Norway 2015 - Day 5
Arriving in Voss around 10 pm after several wonderful stops in the Hardangervidda National Park (seriously, so pretty... plan on stopping and spending an hour or more walking around and looking at the waterfalls etc). We found a free camping spot kayakers frequent on the lake just outside of town. Arriving there is already several kayakers there, a few point out there are pay campgrounds nearby... not the friendly welcome to become accustomed to in the kayak community. Luckily, a friendly kiwi points out there are still plenty of places. We end up talking to the kiwi and his friends from Sjoa about what they have been boating and levels and get info that the Teigdalselvi is likely still in, though probably a little low.
I knew of this run because of the take-out rapid... Double Drop. A two tiered waterfall that I had known about since watching the VHS "Liquid Lifestyles II" years ago. I also had read in our book that there was a must run slide that was straight forward. Upon talking to these guys though I am surprised to learn about two other must run drop, both 20 to 25 feet tall and waterfalls. Although nervous, they stated that this is their favorite creek of their trip. So our plan was set. And we all tried to get some sleep.
The next morning we drove out of town, looking for a kayak shop to repair Daniel and Will's gaskets (both had catastrophic failures) as well as a skirt for Daniel as his did not fit his boat well. We failed at both but did find some aquaseal which made due well enough for the gaskets. Arriving at Double Drop it looks a little low... that is good for the run, not as good for running the drop itself. Driving up we get our first glimpses of the creek. Water look sufficient. Parking at the tunnel and hiking up half a kilometer we get the view of the put in and start to think water may be too low. The book says this first few hundred meters is manky so I hope for the best. Quickly you get to the first must run falls, an s-turning entry into a 20 foot falls. Below here the water level quickly becomes sufficient though we did half portage one slide due to lack of water to avoid a rock at the bottom. We also all take turns eating shit off the slide you see from where you park. Working downstream we enter another gorge and the next must run 20 footer. This one goes well for everyone and we make downriver progress, portaging another waterfall into a big slide with a kicker into a green pool. Perhaps with more water the slide would go. Downstream we find the Notter drop and quickly portage it on the right and then enter a nice open valley. Downstream you drop over a ledge and into the final gorge, in the middle is the must run slide that you can scout from the left. Harry stopped me, however, from scouting and said, "remember that time you said ‘follow me down this drop (Lewis' Leap on Cherry Creek), you will at one point say ‘fuck you Daniel' but trust me it all will go well'? This is like that... follow me." And I did. Downstream one more hole awaits before you are at the lip of Double Drop. A trail exist on river left for those wanting to either portage or Park and Huck the falls.
At high flows it is recommended to not run the river, but if interested that is the best time to run the Double Drop. At the end of the day, we had all had a rough landing or two and were feeling some pain. Harry was undeterred and gave it a go and stuck a perfect line while the rest of us shouldered our boats in eager anticipation for some ibuprofane and muscle relaxants from our day of big boofs.
That night we camped nearby at a pay site, and enjoy the hot showers that it came with. A shower well deserved. With rain falling we drank until we went to bed, woke up... and made plans for the Tysselva.
Thanks to Harald Glanz for sharing photos.
Last: Norway 2015: Day 4 - Numedalslågen
Next: Norway 2015: Day 6 - Tysselva
Mi 0.0:
- Junk (IV). The first 100 yards is junk. No doubt about it. There then comes a rather blind rapid that Harry hoped out and scouted us junkily down the right. Just downstream is the must run, eddy out before the bedrock entry.
- First Must Run (V). This first must run is probably the easiest. So, if you don't like it, consider not going any further. At our low flow we opted to put in in the eddy on the right after the first 5 foot entry. It was low and tripping on rocks was likely, or a backward run. But putting into the eddy we ferried across the lip and dropped down the 20-25 feet to the pool below.
