Today I´ve made an interview with Karin Isaksson Zgraggen. She is working as Marketing Manager at Primus AB. She is also going through an education as a Mountain guide…

Interview with Karin Isaksson.

What is your outdoor background?
As you certainly hear from my accent, I come from Switzerland, more specifically from Uri, Andermatt. I grew up on a farm that my family ran. We were very active with skiing and hiking. My mom competed in skiing when she was young, so my upbringing was characterized by outdoor life. With three active siblings, it became a lot of workouts with both running and athletics training. During university studies, there was a lot of endurance athletics, including a marathon run. There was also a lot of mountain acrivities during that time. And at this period I also started climbing. I can say that I got stuck immediately for the climbing and my husband who is an enthusiastic climber and who loves the Mountains very much, drew me into that world. It became a lot of alpine and winter climb with friends aswell. We moved to Canada because there were good climbing conditions and nice people and culture. But then Olov was able to get a job at Stockholm University and then we moved over to Sweden. I have previously worked with events, but the job I took was not exactly what I thought it would be. In the event area in which I worked, it is important to have like-minded people around you. When the job at Primus appeared, I searched for it immediately, and I’m really enjoying it. Primus is a small but technical company with short decision-making processes. It is easy to influence and make changes when needed.

 What happens next in your life?
In the afternoon I will go three weeks to the Alps. I have begun training towards becoming an international mountain guide within the Swedish Mountain guide Organization. The plan is to be done within 3-5 years. After that I plan to work 80% and as a Mountain guide the remaining part.

Can you see if there is any difference if you are a woman or a man working as a mountain guide?
First and foremost, I have great respect for the training, it is in itself demanding. I think that in rescue operations, maybe as a women you must be able to have good alternative solutions, given that there may be size and weight difference between me and my clients. It may be something that has to be taken into account when selecting clients and activities. Then women need to train 20% more than men according to research to achieve the same results. That is also something to bare in mind.

 

Photo Olov Isaksson

Can you see any trends in mountain sports?
-The whole area is trendy right now. What is obvious from my perspective from Primus is that men are significantly more technically interested. I find that there is a great interest in women to come out in the outdoor environment aswell, but that they are more careful. Those who are most noticeable and you hear most  are the men who are competing and hunting low weight equipment. But I think women are the group that will grow the most.

Are there any area that you can recommend and which is special to you?
-If you have not been to Scotland, it’s a must. Over there it is not the performance requirement hat is important but just the joy of being outside. As you say, ”small mountains, big adventures”. Here everyone walks out, despite bad weather or, it’s always bad weather so it’s just going out.

Coffee on the trip, what will be your personally choice?
Ha ha if it’s a lightweight trip, I’ll skip the coffee. But if it’s a winter climb, then the bialetti goes with it, and it gets freshly brewed with some good Italian coffee. Last we were on a tour it became a competition about who could pack the lightest

When it comes to winter tenting, do you have any tips to make it more comfortable?

Ha ha to begin with, everything is easier as a guy, ha ha. Then I usually use a Camel back which I fill up with warm water before I get into the sleeping bag for a good nights sleep.

See ya tomorrow..