Description

📚 Straumvassbotn is also covered in the guidebook "Arctic Circle Bouldering" from Nov. 2019.

🌍 Straumvassbotn, or “Botn”, is one of the biggest bouldering areas in Nordland. It is located by the lake Straumvatnet east of the town of Straumen in Sørfold municipality.

🛑 That the area is home to some endangered lichen species especially on the boulders in the dense forest, so avoid cleaning such boulders for putting up new lines. 🛑

🧗‍♀️⛰ Most of the boulders are scattered in a forest on the south facing hillside. The bouldering is primarily on free standing blocks of all angles. The rock quality is generally good and featured, though some boulders can be a little chossy. Landings vary greatly but are generally decent. In the main sectors, starting by "Nord og Ned" and uphill there are vague but recognizable paths, but to find some of the outlaying boulders you´ll need to go of track. Due to the lake being surrounded by mountains the air tends to stand still making the area dry slowly. And it can get quite humid in summer time.

Many boulders have overgrown again due to lack of regular traffic, so bring a wirebrush and clean up the existing lines.

Some of the classic lines such as Visdom and Dekka Bord on the blocks in the Oppvarmings sector was lost in 2022 due to widening of the road up the the powerstation.

🛑 Important notice: 🛑The lake is a fresh water source, so swimming and polluting is absolutely forbidden!

👶 The area is not very child friendly and you can't bring a stroller.

🛏 It is not allowed to camp or otherwise stay over night at the parking area near the powerstation.

History

The first line "Begnnelsen" was established in 1999 by Mats Peder Mosti and André Wagelid. The area saw a huge development boost in the following years both by local climbers and visitors. In later years development has slowed down, but a few new lines is added now and then.