Norway is absolute an alternative you should consider. Norway is the
world's most northern country and has an unique wild nature. It is famous for
the Vikings and Trolls, deep valleys, caves, high mountains, and wild rivers.
If you are looking for real adventures, try for example rafting in Sjoa! Use
you power to the fullest!
Photo. Preparations, the final count down,
1-2-3
.
Norway - an Eldorado for safaris and extreme
sports
- Whales, polar bears and elk safaris
- Riding horses on the countryside
- Climbing high mountains
- Glacier tours
- Parachuting
-
Rafting and kayaking
- And even more
The disreputable Sjoa River
One of the most
exciting activities you can experience is rafting on the disreputable river
Sjoa. This river is world famous for fishing, rafting and kayaking. Today the
river has a modern infrastructure for several water activities. Many
international competitions have been arranged in the area, and Sjoa is now
probably one of the most attractive rivers in Europe for extreme water
adventures.
Invitation to a new experience
In 1992 I
invited a group of friends up to my family's cottage in Heidalen in
Gudbrandsdalen (in the southern part of the country, located 350 km from the
capital Oslo). There we stayed over for one night to make our finale
preparations for an adventurous rafting tour down the white wild river Sjoa.
Actual, I had to admit it, some of us where little bit nervous, included me, and
didn't sleep well the last night. We were all 100 percent beware of that the
river was disreputable for several incidents. But this didn't frightened us from
accomplish our "wet" mission.
Funny names
Early in the morning we drove to a
place called Steinholet by Ransverk (not so far from Heidalen). There we met a
rafting instructor who briefed us shortly how we should navigate the raft, and
so we were divided in to two groups. After we had put on the wet suits we were
ready for take off on the rubber boats. We started slowly on flat-water
stretches. But after a while we had the great pleasure to experience the big
volume river's high waves and strong forces.
It was great fun floating down the Sjoa River. Many of the places we past by
down the river had funny names. One of the places was called "The
mother in law's ass (buttocks)".
It was a big stone standing out in the middle of the
river, and I can ensure you; it doesn't look good!
Paddling the wrong way
Many times we lost control on the wild river. It didn't make it easier for us that one
of my friends paddled the opposite of what he should do. He sat in the front
of the raft and had a very important role. He misunderstood the commands, and all the shouting
made him even more confused. There was no other alternative; we had to
replace him. But it was not easy for anyone of us to do it right
the first time. But the most important: we just needed one captain!
|
Photo. Rafting in general is
good for team work.
It has been popular for companies inviting their employees on rafting
trips for team building.
Photo copyright Norwegian Tourist Board, NTR. Links: www.visitnorway.com and www.ntr.no |
 |
Dramatic incident
At the end of a perfect
rafting day
.. So far we were very proud, and not to be too modest; we were also
impressed by our self. We had been out for a while, and we expected that the
tour was come to an end. We believed that we had it made without any involuntary
bathing in the cold water.
We thought we were almost invulnerable and could manage
any challenge on the river. But this was definitely a big mistake for us new
beginners. SURPRISE!
The
tour was not finished yet. Something emerged on the river, which really
challenged us more than we were prepared for. High water falls stood in our way.
In one way or another we had to come around it, or another alternative; we had
to go through it.
|
Photo.
Rafting down the Sjoa River is suspense thrill.
To put it in another way: rafting is extreme
fun for they who have good nerves.
Photo copyright Norwegian Tourist Board, number
102000-6#175, photographer Terje Rakke/Nordic life/NTR. Links: www.visitnorway.com and www.ntr.no |
 |
After a
while we took off, paddling for our lives and hoped the best. In the middle of
the falls, we had to face it; we didn't have a chance. The water foamed. For the
first time in my life I experienced the "
Sentralifugal
kraften" - "
centrifugal force
(power)
". We floated straight in to a horrible swirl.
The raft went around and around, and was totally out of control. Suddenly it rose up
and turned us all off. It was like a nightmare.
