To follow up on yesterdays here is a story on the last week which we spend in Hedmark, the region bordering to Sweden on the east of Norway. The region is known (or actually unknown) for its easy paddling perfect for the whitewater 3-4 paddler. To paddle with Lizzy a little more and be able to paddle with just the two of us (Bas and me) we decided to spend the last week here. It turned out to be a good decision traveling through parts of Norway we had not been before.

We started our last stage with a day spent in the City of Roros, an old minersvillage given Unesco World Heritage status and thus a interesting and protected area. We took a tour in the old coppermines which was a good way to get out of the paddling-every-day mood we had been in. But, back in the boat we had to get! The days before we arrived it rained lots and filled the rivers up till high levels so luck was on our side.

We simply followed a route, and paddled most rivers we got to, starting with the Folla and the Grimsa. Both were bigger volume rivers with nice rapids and beautifull scenery. Although most of the Grimsa is whitewater 2, there’s a nice cataract halfway down which is easy to paddle and portage up again. Second run twice the fun, 5th run 5 times the fun! We raced down boatercross style and bomb into the eddy at the end with a big boof every time.

Next upp were the Setninga and the Lower Atna. While cooking on a parking space next the road we were overwhelmed with Norwegian hospitality and got invited to sleep in a summer house that was not rented out. We spent the night sharing stories and had a nice time enjoying the kindness of these people. The day after we paddled the Setninga with a very nice canyon in the start, but a somewhat boring lower part. In the afternoon I took Lizzy down the Atna and did some whitewater swimming skills at the take out. The latter was a good idea cause she felt quite uncomfortable in the cold water and experienced the shock in a safe way.

Driving down the road towards Rena we spotted a river with a lot of water and even more gradient and decided it was time for a little expedition. After dinner we got in some 4 km. up the river and started our journey down the Hira. Extremely steep and cool marked the first few rapids but after I guess 1,5km. there was a horizonline in a steep canyon ahead of us. We scouted, and found a 30 meter drop/slide with steep canyon walls after that. Damn, it was to good to be true and we had to walk out. The next 1,5 hours we spent walking up, through the forest and being eaten by muskito’s. Luckily we brought our phone and Lizzy was able to pick us up once we reached the road! So there it is people, do NOT paddle the Hira the tributary to the lower Atna!

The campsite we found next was to good to be true, true norwegian style alongside the river and a patch of grass. The very last drop of alcohol, a bottle of prosecco, finished it off. The next day we decided to paddle the Imsa which was supposed to be class 3-4. Driving up we spotted a male Moose just next to our car, and I think that was the most exciting thing that day. The river was so crazy boring we decided it was not even worth taking Lizzy down, imagine!!

The last day in Hedmark we hoped for a revenge after the most boring river ever and went to the Asta. Although not the most interesting I took Lizzy down and for her it was one of the wildest rivers so far, which made it more exciting for me as well. The last little canyon Bas and me paddled down and made up a bit for the day before. But in the end we had to conclude that the Coca Cola-colored rivers Asta and Imsa are not to be visited again.

On our way back we drove past the playspot of Sarpsborg but it was not on a very nice level and two runs later we were back to the beach with 25 degrees and all out blue skies. The beach was a gift after all the cold rivers and we spent the whole day just relaxing and reading our books.

And that was it, after almost 5 weeks and at least 50 Statoils visits we started our drive back to leave Norway, again sure to come back next year.

So now I am packing my bags again for two weeks in Austria. Cause one thing is sure, the beer is too expensive and with all the money we saved on not buying beer I can do a trip to Austria now;)

Cheers, Raoul