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The Brandsetelvi

Packing up after the Skjoli, it's time for us to head to a new region. There are still a lot of rivers around this area, yet we have only a few days left and the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is setting in. We need to see Voss and experience the renknown whitewater it has to offer. So we drive through what seems to be typical Norwegian scenery.

Heading up a pass towards the coast.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

Cresting the pass we soon head steeply dowhill.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

Before arriving in Voss proper we hope to catch a few classic creeks, unfortunately they are too high for us.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

The next ferry is in the morning, so we camp on a fjord.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

Reiner Glanz trying his hand in the saltwater.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

A view from there ferry. It's not a long ride, perhaps 1km across the fjord.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

Next we check the famous Myrkdalselvi, yet it also is too high for us as none in our group know the run, and it looks quite gripping.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling


We head for what is apparently the thing to do when all else is too high - the Brandsetelvi. Ironicly it's famous in our group as the "ping-pongselvi". It's more micro-creeking than most of our team likes. It also has incredible water color on a clear today. Today is not a clear day; it rains the entire time we're on the water. A quick walk down the foothpath has us standing on a bridge over a tall slide.

Reiner Glanz starting off with a fast, bumpy lead in.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

Under the bridge it drops away over a steep slide to vertical. Rok Sribar.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

Manu Koehler with a nice stroke into the same.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling

A quick portage is made downstream, then we start bombing away, as everyone else in the group has done this run a few times in the past. It's...entertaining as some of the beta is lost in translation. Thankfully the key bits get through.

Manu Koehler runs one of the slides the Brandsetelvi is known for.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling


Rok Sribar on the same.
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We also make a quick walk around a big s-turn slide. Rok Sribar stands at the top in this panoramic image.


Manu Koehler lining up a double drop near the end.
whitewater kayaking jora river norway photography paddling

Reiner Glanz, second teir of the same.
whitewater kayaking jora river norway photography paddling

The last series has you landing in the take-out eddy, not a bad way to finish the run.
whitewater kayaking jora river norway photography paddling

Put In and Take out Via Google Maps.
whitewater kayaking driva river norway photography paddling


All in all we enjoyed the Brandsetelvi, I'm sure on a nice sunny day it would be a nice river to enjoy at a slow pace with lots of photos, or to run laps on. It seems like one of those rivers that gets better the more you know it, because we found a substantial amount of "fuck you" rocks hidden just under the surfance. If one knew how to avoid all these annoying rocks and little pitons, it's probably a lot more fun. When you're on the "ping-pongselvi" it's important to rember to "be the ball".


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