Today we open door nine, and let the sun on the southern part of Lapland shine…

(Avalanche training at Kittelfjall)

In the Kittelfjall area you can find a lot of nice spots and adventures. This area is famous for real good of pist skiing. In January I was doing the Avalanche rescue leader course here with Kittelfjall adventure. Real good training and a really nice area. But in the near you both got the Mars mountain and the Borka mountain. The history of Kittelfjall begins in 1800 with Lars Larsson and Anna Gustafsdotter who started to build the village. Today just 69 persons live here, but lots of tourist come here. So if you havent been in the area I strongly recommend it. Why not take a tour towards Marsfjallet 1590 M…

(Marsfjallet, a nice mountain for a peak tour…)

Mud – Lonely This Christmas (Official Video) – YouTube

See ya tomorrow…

The winner of this week’s competition is Goran Karlén. The price is the lifesystems heatshield bag. The correct answer was Paltsa cabin.

(this weeks price and the right answer the Paltsa cabin)

The topic of today will be Winter navigation. OK, so we take this in step by step. First of all we start with the gear. Map and compass will of course be essential. A GPS can also be good. But you cant rely on only that, so you need the compass and map as well. I also recommend some kind of altimeter. That can be very helpful when it comes to positioning. When doing the navigation up in the mountain environment, you need to be skilled in contour navigation since rivers and lakes etc. will be much more difficult to see in the snow and icy environment. Route planning will be the next step, your experience will affect the route selection. And dont forget that the days are shorter during winter time, and you also got more equipment then other times, meaning heavier pack. Now its time to start the journey. From now you must know were you are, you will get tired and got unfocused sometimes. But you must now all the time where you are. The weather can change of sudden, and with snow or wind or fog you will got no visibility. A good manner is to have a couple of ”tick off” during the relocation. Trust your compass, and you might have some bearing on a taped paper on the compass. (just a reminder; keep the compass away from the mobile phone…) Know your 100 m pace, normally a human take 60-75 double step for hundred meter. This is good if the visibility is poor. Contours is your friend, Being able to use contours to interpret slope aspect can be a lifesaving technique when you find yourself lost in poor visibility. Be aware of potential hazards, and avoid them. You must avoid avalanche terrain,  Always remember ‘Ridges are bridges’ and providing they aren’t rocky aretes they provide the safest way to descend the mountain should you come across unstable windslab as they tend not to hold the snow as much as corries.

Understanding contour lines with Steve Backshall and Ordnance Survey – YouTube

FINNEAS – Let’s Fall in Love for the Night (Official Video) – YouTube

See ya tomorrow…

Today I will blog about outdoor food, this topic is important due to the comfort during your adventures. How can you do to improve, and make your outdoor meal a bit more appetising? If we begin with the breakfast, start the day with porridge, it will give you a ground for the day. Do the oatmeal, and add blueberry powder and different kind of nuts. It will taste better and will be a bit more luxurious. Coffee of course. When it comes to lunch it will be a lighter one. Bred, cheese on tube and soup for example. The dinner is the meal that might should be the most lavish. So why dont you bring some really nice and aged cheese, and dried ham and more small thing to make the dinner a bit more nice. Bring a small bottle of olive-oil, it will enhance the taste. Why dont you try a Stroganoff for dinner: Boil rice, slice the sausage and the union. Fry the sausage and the union in the pan, put in the crushed tomatoes and some thyme. put in some cream and dijon mustard. Let it simmer for ten minutes. Salt and pepper and voila…

So the conclusion of getting a nice dinner; bring the small extras for spruce it up some extra….

David Norris has Extreme Skill on Cross-Country Skis – YouTube

See ya tomorrow…

The answer for this week question I want to have at latest tomorrow at 10.00 (Se Sundays blog)

Here is the nature not far away, The wood, lakes and mountains is not just for the tourists pleasure it is also a reason for living here.  This village is fantastic from that view it is really a living village in the country side. While many village throws in the towel, some struggle and survival. Here in the gate to the mountain world you can find whatever you need. While walking trough the village, you recognise you can find all you need. From here you can reach a lot of interesting areas and mountains. Why dont you try the Ana-mountain, summer as well as at the Winter.  If you want try off-pist skiing and is a beginner, this tour is the best choice. Or why dont you try it with snowshoes? From Ramundberget, you can walk among the trail towards Faltjagarstugan and Helags. The view will make you to stop a lot of times during the hike. But on the other hand a really nice and easy accessible hike will be directly from the village. Follow the ”vintergatan” to its end, and the trail will start from there. You follow the wood path in the beginning, and soon it will become hilly.  Sooner then you think you will reach the top of the Funasdalsberget, with a splendid view over the whole area. It is definitely worth the effort...

(Ann mountain from the top of Funasdalsberget Photo U Bergman)Todays book suggestion will of course be: Strövtåg i Funsäsdalen. 

