ye.sapr

Hi! I have not been in Georgia, but also thought about it, so let me tell my considerations. Svaneti is great region, it is without doubt a "must see" of Georgia, but I'd better visit it in summer, because in summer most trekking routes are available. As as ski resort, Mestia has very short history, and has few prepared ski-slopes. The most highly developed ski resort in Georgia is Gudauri, so in winter I'd prefer it. Anyway, first visit to Georgia is a great experience

I can try to answer your questions. I was in a trip there, and personally know many people who also were, in different regions of Kyrgyzstan.

Now the risk of terrorism in Caucasus is relatively low, because unprecedented actions of safety were performed during and before olympic games in Sochi. Also, there are no bad news about Elbrus region on russian mountaineering websites. However, Caucasus is unpredictable, and everything can happen suddenly. But, I think, that, generally, risk of terrorism is much less than risk of natural mountain dangers.

Phone number of rescue service is 112, am I right? Are there any different numbers for specific areas?

One more question - I see depth of snow on Jostedalsbreen is above 4 meters (dark blue). Does it mean just depth of snow, or summary thickness of snow and ice?

Thanks, Lindap, very useful site. Now I'm looking at snow depth near Lodalskapa, and it shows that snow begins near Bodalssetter, and that it is above two meters of snow near Kopevatnet. Can it be true? I'm a little bit confused.

I have read that resque service is free in Norway, including helicopter evacuation. In case of norwegian citizens all is clear - they pay their taxes in Norway. What about the case of foreigners that need resque? No doubt that foreigner also will be saved. Question is - who will pay the bills? My assumption is - insurance company have to pay bills for resque of foreigner. But I dont know exactly, how it happens in reality. Does anybody know anythig about it? Maybe, there is some standard procedure of interaction between rescue service and insurance company in this case?

I have information that this year is very snowy, isn't it?

Do any people stay at Nesdal regularly? I thought, it is abandoned, isn't it? Maybe, there are functioning summer hotels or huts there? If so, I can hope that a trail to Nesdalen is sometimes used and not overgrown. Is the boat service regular at Kjenndalsstova?

Hello again! I have new interesting idea. Kjenndalstova - Nesdalen - Vesledalen - Gjerdaaksla. No route description available from Nesdalen and farther, but I feel it can be possible. But some questions occur. - Is it good idea to cross Kjenndalselva at its delta, by the coast of Lovatnet? - Is it possible to go by the left bank of Kjenndalselva, opposite from the road, down from the bridge near Krunefossen? - Is it possible to cross Utigardselva somewhere near Utigardsetra? Unfortunately, no photos of Nesdalen available, so I have no idea, what is the river like. - Does it make sense to cross these rivers early in the morning, when melting of the glaciers is minimal (in July)?

http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explorer#view=photo&position=1007&with_photo_id=10076414&order=date_desc&user=210233 One more photo. Is the route on the big shelf covered with snow in the center of photo?

Can it be the beginning of Tjuvskåra route at the left side of the photo? http://www.panoramio.com/photo/25690864

And what about the route Kjenndalen - Tjuvskora - 1512 point? Is it more simple than the route discussed above? http://www.turistforeningen.no/english/album.php?album=/Lokalforeninger/Sogn_og_Fjordane/Luster_Turlag/Breturar/Bretur_Lioksli-Tjuvskora&fo_id=3552 http://www.sunnmorealps.com/alps/bilder/vidaregaaende_brekurs01.html

Squidman, thank you for advice! Hiring a guide will make a trip more safe, but at the same time, will kill the spirit of adventure

Bregal, thank you for translation! I have a problem interpreting word "hammer" which is the same in english and norwegian. But maybe in norwegian, unlike english, it has several different meanings?

Thank you, Bregal. I understand your idea, it is not good to advice hard route to a person with unknown experience. Most of our group have experience of different mountains - Caucasus, Tien-Shan, trips and alpine routes in smaller mountains like Carpatheans and Crimea. However, half of us have no glacier experience. Nesdalen is very attractive because of its wilderness.So, if you please, tell me in more detail, what is the difficulty of the route? Is any equipment needed? Or problem can be in orienteering? Do guys on this photo follow this route? http://www.sunnmorealps.com/alps/bilder/vidaregaaende_brekurs99.html Or maybe, a route to the south of Nonsibba is more straightforward?

I also have an idea of crossing the glacier from Ruteflotdalen to Flatsteinbu. What do you think about it?

Thank you for answers. Last week I made some more efforts in learning exciting Jostedalsbreen geography, and understood that Lodalskopa is "must see". From all that I've read, Brattebakken is the best place to enter the glacier. But, it is also interesting for me to descend from the glacies some other way. What about DNT route to Kjendalen? Maybe, anybody has such experience?

I am sorry, maybe my question is misplaced here? Is this branch of forum only for winter & skiing, or about summer brevandring too?

Thank you for your answers! We plan to get to Stryn from Gardemoen by direct bus - Nordfjordexpressen. And also we'd like to get in time on bus to Loen, that is at 9.30. So, I think, 24-hour shops on filling stations can be more useful for us.

Are there sporting goods stores in Stryn or Bismo? Or, I can ask another way - where are the nearest sporting goods stores to Breheimen and Jostedalsbreen?

I mean propan, butan or similar. Gas canisters for turistic burners like Primus, Kovea, etc.

I heard that gas in Norway is available in shops at filling stations. The question is - how long do they work in the evening? Do any of them work 24 hours? Can gas be bought in Gardermoen? What if I get there in the evening? The same question about Otta, Bismo and Stryn.

We are planning a trip to Jostedalsbreen area in last decade of july. I want to ask - is it good idea to try to cross the glacier somewhere? As I have seen from photos, upper part of glacier remains closed by snow all the summer. But I dont know what is the condition of snow. Some of us have experience of snowy glaciers, some not, but all of us know how to deal with equipment and how to get out from crevasses. We just dont want to do this too often Can you advice relatively "safe" routes through the Glacier in the end of july?

Hello all! My name is Yevgen, I'm from Ukraine. I'm new on this forum. Feel free to ask me any questions about the mountains of exUSSR territory, and I'll try to help you. (I see that questions appear sometimes here, but, unfortunately, I dont know norwegian)