Page 51 - Wish Stream Year of 2018

lead the entire team up a route to highlight the nuances of multi-pitch climbing on ice. A short abseil later, after reaching the top, we were tired but excited, and prepared for the challenges that Wednesday would present. (OCdt Montgomery)
Wednesday 19 December 2018. Wednesday saw the group climbing in the heart of the valley, the Vemork Norsk Hydro plant. After ascending above the plant, the group split down into two syndicates to climb the multiple variations of Susses Veil. This enabled the dif-
been falling the past day or so had settled on the ice that we eagerly awaited to climb. After brushing down an icicle, the first task was to set up an anchor to attach ourselves to so we could keep ourselves firmly on the ground if one was to find themselves slipping off the ice above. This was to be the first of much technical rope work we were to practice throughout the day. This saw the team’s first lead, assisted by a top rope and ‘seconded’ up their own climb, with minimal support from the instructors. (OCdt Robinson)
ficulty to be adjusted, pushing all
members of the group, with one
half overseeing setting up and run-
ning an abseil back down to the
plant. The day then shifted into a
battlefield study, in which the group
explored the old plant which is now
a museum. This gave a real insight
into how difficult it would be to destroy but why it was an essential task for the Allies. The day came to a natural conclusion after watching the 1965 classic “The Heroes of Telemark”, setting the conditions for the following days of very excited climbing and terrible enactments. (OCdt Kidson)
Thursday 20 December 2018. The team returned to Ozimosis on Thursday; however, they were greeted to a different sight. The snow that had
Friday 21 December 2018. Friday saw the team returning to Vemork for our final climb of the week. As requested, our instructors had sourced a ‘crunchy’ ice climbing grade 5 route for us to attempt. It was yet another frozen waterfall situated in the valley beneath the famous heavy water factory of
WW2. The climb was more technical in places and far higher than anything we had attempted so far. However, sweaty and exhausted, we managed to drag ourselves up the ice, one axe reach at a time. Filled with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, we finished the day with a stint in the local sauna and then a deli- cious full Norwegian Christmas dinner in town. A brilliant end to what was an exciting, educational and challenging week.
The climb was more technical in places and far higher...
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