed climbing competition.
  • Testing of Norrøna, Scarpa, and Petzl products.
  • Goodie bags.
  • Inspiring presentations with ambassadors.
  • Tech talks filled with the best tips and tricks to master your craft.
  • Social dinners and gatherings.

Since 1993, Rjukan has hosted an Ice Festival led by a local climbing club. Now, Norrøna is onboard and welcomes you all to a festival that is all about having fun, meeting like-minded people, learning new skills, testing the latest products, and enjoying a great time together. Clinics have always been a big part of the festival since the beginning. Over the years, the festival has also included a speed climbing competition, which has become a great tradition.

This 4-day festival will kick off at Norrøna House, Lysaker, Oslo. You will have the opportunity to join an indoor climbing session at Gneis or climb in the local waterfalls near Norrøna House before a delicious 3-course dinner at Naturen Restaurant. The festival will then continue at Rjukan, where you can participate in various ice climbing and ski touring clinics, speed climbing competitions, social gatherings, dinners, and much more. The festival will conclude with a casual dinner at Naturen Restaurant in Oslo.

Throughout the long weekend, you’ll have the chance to test products from Norrøna, Scarpa, and Petzl, and enjoy inspiring presentations and tech talks from our ambassadors.

Rjukan is located in Telemark county in the southeast of Norway, about a two and a half-hour drive from Oslo. With over 150 icefalls, Rjukan is a world-class destination for ice climbing. In Rjukan, you will find relatively stable ice climbing conditions: due to the narrowness of the east-west valleys, the sun doesn’t touch the valley bottom between October and March, making it a place with very little sunlight and plenty of ice. Most ice climbs are within a short approach, even with heavy snow conditions, making it possible to get a lot of climbing done.

Rjukan is also flanked by two famous mountain ranges. To the south is the mighty Gaustatoppen peak (1883m), which offers superb skiing opportunities, while to the north, you will find the impressive mountain plateau of Hardangervidda.

4

50

EN

3/6

N/A

3/6

Dates and booking

Thu 06. February - Mon 10. February 2025

USD 1358

Available

Guaranteed departure

Opening hours Phone
Mon-Fri : 08-20
Sat-Sun : 14-17
Opening hours Chat
Mon-Fri : 07-23
Sat : 10-18
Sun : 13-21
CET

Day by day

2023-norrona-house-ice-festival-1

Day 1:Arrival Norrøna House

We meet at Norrøna House, Lysaker, Oslo, at around 14:30, for a welcome session and to go through the program for the upcoming days. We will continue with an indoor climbing session at Gneis with professional climbers. If conditions permit, we will go ice climbing in the local waterfalls for those who are interested. During these sessions, you are welcome to test gear from Norrøna, Scarpa, and Petzl. We will end the day with a 3-course dinner at Naturen Restaurant before heading to the hotel at Fornebu.

We meet at Norrøna House, Lysaker, Oslo, at around 14:30, for a welcome session and to go through the program for the upcoming days. We will continue with an indoor climbing session at Gneis with professional climbers. If conditions permit, we will go ice climbing in the local waterfalls for those who are interested. During these sessions, you are welcome to test gear from Norrøna, Scarpa, and Petzl. We will end the day with a 3-course dinner at Naturen Restaurant before heading to the hotel at Fornebu.

ice-festival-7©_matthias_scherer

Day 2:Departure to Rjukan

Breakfast is enjoyed at your accommodation.We will meet early in the morning at Norrøna House for the departure to Rjukan. Upon arrival, we will spend half the day on ice climbing clinics at Krokan. After a day of climbing, we will gather at Rjukanhuset for refreshments, snacks, and presentations from our athletes. We will end the day with a delicious dinner together at the hotel.

Breakfast is enjoyed at your accommodation.We will meet early in the morning at Norrøna House for the departure to Rjukan. Upon arrival, we will spend half the day on ice climbing clinics at Krokan. After a day of climbing, we will gather at Rjukanhuset for refreshments, snacks, and presentations from our athletes. We will end the day with a delicious dinner together at the hotel.

norrona-ice-festival-@MatthiasScherer

Day 3:Clinics and speed climbing competition

Breakfast is enjoyed at our hotel, followed by a briefing for the day. We divide into different groups before heading out for a day of either ice climbing or ski touring. At 14:30, we will start the ice climbing speed competition, where everyone, regardless of skill level, is welcome to participate. Light food and hot drinks will be served during the competition. Dinner will be served at the hotel when we return, followed by an evening at Rjukanhuset featuring a presentation with Robert Caspersen and a prize ceremony.

