Adventure glossary

Short, clear definitions of the terms you will see across our tours, gear lists and FAQs - from via ferrata routes above the sea to the maelstrom at Saltstraumen and the science behind the northern lights.

A

Adventure tourism: Travel that combines an outdoor activity, a degree of physical effort and a natural setting - for example via ferrata, RIB safari or dog sledding. In Bodø this usually means guided, half-day experiences with local operators.
Arctic Circle- Polarsirkelen: The latitude (66°33′ N) above which the sun stays below the horizon for at least one full day in winter and above it for at least one full day in summer. Bodø sits roughly 70 km north of the line.
Aurora borealis- Nordlys, northern lights: Light shows in the upper atmosphere caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with oxygen and nitrogen. Visible in Bodø roughly from late September to early April on clear, dark nights.

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B

Belay: A safety technique where one person controls the rope to catch a climber if they fall. On guided routes the guide is always belaying or supervising the safety system.
Bodø: Coastal city in Nordland, northern Norway, and the gateway to the Lofoten and Vesterålen islands. Population about 55,000. European Capital of Culture 2024 and Rampen's home base.

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C

Carabiner: A metal snap-link with a spring gate used to connect ropes, harnesses and safety lines. Via ferrata carabiners are heavier than climbing carabiners and built to absorb a longer fall.

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D

Dog sledding- Hundekjøring: Travelling across snow on a sled pulled by a team of harnessed dogs, usually Alaskan or Siberian huskies. The driver is called a musher and steers by voice commands and a foot brake.
Drysuit- Survival suit: A waterproof, insulated suit worn over normal clothing on RIB safaris and other cold-water trips. Keeps you warm, dry and afloat if you end up in the sea.

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E

Electric snowmobile- Elsnøscooter: A battery-powered snowmobile. Near-silent and emission-free, so you can hear the surroundings and follow tracks through protected areas where combustion engines are not allowed.

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G

Guide: A trained leader who plans the route, manages the safety system and shares local knowledge during a tour. All Rampen guides are certified for the activity they lead and speak English and Norwegian.

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H

Harness: A webbing belt with leg loops worn around the hips and thighs. It connects the climber to the rope or via ferrata lanyard and distributes load safely in a fall.

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K

Kp-index- Aurora forecast: A 0–9 scale measuring geomagnetic activity. In Bodø the northern lights are typically visible from Kp 2 upwards, provided the sky is clear and it is dark enough.

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L

Lofoten: Archipelago south-west of Bodø famous for jagged peaks, white beaches and fishing villages. Reachable by ferry, plane or RIB.

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M

Maelstrom- Malstrøm: A powerful, swirling tidal current with visible whirlpools. The Saltstraumen maelstrom outside Bodø is the strongest in the world.
Midnight sun- Midnattsol: The period when the sun does not set below the horizon. In Bodø it lasts from around 2 June to 10 July, giving 24-hour daylight for tours and hikes.
Musher: The person driving a dog sled team. Comes from the French marchons ("let's go"), which fur traders shouted to start the dogs.

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N

Nordland: The county along the Norwegian coast that contains Bodø, the Lofoten islands, the Vesterålen islands and Helgeland. Stretches across the Arctic Circle.
Norwegian Sea- Norskehavet: Part of the North Atlantic west of Norway. Its relatively warm water - kept moving by the Gulf Stream - gives the Nordland coast an ice-free harbour year-round.

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P

Polar night- Polarnatt: The period above the Arctic Circle when the sun stays below the horizon all day. In Bodø it does not happen fully, but from early December to early January the city only sees a few hours of blue twilight.

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R

Rappelling- Abseiling, rappellering: Descending a cliff under control by sliding down a fixed rope through a friction device on your harness. Beginners always rappel while connected to a second safety rope held by the guide.
RIB- Rigid Inflatable Boat: A fast boat with a solid hull and an inflatable tube around the rim. Stable, manoeuvrable and forgiving in waves - the standard craft for ocean safaris on the Nordland coast.
RIB safari: A guided trip in a RIB along the coast, often to Saltstraumen, sea-eagle territory or hidden beaches. Passengers wear a drysuit and life jacket and sit on saddle-style seats.

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S

Salten: The region around Bodø in southern Nordland. Includes Saltstraumen, Sjunkhatten National Park and the mountains where most of Rampen's land-based tours happen.
Saltstraumen: A narrow strait 30 km south-east of Bodø where up to 400 million cubic metres of water flow through every six hours, creating the world's strongest tidal current and its biggest whirlpools.
Snowshoeing- Truging: Walking on deep snow using oversized footwear - snowshoes - that spread your weight so you stay on top instead of sinking. Easy to learn, no skiing experience needed.
Sølvskatten: The advanced via ferrata route above Bodø, finishing with a dramatic overhang. "The silver treasure" - named after the WWII silver shipment hidden in the area.

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T

Tailor-made tour: A private trip designed around your dates, group size, fitness level and interests. Useful for families, corporate groups or travellers who want something off the standard catalogue.

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V

Via Ferrata: Italian for "iron path" - a protected climbing route equipped with steel cables, iron rungs and bridges bolted into the rock. Lets non-climbers safely ascend exposed terrain with a guide.
Via ferrata lanyard- Set, Y-lanyard: A two-armed energy-absorbing strap that connects your harness to the steel cable. You always keep at least one of the two carabiners clipped in while moving.
Vikingveggen: The beginner-friendly via ferrata route above Bodø. "The Viking wall" - moderate grade, ~2.5 hours total, accessible to anyone with basic fitness and no fear of heights.

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