Some swam desperately around like crazy dolphins, and others enjoyed riding
on the white water waves. One thing is sure: we all get soaked wet! It was very
shallow below the falls. One friend of mine fell under the raft. He had a scary
experience because he became captured between the raft and the bottom of the
river. Fortunately that brave man found his way up from the water again, and
praised his fortune for still being among us.
We took a short rest on the riverbank, and so we set out
again. Further down the river is it a place called the
"Vaskemaskinen" - "Washing
machine",
but we stopped long before
that. And thank God for that!
Victories have to be
celebrated
Of course rafting and other extreme sports is
risky. Actual is a calculated risk. It all depends on qualified instructors,
equipment, and local knowledge of the places. My friends and I were all agree
that we had a unique experience that day.
For us it was a kind of milestone in our life. We were really satisfied with
our tour, and so we started our preparations for part II; a big barbecue party
in my parent's home at Vinstra (where the world famous man Peer Gynt came from,
ref. the Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen`s book). We celebrated that we conquered
the Sjoa River. We did it for whole the night and until the sun rose.
Rafting is an experience far more than surfing down the river. You can
learn about useful gears, safety precautions, elementary rescue technique and
teamwork. But first and foremost; rafting is fun and social! If you have better
time than we had, you can also do fishing, hunting, hanggliding, climbing,
visiting canyons and caves.In Sjoa and its surroundings, you can find some
regions of Norway`s most beautiful and extreme nature. You can do it too!
Stein Morten Lund, 7 August 2000
Additional information
Read more about Norway on our
website.
Sjoa is located in Oppland county in Norway. Sjoa, which is also called the
land of the Trolls, is surrounded with high mountains, and has huge and steep
rock walls.
Sjoa River in Gudbrandsdalen floats along the road 257 in the Heidal valley.
The rafting trips start ca. 8 km from the intersection with E6 road at Sjoa.
It`s about 1,5 hours drive north from the Olympic City Lillehammer.
In addition to Sjoa, there are other popular rivers for rafting in Norway as
Driva in Sør-Trøndelag county, Trysilelva River in Hedmark, Dagali River in Voss
and the rivers in the Setesdalen valley.
Rafting demands co-operation. It has during years been very popular among
companies which use rafting for teambuilding.
The rafting companies provide the participants with necessary equipment such
as helmets, wetsuits, and life vests, but the participants must bring their own
wool sweaters, wool underwear and thick woollen socks.
Untouched and wild - more than real:
The area nearby offers the
most fantastic nature you ever have dreamed about. Jotunheimen is a mountain
region, where you find several of the highest mountains in Norway (and the north
of Europe). Among these are: Galdhøpiggen (2469 m), Glittertind (2452 m), Store
Skagastølstind (2405 m) and Fannaråken (2069 m).
The mountain range Jotunheimen is located 350 km north of Oslo, Norway. The
summits are 2000 m or more above sea level, and there are quite a number of
smaller glaciers in the area. Most of Jotunheimen has status as National Park,
which means that special environmental regulations apply, the most important one
being that no motor vehicles are allowed. This makes Jotunheimen ideally suited
for hikers and climbers that enjoy the experience of basically undisturbed
nature.
Spreading north and east from Otta towards the Swedish border, the Rondane
National Park (Rondane Nasjonalpark), established in 1962 as Norway's first
national park, is now one of the country's most popular hiking areas. Its 580
square kilometres, one-third of which are in the high alpine zone, appeal to
walkers of all ages and abilities. The soil is poor, so vegetation is sparse and
lichens, especially reindeer moss, predominate, but the views across this bare
landscape are serenely beautiful, and a handful of lakes and rivers along with
patches of dwarf birch forest provide some variety.
Wild mountain peaks divide the Rondane into three distinct areas. To the west
of the centrally located lake, Rondvatn, are the wild cirques and jagged peaks
of Storsmeden (2017m), Sagtinden (2018m) and Veslesmeden (2015m), while to the
east of the lake tower Rondslottet (2178m), Vinjeronden (2044m) and Storronden
(2138m). Further east still, the park is dominated by Høgronden (2115m). Most of
the mountains, ten of which exceed the 2000-metre mark, are accessible to any
reasonably fit walker via a dense network of trails and hiking huts.
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