Dale Skole - Ice Climbing

Me and my friend went on a Multi pitch course with Tim and then later in the course Lars. This was absolutely amazing trip. Included with the course is a hostel wich was really nice and cosy with sauna and a dry room for the equipment. The staff over there were very welcoming and nice to chat to. I learned a lot from Tim who was patient and easy to understand, he is a great teacher and fun to hang with. We feel like we got every thing that we came for and more

Learning very useful ice climbing skills from skyhooks and having very exciting experience. Instructors are very professional and very nice. Looking forward to coming back to participate other courses of skyhook adventure.

After having a fantastic time on the beginner ice climbing course, I returned a week later for the multi pitch course. Another incredible experience! This course is really designed to improve climbing technique and teach new skills and is very well structured to achieve this. We covered everything from building ice anchors, and placing screws to dealing with weather forecasts and analysing avalanche risk. Many thanks to all the instructors involved, in particular Ryan and Tim who spent some very long days with us.

This was my third trip to Rjukan for ice climbing and the second in two years with Skyhook. Like last year, it was a fantastic week of climbing
I was in a group of fun individuals with varying abilities and experience. The expert instructors ran the course very professionally such that all benefitted greatly (and equally). The feed back from all the instructors, to individuals, during the course was superb and timed such that we could put the advice to use during the climbs.
The venues and climbs were selected progressively so not only were they fun to climb but helped address weaknesses uncovered during the course. In addition to the climbs, we were given de-briefings in the evenings to discuss progress and and objectives for subsequent days.
Fantastic week - I'm planning on going back for another week next winter!

I've now been on three ice climbing courses with Skyhook, and each one has been excellent through and through.

Ice climbing can be a daunting activity, especially if you don't have vast amounts of climbing experience (like myself), but every single one of the instructors that I've worked with on the courses has been fantastic, doing everything in their power to put you at ease and allow you to have an enjoyable time, while also pushing your limits.

I would not hesitate to recommend Skyhook and, in fact, I will most likely be back next season for some more ice climbing.

I enjoyed the trip & the experience. The Ice climbing was spectacular. The Hostel is great although under renovation, that being said there were other hostelers that showed no consideration for other guests and were blasé about arriving late at night when people were sleeping, then bringing all their shopping into the dormitory. If that wasn't frustrating enough, they then proceeded to wake everyone early in the morning too! I and 1 other changed rooms. The other issue I experienced was the fact that after I hired a car Skyhook continually failed to put me in touch with the other participants of the group I was in. I could wait no longer for the flights (Prices going up) so booked my flights. Skyhook then said it was unable to put us in touch because of data protection. I did eventually make contact with one other member about 3 weeks before the trip via the faceook group however that participant came on a different day The other 2 participants never joined the facebook group. So I had to bare the whole cost of the car, a little frustrating at Norwegian prices. A tad galling too that my car was then used to shuttle the group around!
 
To sum up, although a couple of negatives, the trip was fantastic, the Guides are excellent, the Hostel staff were fantastic & very helpful, just a small group of the fellow guests that were not so.

Having just come back from a Skyhook Multi Pitch course in Norway I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend these guys to anyone!! Informative, encouraging, friendly instructors and guides and climbing that is just out of this world!!!
We will DEFINITELY be back for more - thank you Skyhook!!! :):):) xxx

I did The multi pitch course and it was awesome, big thank to Tom, Lars, and Tim. I Will Come back to rjukan, really Nice place also.

My second visit to Rjukan with Skyhook. Another great experience and I'm sure I will be back. Managed two long multi pitch routes and plenty of class bottom roped routes practicing lead screw placement and steep ice technique. Our instructor Tom was great at striking the right balance of keeping things fun and keeping us focused and getting our efficiency up to speed. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to develop their ice climbing.

A fantastic week in a magical part of the world, with some amazing people. Excellent course, catering for a full range of abilities. Professional, engaging and inspiring instructors, clearly pursuing their passion in life - the outdoors! Ryan Simpson's & Tim Oates attitude towards personal development (ensuring each member of the diverse group, no matter what their prior experience was, felt challenged) was commendable. The "Ryan and Tim double act" really made the week! Ryan made our multi-pitch days a real adventure, a pleasure to climb with & learn from and a huge asset to Skyhook.
Tim & Ryan were both 100% committed to blending absolute safety, fun and learning. I would trust them both with my life on any mountain in the world and can't wait to return to climb with them again.
Thank you guys!

This course is for people who have lead rock climbing experience, and at least 2 days ice climbing experience. Over the week you will cover the essential skills for independent ice climbing.

Advanced Ice Climbing

If you arrive during the day, it is likely that everyone will be out skiing or climbing. Feel free to put your feet up and make yourself a coffee before the guides come back. In the evening your guide will introduce you to the rest of the group and start your course briefing.