Breakfast is enjoyed at our hotel, followed by a briefing for the day. We divide into different groups before heading out for a day of either ice climbing or ski touring. At 14:30, we will start the ice climbing speed competition, where everyone, regardless of skill level, is welcome to participate. Light food and hot drinks will be served during the competition. Dinner will be served at the hotel when we return, followed by an evening at Rjukanhuset featuring a presentation with Robert Caspersen and a prize ceremony.

ice-festival-@ChrisHotlet

Day 4:Clinics and departure

Breakfast is enjoyed at our hotel, followed by a briefing for the day. We divide into different groups before heading out for a day of either ice climbing or ski touring. After the clinics, we will return to Norrøna House and enjoy a casual dinner before concluding the festival. For those staying at the Radisson Blu, you will need to check in this evening for your stay until Monday.

Breakfast is enjoyed at our hotel, followed by a briefing for the day. We divide into different groups before heading out for a day of either ice climbing or ski touring. After the clinics, we will return to Norrøna House and enjoy a casual dinner before concluding the festival. For those staying at the Radisson Blu, you will need to check in this evening for your stay until Monday.

We meet at Norrøna House, Lysaker, Oslo, at around 14:30, for a welcome session and to go through the program for the upcoming days. We will continue with an indoor climbing session at Gneis with professional climbers. If conditions permit, we will go ice climbing in the local waterfalls for those who are interested. During these sessions, you are welcome to test gear from Norrøna, Scarpa, and Petzl. We will end the day with a 3-course dinner at Naturen Restaurant before heading to the hotel at Fornebu.

Breakfast is enjoyed at your accommodation.We will meet early in the morning at Norrøna House for the departure to Rjukan. Upon arrival, we will spend half the day on ice climbing clinics at Krokan. After a day of climbing, we will gather at Rjukanhuset for refreshments, snacks, and presentations from our athletes. We will end the day with a delicious dinner together at the hotel.

Breakfast is enjoyed at our hotel, followed by a briefing for the day. We divide into different groups before heading out for a day of either ice climbing or ski touring. At 14:30, we will start the ice climbing speed competition, where everyone, regardless of skill level, is welcome to participate. Light food and hot drinks will be served during the competition. Dinner will be served at the hotel when we return, followed by an evening at Rjukanhuset featuring a presentation with Robert Caspersen and a prize ceremony.

Breakfast is enjoyed at our hotel, followed by a briefing for the day. We divide into different groups before heading out for a day of either ice climbing or ski touring. After the clinics, we will return to Norrøna House and enjoy a casual dinner before concluding the festival. For those staying at the Radisson Blu, you will need to check in this evening for your stay until Monday.

What's included in the price

Included

  • 2 nights at Radisson Blu Fornebu (optional)
  • 2 nights at Rjukan Hotel

Some drinks are included in the price.

Ice climbing and ski touring at Gaustatoppen.

Not included

Transport to and from Norrøna House is not included in the price. 

Reservation

We reserve the right to change prices. The day by day program is indicative and changes may occur. We also refer to our general travel conditions.

Travel insurance

On all our trips we require you to have full health and accident insurance which will also cover any transport home. Read more about travel insurance.

Highlights

Safety

  • 24 hour standby
  • Guides with training in first aid in the field
  • Basic medicines and first aid equipment available
  • Cooperation with Turlegen.no for medical advice

Safety and grading of trips

Physical level

3/6 Physical

Some segments of the journey may prove challenging. It's essential to possess a solid level of fitness prior to departure. Persistence will be required in reaching the trip's goal.

Risk level

3/6 Risk

Activities/trips with some risk. Certain incidents may occur, and they may be of such a nature that they may require professional help.

Accommodation

We offer double rooms and a limited number of twin rooms. Please indicate the name of your travelling companion and your bed preference on the booking form. If you are travelling alone, we will pair you with someone of the same gender.

If you are booking a single room, you will be given a double bed for single use.

We offer two packages in the booking form:

  • Hotel in Oslo and Rjukan
  • Only hotel in Rjukan: here you need to take care of your own accomondation in Oslo area.

