Lofoten / Norway@Wet, wet, wet@

God morgen! After our first night inthe Rorbu cabin at Kræmmervika, theoutlook for the first trip looks great.

MATZE:

... our

lad from

Cologne.

MAREIKE:... is

equally athome on land

and water.

ANDI:... likes todistract uson the waydown bytellingjokes.

ASTRID:... nevergets out ofbreath evenon verticalclimbs.

JÖRG:... always keptour goal insight.

SILVIA:... the novice in thegroup :-), her firsttrip to Norway.

GAUDENZ:the mountaingoat

GPS PHILIP

SHAWN the sheep

OUR TEAM IN THE LOFOTEN ISLANDS:We spent a week in the Lofoten Islands in August2010 – during which time the team makeup changedconstantly. The photos for the Jack Wolfskin SummerCatalogue were taken during our trips.

The 80 islands off Norway’s coastalways offer exciting trips: the landscape is a mosaic of rockycliffs, fjords, glaciers, forests,lakes, waterfalls and mountains. The sea is everywhere.

It’s the landscape of contraststhat draws us here.

We set off forReine on a warm25˚C day.

Starting at sea level and climbing the 448 metres to the

top of Reinebringen shows just how steep a mountain can be.

Gradients of 30˚require you to be fit and sure-footed. Once

past the 400 metre level, you suddenly get a view over theridge towards the Kjerkfjord and that makes

all the effort worthwhile.

We view the next peak:Stortinden (866 m).

Although it looks like power walking, in factit’s total concentration. From a distance therocks look like scree but close up they aremassive, moss-covered boulders with deepclefts, jagged and slippery. Down in the crevices you can hear the water rushing. It seems as if everything is flowing.

The luxuriant and inviting moss almost beats the comfort of our

beds at home. With about 22 hours of daylight, there are other things

to do at night apart from sleeping.

With the sun shining weset off for Myrland.

C’mon everybody!

The ground has soaked up the rain of the last

few days and warmed by the sun produces its

tangy scent.

Getting rid of excess energy!

Passed with flying colours! We remaindry despite jumping in puddles andbeing exposed to a good proportion of the average annual rainfall.

The things tha

t people leave

behind on the

beach...

Unstad, a fjord in the north of the Lofoten

Islands, is a typical example of the variety

in the scenery here. Craggy mountains rise

precipitously out of the sea. The waves offer

surfers an adrenalin shot.

join us and take off on a kayak tripalong the coast of Mortsund. Meanwhile,the rain has stopped and it has cleared

up for the time being.

Andi and Mareike

The first trip of the new group.

On Kvalvika beach: Is this reallyrock climbing? The slipperiness andgradient make it nigh impossible butwe’re allowed climbing aids which arethankfully to hand.

lie in the Atlantic Ocean, 100-300 km

within the Arctic Circle between 67º

and 68º N. Lofoten means “the foot of

the lynx”.

The Lofoten Islands

The evening ambiance draws us outside

again away from our cosy cabin.

Today we’re on our way to Kalle. The rocky coastline has been recommended

to us for climbing and bouldering.

We’ve made it! Astrid can barely wait:

Now the rocks are literally within reach

.

In the shimmering distance you can see

the mainland.

The pink granite is said to

offer good traction even

when it’s raining. But we’re

not complaining that the

good weather matches our

mood perfectly.

We swap our cabin for a tent and spend

one night on the shore at Utakleiv, toast marshmallows ...

... and

just wat

ch the d

ay fade

away.

The early bird... Eventually, we’re allpacked up and ready for our last trip.

A boat takes us from

Reine to Kjerkfjord.

We continue on our wayto Selfjord.

Adjø kaptein!

Our farewell trip delivers

the goods – including the scenery.

Andi cracks on

e joke after

another while

negotiating th

e

steep descent.

We’ve got a bit of time

to spare until we’re

picked up. We relax and

dangle our feet in the

water while soaking up

our last impressions of

the Lofoten Islands.

RENEGADE XT JACKET

Our favourites

ACTIVATE PANTS These soft shell trousers are amust-have on our trips: they provideall the freedom of movement required(even when climbing), are extremelybreathable and also wind-repellentand rain-repellent. So, don’t forget them!

This weatherproof jacket’s wow factor: the breathable yet windproof and waterproof TEXAPORE AIR O2+ material goesinto action exactly when needed! Themore you move and sweat, the moresweat is wicked away. A “thinking”lightweight weatherproof.

ELECTRON SOFTSHELL A genuine lightweight soft shell withsuperb compact pack size! The jacket

is windproof with back and side inserts giving potentially even

more breathability. Weight: 240 g (Size M, Women)

310 g (Size L, Men)

The HIGHLAND TRAIL is particularlysuited for multi-day trips. A maincompartment plus a base compartment,lots of side pockets and pouches make for easy pack organisation. The rucksack is available in different sizes and in a men’s

and women’s version.

PYRAMID TARP

HIGHLAND TRAILWOMEN/MEN

Great for small groups: the PYRAMID TARP is big enoughfor four people to sleep in

comfort and also for sittingin. Another plus: the tentcan be put up and taken downquickly.

for the trip:

CROSSHIKE MID TEXAPOREWOMEN/MEN

The CROSSHIKE MID is light and verycomfortable. Its waterproof yet

exceptionally breathable TEXAPORE O3membrane always kept our feet dry.

List of links:

Tourist Information for Lofoten Islandshttp://www.lofoten.info/

Guide, Kayak Trips, Eco Tourismhttp://www.lofoten-kajakk.no/de.html

Accommodationhttp://www.kremmervika.nohttp://www.nyvagar.no/http://www.finnholmen.no/http://www.dvgl.no/vare-steder/henningsvaer-bryggehotell/

Mapshttp://www.atlas.no

DNT Norwegian Trekking Association/Tips for Treks and List of Cabinshttp://www.turistforeningen.no

Reinefjord / MS Fjordskyss Ferryhttp://www.reinefjorden.no/

Photos

: p.

001

-045

Gau

denz

Danuser | p. 046-112 Philip Bas

ke