Haakon Bolstad and two friends are on their way down from Kongsvollfossen in Drivdalen in Oppdal. They are ice climbers and have made the trip up and down the waterfall a few times before. On the way up, they see that the snow conditions are not quite ideal. – We got some signals that the snow conditions were challenging, so we then left our choice of track on the return, says Bolstad. ICE CLIMBERS: Haakon Bolstad and two friends have climbed Kongsvollfossen several times. The waterfall has a height of around 466 metres. Photo: Private The ice climbers have checked the avalanche warning in advance. – Danger level one was reported, so that means there is a fairly small risk of avalanches, says Bolstad. But the climbers quickly discover that the layers of snow below them are collapsing and they see what are called shooting cracks. This means that the top layer of snow has formed flakes. This creates a great risk of landslides. Hearing a drone, the tour group tries as best they can to take precautions. They keep a good distance from each other and plan the route according to the snow conditions. Then Bolstad hears a boom. His friend is caught in an avalanche. He clings to a tree, but the large masses of snow cause him to lose his grip and he is dragged between 50 and 70 meters down with the avalanche. – He couldn’t quite make out what was up and down and realized that he had been taken by the avalanche, of course, but when he stops, he has in some strange way gotten out of the avalanche, and the avalanche continues downwards for perhaps 200 metres, says Bolstad. Kongsvollfossen is located in Drivdalen south of Oppdal in Trøndelag. Due to the great distance, snow showers and slightly poor visibility, Bolstad does not understand that there was an avalanche, or that his friend was taken by it until it is all over and his friend shouts that he is fine. – He was very lucky that he was not carried further down, says Bolstad. Fortunately, the friend came out of it all unharmed and without serious injuries. – Haven’t had the fright In retrospect, the tour group have talked together about what happened. – We should have made other choices, says Bolstad. He says they should have either ended the trip when they got the warnings, abseiled or used a rope to get down from the falls. In this area, the ice climber was taken by the avalanche. Photo: Privat Even though the trip was dramatic, the three hiking buddies have no plans to stop ice climbing. – We have not taken the fright. We are so-called experienced mountaineers, so we take with us the lesson that when we are in similar situations, we must evaluate what we are doing and not let ourselves be carried away by the goal of the trip. We all have a lot of experience in this, so we should know better, says Bolstad. Konrad Oppedal works at Scandinavian Mountain Equipment in Trondheim. Photo: Sunniva Skurtveit / news This is what you should take with you on your trip – The most important thing when traveling in the mountains and climbing ice is that you have control over the journey itself before you get to the ice, and then avalanche equipment applies, says Konrad Oppedal. He works in the Skandinavisk Fjellutstry store in Trondheim and says a spade, search pole and avalanche detector are the most important things you need on a trip in avalanche-prone areas. – If you are traveling in terrain that is steeper than 30 degrees, what is traditionally considered avalanche terrain, then there is something you should have with you, says Oppedal. In addition, he says it’s a good idea to pack an ice axe, ice screws, ladder, rope and other small equipment. Konrad Oppedal believes this equipment is important to have with you on trips in areas prone to avalanches. These include a snow shovel, search pole and avalanche finder. Photo: Sunniva Skurtveit / news Recommended course Oppedal recommends that anyone who wants to try ice climbing take a course before setting out on the trip. – You can do it safely or you can do it less safely and we recommend that people take a course when they go out and do this here. Then there is a difference between climbing long waterfalls and climbing shorter ice walls, he says. Haakon Bolstad also has advice for beginners who want to venture out on the ice. – I guess it’s simply to take the environment around you seriously, the signals both nature and the situation give you, and that you plan your trip accordingly and to the best of your ability, he says.
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Man caught by avalanche while ice climbing in Oppdal – this is the expert’s advice for safe driving – news Trøndelag
