|
 Trollveggen (TrollWall) is the highest vertical mountain wall in Europe . It is 5950 feet from the valley to the top of the wall. Out of this, 3300 feet are vertical together with a 150 feet overhang.
One gets an idea of the great dimensions when a rockslide in autumn 1998 measured 2.2 on the Richters scale for earthquakes in Finland . Still, it is impossible to see with the naked eye where this happened, one has to be acquainted with the locality.
The climbing route Trollryggen was climbed for the first time in 1958 by Arne Randers Heen from Åndalsnes, and Ralph Høibakk. This was the first climbing route in Norway where the climbers had to spend the night on the mountain. Trollryggen is still Europe 's longest climbing route (approx. 11.500 feet).
Before 1965 no one believed it was possible to climb the vertical face of the Troll Wall. But in 1965 a Norwegian and an English climbing team proved otherwise. In 14 days they reached the top, climbing different routes (the Norwegians one day before the Englishmen). Since then various routes have been climbed in the Troll Wall. The routes are often named after the first ascenders. Most of the routes have been climbed during the winter.
In 1980 a new sport appeared when the Finnish Jorma Öster made the first jump with parachute off the Troll Wall. Between 1980-86 300-400 parachuters jumped off the Troll Wall. As a result of several accidents and dangerous rescue missions parachuting in the Troll Wall was prohibited by law in 1986. |