In Oslo, we will stay at the Radisson Blu Fornebu from Thursday to Friday and from Sunday to Monday. The hotel is a 30-minute walk from Norrøna House.

In Rjukan, we will stay at Rjukan Hotel, located in the heart of Rjukan, near both ice climbing and ski touring destinations. It is a 2-minute walk from Rjukanhuset, where the presentations and evening programs will take place.

Ice climbing clinics

Beginners

This clinic provides you with the necessary tools to climb your first ice fall. You will learn how to swing tools and how to place crampons, leading you to a basic understanding on how to move confidently on ice. We will train you on safe terrain in a fun learning environment. You also get a lot of helpful information about everything around ice and ice climbing. Your questions and curiosity are highly welcomed, and we will do everything to make this experience a fun and unforgettable one. No ice climbing experience necessary.

Intermediate

This is a clinic for all those who have already some experience in ice climbing and want to bring their skills to the next level. You will learn advanced techniques on how to climb challenging ice and  prepare for a multi pitch climb: Strategy, belays, right equipment choice and safety aspects, this clinic will cover it all.

Experts

You have already done multi pitch ice climbing and leading. In this clinic we will focus on mixed climbing techniques, discuss different strategies for protection on delicate ice structures and risk management in general for demanding ice and mixed line

Transport

The closest trail station to Norrøna House is Lysaker (10 min walk). If you are travelling from Oslo Airport, you can take the trail directly to Lysaker.

Transport to and from Norrøna House to Rjukan, and to the activities in Rjukan will be organized and is included in the price. 


Norrøna ambassadors and guides

Several of Norrøna's ambassadors and guides will participate in the festival, and you can sign up for various ice climbing and ski touring courses with them. Registration for courses and trips will be sent out closer to the festival. You can participate in different courses and trips each day..

Our ambasadors and guides:

  • Robert Caspersen
  • Johanna Stålnacke
  • Giuliano Bordoni
  • Matthias Scherer
  • Heike Schmitt
  • Tanja Schmitt
  • Tommaso Cardelli
  • Minna Riihimaki
  • Philippe Batoux
  • Jakob Fink

Courses:

  • Ice climbing
  • Ski touring 
  • Speed climbing competition

Equipment list

This list is intended as a guideline, so that we have what we need regardless of the weather we get on the trip. Remember that you can also get used hiking equipment that works perfectly. Get in touch if you have any questions. TIP: We recommend that you have the most important hiking equipment in your hand luggage, for example hiking boots and gore-tex jacket/trousers.

Obligatory

Clothing

2 sets. Not too thick, wear multiple layers if necessary.

High enough to reach above the boot shaft is reccommended.

2-3 paris. Wool is recommended.

We recommend thin wool.

Fleece or wool. 

Down or primaloft.

Big enough that it fits over everything else. It must have a hood (preferably with space for a helmet), and cover the butt.

Gore-Tex or similar. Must have a decent hood, and hold out wind and rain. Should have space for midlayers underneath. Ventilation under the arms is recommended. 

Gore-Tex or similar. Must hold out wind and rain. Ventilation zippers along the legs is recommended.

Warm hat for cold days.

Thick, wool.

Warm ski mittens/gloves.

Warm mittens/gloves.

Footwear

Solid hiking boots for winter use and enough space for thick socks. Must be stiff enough for crampons.

Equipment

Needs to have space for everything you want to bring on the hikes.

For protection against cold wind and snow.

Randonee skis, not splitboard. Make sure your bindings fits your boots.

Make sure these fit your skis.

Check that they fit the boots. NB: Choose steel - aluminum crampons break easily when we walk on stone/gravel with heavy equipment.

With new batteries.

Small, light and in aluminum (not plastic).

Can be rented, let us know good time in advance

Recommended

Clothing

For evenings and leasure days.

Footwear

Or similar. Must be lightweight and with low volume to use inside. 

Useful

Equipment

Nuts, chocolate, energy bars, etc.

It will be possible to borrow equipment such as: harness, ice axe, crampons and boots from Petzl and Scarpa. We do not guarantee that we have equipment for all. 

Ski equipment is only needed for those who would like to attend ski touring at Gaustatoppen.

If you are in need of renting equipment, contact us: events@norrona.no