This year has so far been full of memorable escapades – first a trip to my family’s mountain cabin, then a work assignment in the Arctic, and now a winter meet in the Scandinavian Alps with the Women’s Alpine Adventure Club. WAAC is a not-for-profit venture that both inspires and facilitates adventurous experiences in the alpine environment. With hundreds of members from dozens of countries (and counting!), this international community is all about finding confidence in the outdoors as well as building confidence within. After a successful first-ever meet in Écrins National Park just last summer, the club set its sights on Hemsedal for this year’s winter meet – a prime destination for both skiing and ice climbing. Naturally, when I learned that this outdoorsy group of women was coming to Norway for a week of skill building and cabin chilling, I was very eager to get involved.
The village of Hemsedal is just about a three hours’ drive from Oslo, which meant that a mini road trip was in order. I picked up three lovely ladies in Sandvika – Becca, Catherine, and Maddy – and together we drove to Huso Lodge. Once there, we were warmly greeted by Louise and Lizze, the club founders and meet organizers, as well as Louise’s sweet dog Tecwyn. This boutique mountain lodge and event venue is made up of timber-framed cottages, unique gathering arenas, and a tasteful banquet hall. Of these locales, we settled into the Viking House, which sleeps thirty guests in thirteen rooms – complete with a cozy fireplace, a spacious sauna, and a wood-fired hot tub. With groomed trails for cross-country skiing right outside our door and suitable spots for ice climbing just minutes down the road, it was the perfect base for venturing into the mountains by day and relaxing inside the cabin by night.
Speaking of cross-country skiing, they say Norwegians are born with skis on their feet… but I must confess I was no older than five the last time I had a go. That’s why I was both excited and slightly nervous to join the two-day beginner workshop taught by former nordic ski racer Juliane Foss Martin. Thanks to the step-by-step instruction and positive group dynamic, however, my nerves soon disappeared. Day one was all about technique at Gravset skiarena – first arms and legs without equipment, then adding in the poles, next exchanging poles for skis, and finally combining it all together. We practised everything from diagonal stride and herringbone to double pole and snowplow, laughing through the slips and falls. Day two was more so about putting our new skills to the test, traversing snow-covered terrain between mystic alpine forests and majestic mountain peaks.
While skiing was somewhat familiar to me, ice climbing was an entirely new pursuit. I’d been indoor climbing before – both bouldering and top roping – but crampons and ice axes were foreign territory, as was abseiling and the abalakov thread. Again I attended the two-day beginner workshop, this one taught by international mountain guides Bjørg Selvåg and Tamsin Gay. Day one began with a thorough introduction to essential gear and technique, followed by a half day of climbing near the village of Hemsedal. I loved how the guides just secured the ropes and let us play, as I didn’t think I’d be tackling such large ice formations straight away. Day two required abseiling into a valley where the ice was thicker and the routes were tougher. Frigid temperatures and near-vertical walls made for a far more challenging climb, but it was a fun experience nonetheless.
Picturesque surroundings and informative workshops aside, the people are truly what made this trip so special. Never have I felt so included and supported, not to mention incredibly inspired, by a group of women I’d only just met. Louise and Lizze did a fabulous job of breaking the ice (no pun intended), and strangers turned to friends in a matter of hours. The female guides – Juliane Foss Martin, Bjørg Selvåg, Tamsin Gay, and Urpu Hapuoja – were absolutely phenomenal, and their local knowledge of the area was second to none. Rob the chef fed us unbelievably well – buckwheat crêpes, aquafaba meringues, lentil lasagne, sourdough bread, vegetable curry, quinoa salad, the list goes on – all vegetarian with both vegan and gluten-free options. Last but not least, the cheerful attitude as well as the communal effort put forth by the club as a whole kept morale high and ensured that everything ran smoothly.
If you’re interested in joining the upcoming summer meet, you’ll be pleased to know that plans are underway for Dolomites – September 5 to 12, 2020. Save the date and keep up with the Women’s Alpine Adventure Club on Facebook and Instagram for more details! Lastly, if you’d like to get in touch with any of the guides for private bookings, you can reach Juliane through email, Bjørg through email or Instagram, Tamsin through email or Instagram, and Urpu through email.
With ♡, Julia Elizabeth
A special thank you to the Women’s Alpine Adventure Club for having me. I did receive a complimentary spot at the meet in exchange for creating content and documenting my experience. As always, all opinions are my own.