You will stay in the Rjukan Old School Hostel. You can find them on Facebook and book extra nights.

The local supermarket has a broad selection, with equivalent prices to a higher end supermarket in the UK (e.g. Waitrose).

It includes accommodation, guides and all technical equipment. It excludes travel, food, appropriate clothing and winter mountaineering boots (these can be rented from the hostel if needed). Snow shoes are also provided free of charge if needed for the walk-ins.

• European Health Insurance Card (if appropriate)

• Driver’s license & rental car details (if needed)

Please make sure all clothing is not cotton – cotton clothing is great for the summer but loses heat very quickly in the winter.

• 4 base-layer t-shirts (e.g. running t-shirts)

• ‘Booster layer’ e.g. second fleece

• Down jacket for warmth, if possible (from e.g. Rab, Alpkit, Mountain Equipment)

• Soft-shell trousers or other warm trousers

• 2 pairs of waterproof/snowproof gloves or mitts

• Winter mountaineering boots that fit crampons (these can be rented directly from the hostel if not owned. The cost of rental is 250NOK)

• Sleeping bag liner for the hostel (you can rent sheets if not owned)

• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor (French plug style), phone & charger

If you own any of the following, you may bring them along as well (otherwise they will be provided free of charge):

Rjukan Old School Hostel, Knut Dahlesvei 31, 3660 Rjukan, Norway 

Here is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rjukanoldschoolhostel/  

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All specialist equipment is provided. You must bring with you: Appropriate clothing (similar to ski wear) including waterproof trousers and tops. At least 2 pairs of gloves/mitts and winter mountaineering boots (you can also rent these from the hostel).

If flying, go to Oslo Gardermoen - usually most affordable with Ryan Air/Norwegian Air. Course participants typically rent a car together for the 3h drive to Rjukan. When you sign up, we recommend you also join the Facebook event to arrange this. You can find the event on our Facebook page.

Yes, no problem - just let us know when you complete your registration form.

The hostel is a small and friendly hostel with basic dormitory-style accommodation. It has comfortable beds, good cooking facilities and pans, warm showers, a sauna, Wi-Fi and a drying room for gear. Bed linen is included. There is no reception desk – just come inside and ask for the owner Jakob, who is also your head guide.

Temperatures can range from - 10 to - 25 degrees Celcius. You should come prepared and ensure that you have lots of warm layers.

Yes - please make sure you have travel insurance which includes ice climbing. Popular providers include the BMC and Snowcard.

The minimum age for all our courses is 18.

The currency used in Norway is the Norwegian Krone (KR). There is 1 ATM machine in Rjukan, but it’s worth getting money before you arrive.

Weather conditions in Rjukan can get very cold in the winter months, with temperatures dropping as low as -25 Celsius. Travellers need to be prepared for these weather conditions. For more information please read the kit list provided.

You need to be competent at lead climbing (sport or trad) and have at least 2-days experience of ice climbing. You'll already know how to lead belay, clip bolts and the basics of swinging an ice axe.

If you're not quite there yet, why not check out our other two trips:

Beginners Ice Climbing - for total beginners, with no experience required.

Ice Climbing Improver - for those who have either some top-rope climbing experience, or who have tried ice climbing (e.g. on our beginners course). This one is also great if you are more experienced, but don't want to progress to lead climbing.

Absolutely yes - most people book alone. It can feel a bit intimidating, but you will do introductions when you arrive, and you’ll get to know the others in no time!

Most people fly to Oslo Airport and then car share for the three-hour drive to Rjukan. When you sign up, we put you in touch with other participants through the Facebook event so that you can arrange this.

You will meet at the hostel at around 8pm for introductions and to collect any equipment you may need from the gear store.

 Arrival and Introductions

Day 2 is focused on refreshing and improving your ice-climbing technique, with hands-on coaching from your guides. We typically head to the Lower Gorge crag, with fantastic single-pitch routes ranging from Wi3-Wi5 (moderate to hard).

  Advanced Ice Technique

Today you will have an opportunity to try out some mixed climbing (on both rock and ice). You'll also learn some more advance skills such as building v-threads for abseiling.

 Mixed climbing at Krokan

Climbs for day 4 are Nye Vermorkfoss and Backvein – two 3-pitch waterfalls that weave in and out of the rock – always much easier to climb than they look from the valley floor and the photos!

 Multi-pitch skills

The focus on day 5 is lead climbing protection and skills. You’ll be working on judging ice quality, placing ice screws and simulated leading. You will do this at a great single pitch crag, with plenty of climbing to put these skills into practice!

 Lead climbing skills

On day 6 you typically do a longer route with a short walk-in, such as Tjonsterbergfossen – an epic 5-pitch route with great views over the valley. Putting all your skills into practice, it's a fantastic end to the week!