Slide Portage (V). Just downstream was a locked in horizon. I got out on the right delicately and scouted Harry down the first 5 foot ledge into an eddy tucked on the left upriver from the ledge... but below it. He was then able to scout the rest and signaled a portage. There was a line but it was very thin to end the slide and thread the needle between rocks. With more water you would have more control and it would be a bit more doable.
Parking Slide (IV+ to V-). When you park, you see a slide that doesn't look that tall that drops down into a confluence. This is that slide. The line is down the left. Surprisingly it is about 30 feet tall pool to pool. The bottom drop is about 15 feet tall. We were all afraid of boofing out but 3 out of 4 of us went over the handle bars and ended up with the wind knocked out of us. The other boofed out and got a tweaked back from landing tail first in green water. The fifth walked it... I guess he was the smartest.
Boogie (IV to V-). This next section has some busy boogie full of ledges and rocks. At higher water this section would be pretty on I think. We worked our way down several sets of drops, eddied out twice for brief one person scouts and quickly found ourselves above the next must run. Luckily there was a small eddy on the right out of view just before the lead in!
- Second Must Run (V). Scouting was a bit sketchy on the right, a steep muddy Cliffside with a sheep trail was all there was. We ran the entrance on the right and eddied out in the middle. Then ran down the right through a small hole to the uniform hole at the lip with cross right to left flow. We then boofed left of center on the deep water. It was deep if you wanted to plug. It was just tall enough in hindsight that I should not have boofed so hard. It didn't seem that tall until I was below it! This one is probably about 20 feet tall.
Boogie (IV). Just downstream there was some blind boogie that we scouted down the right. The river then eased up and the boogie continued. We did scout a few blind drops but it got easier for a bit which was nice.
Nose (IV). Downstream was a cool boof down the middle off the nose of a large rock. Don't melt off either side though as it is a rocky landing there. Just downstream was a sievy rapid that we banged down far right.
Slide Portage #2 (V+ to U). This drop was actually two part. The first part was a folding falls with wall reconnects and a rock if I recall. Daniel and Will scouted and reported back to walk. The second part was a big slide that was nearly double the slide of the Parking Slide... it definitely needed more water to make the bottom hit less risky. We walked both on the left.
Boogie (IV). Just downstream was a fun rapid around a blind corner. This then led to some boofs and ledges.
Gorging (IV). Downstream you can tell the river is getting more gorged again and there is a fun lead in rapid that we ran down the right. This then turns into boogie with a few fun drops. This then takes you to the lip of Notter.
- Notter Drop (V+). Very rarely run, this is a stout water fall with an entrance. We walked on the right.
Downstream you enter a nice pleasant valley and the next 0.8 miles flies by.
- Ledge (IV). At the end of the valley there is a ledge. There is a hero line on the right or a nice mindless boof in the far left channel. We then paddled behind the falls, that was fun. It was maybe 10 feet tall.
- Third Must Run (V-). This one is after a small lead in rapid. We scouted from before it though there is an eddy at the lip. The line at this flow was right of center with some left angle. The slide is over 20 feet tall and nearly vertical. The left half of the river is a huge pillow, so you glance off this pillow into the pool below. At higher flow apparently you can boof far left. At this flow that is a big boof into green water.
Hole (IV). Just downstream (and 50 feet above Double Drop) is a sticky hole that you want to hit straight. At higher flow it is probably wise to set safety here.
- Double Drop (V+). 25 feet into 40 feet. And as clean as that can be... boof the first drop down the middle and exit down the middle.
Take-out: From Voss, head west out of town on the E16. In the town of Evanger turn right (a bit of a sneaky right as I recall, or maybe that was the Tysselva with the sneaky turn) on Teigdalsvegen. Cross the bridge and follow the road down the lake and quickly up the valley. Follow it for 12.1 km to the fork and Double Drop. We took out here.
Put-in: Continue right at the fork which then leads to a nice valley before turning to dirt and climbing steeply. At one point you pass through a gate, please ensure it is closed behind you. Continue until the closed tunnel. Walk from here through the tunnel and up to the farm with the bridge just below, we put in at the foot bridge.
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