Telemark: Stairway from heaven

Sam Sutton on Husevollelva

It´s the time of year that I get back home to find paddlers sat on my doorstep! This week it was the 2 young kiwis Sam Sutton and Josh Neilson, sat in their car waiting at midnight.

I took them in for the night and then sent them on their way to Telemark, which is working like a dream this year due to a record snow pack.

I caught up with them later that weekend to find them in their element. With limited fear and a great deal of talent they had been knocking off some of the biggest runs in the area at pretty chunky levels.

On Sunday we headed over to Husevollevla, (aka Project 2000), which Sam showed us his skills on, and aptly named "the stairway from heaven". Possibly the steepest creeks in Norway, it offers continues waterfalls one after another.

Walking into the Mår

Tim Star, Husevollelva

Tim Star, Husevollelva

Walking to the river though a classic Telemark meadow.

Sam Sutton, Husevollelva.

PROJECT OSLO: Source to sea first descent

Lars-Georg Paulsen at the weir in Nydalen

We finally managed to complete Akerselva, from its source in Maridalsvannet (Oslo´s drinking water supply), down to Oslo Fjord. In the process we created a media frenzy, with a local TV crew and journalists showing incredible interest in what was a dumb stunt!

Ironically after traveling the world to the most obscure places, the most interest we have ever got from serious media, is by paddling a ditch 5 minutes from my flat!

We are now major TV stars in our own minds. The short clip from Oslo TV can be viewed at here.

The river is about 7km long, and between numerous dirty weirs, and the odd junkies needles, there is some surprisingly good paddling at high water. The best section is in the Gruneløkka, a trendy young district, with a couple of opportunities for a beer on the way down.

Mexican Mich (the only person I have met who can use the word
´gringo´in a serious conversation!). Outside Gruneløkka Student house.