Strövtåg i Funäsfjällen – Kristina Svensson – danskt band (9789198031560) | Adlibris Bokhandel 

See ya tomorrow…

After over 40 years in the Swedish mountains it  is always nice to find new spots. This year I got two new favourites. One I already have told you about, the Bydalen area. And here comes the next; the Offerdals mountains. Far into and hidden in the north west parts of Jamtland, it is located. Like a hidden treasure. The area is quite unknown, but this is like a small Sarek. You probably will not meet any others while you are trekking here. There is almost no trails, but there are valleys and naturally paths you can follow. Mjolkvattsmountain will be the highest peak in the are with 1247m. You can start from Langasdalen, Frankrike or Jansmassholmen. Here you will reach a real wilderness area. If you park at Frankrike, why dont you take a hike up to the Oldklumpen peak. From here you will have a magical view of the area. If you chose to get into the are with tent I can suggest a visit of the peak of Himmelsraften. If the weather is auspicious you will have a really nice view from here.  

So thank you Markus Nyman for presenting me for this area.

The book suggestion of the day will be the Rådjursmannen. The author Geoffroy Delorme live his life together with a herd of deers, and spend seven year of his life in the nature with the animals, and he become the deer-man (Sv. Rådjursmannen). the book is poetically written, and a tribute to the nature and the wild animals.

Rådjursmannen : mina sju år i vildmarken – Geoffroy Delorme – inbunden (9789137502281) | Adlibris Bokhandel

Festiphoto de Rambouillet – YouTube

See ya tomorrow…

The winter is here, and that with notice. When it comes to high altitude, we have learned that it is important to adept. To acclimatise step by step. But how is it with cold, do we need, and can we adapt to it? Way not making a friend out of an enemy? The winter and snow can be something really good. A perfect building and isolation material for example…

First of all your blood vessels constrict. This meaning the skin sends a alarm to the brain that is is cold. The result will be that the body tightens the blood vessels  in your legs, arms, hands and feet. Next thing is that you need to pee. It is a natural reaction of the cold. Soon you will start shivering, the reason is that the body haven’t been able to heat up the body enough, the contraction of muscles is next step for the body to start heating up. If you are wet this steps will go faster, so you better keep dry in the cold air. Ok, so is it possible to prepare for being in cold environment?

There has been a couple of research in this area, in 2014 it was a small study were a couple of young healthy men spent up to three hours sitting in a baths filled with 14(C) degrees water. At the start of the 20 day study all the men did a lot shivering, which is the normal response of the body to react towards cold. There heart rate and metabolism speed up for heating the body. At the same time, their blood vessels narrowed and drew back from the surface of the skin, causing skin temperature to drop. Basically, the men’s vascular systems clenched—pulling blood toward their warmer interiors in an effort to escape the exterior cold.

But by Day 20, much had changed. The men’s shivering had more or less stopped. While their metabolisms and heart rates still sped up in response to the cold-water bath, their blood vessels no longer constricted and their skin temperature didn’t drop the way it had before. The men reported less discomfort during their chilly baths. At the same time, their blood samples contained fewer markers of cold-induced stress and immune-system activity. It appeared their bodies had gotten used to the chill.

So what can we learn, and how can we adept to cold then? Well, the easiest way will be to start showering with cold water. Start with a 15 sek, Shower and increase with 10 sek. every day. And as a gift out of this you also will get; improved immune function, it reduce chronic pains, it has a anti-inflammatory effect, it improves the amount of brown fat. And also reduce levels of stress, increase willpower, a higher level of alertness.

Today we also got a contest. The question is; one of the cabin that Sepals used had a tunnel for use of escape for the refugees? Was it Unna allakas? or was it the Paltas cabin, or kattejaure cabin? Send name and answer to +46 70250 90 28. This week the price will be a bivouac-sack.

And the days book suggestion will be Hypothermia, frostbite and other cold injuries.

hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold injuries | Adlibris 

Wilderness Medicine: Mild vs. Severe Hypothermia – YouTube

COLD – YouTube

Today we open door number four, and how to choose the right shell jacket you will learn more. What type of design and shell? I hope to help you out well…

Before I have describe the hunt of the perfect outdoor pant, and I must say, I found them. The Lundhags Rocketer pant. Now I will help you out to find the perfect shell jacket. When buying a jacket, you must have the sustainability perspective. So choose wisely, let it cost. You will have it for a long time, and for all types of activities. So what is important to look into? First of all, if you will use the jacket for high intensive activities it must have high breathable ability. If you are going to use it for climbing, it must have pockets high etc. So first of all what type of layering should the jacket have. If you choose a 2 layer Gore-Tex, it will become more smoother. The zippers must be easy to use. If you are going to ski, it is nice if its going lower in the back. It shall have ventilation solution, and should this be placed under the arms or more in the front of the jacket? Well, as you understand you have a lot of choice to do. So here comes my suggestions: A three layer jacket will be more durable, but it will also be more thick, in this meaning it will not become so breathable. So a 2 layer or something like it will be preferable (for being more adaptive to different activities) A slim jacket will be best, but you must be able to build up a isolation layer under. A hood that is easy to use, even with one hand is preferable. So if you ar going to by one jacket for all, here comes my suggestions; Klattermusen Allgron Jacket 2.0 as you can see this a jacket with a water pillars at 20 000, this meaning it is more breathable. This jacket got pockets so you can use a harness while climbing as well.

The next suggestion will be a Haglofs jacket. The Astral Gore-Tex jacket. This is a 2 layer jacket which is very flexible. It has a tight shape, with two high place pockets so you can use harness etc. It got a water pillrs of 28 000, and is a little bit worse due to breathable.

The last suggestion will be the Fjallraven Keb eco shell. This jacket got the Fjallravens own 3 layer system. Due to the production is fully sustainable and is produced for easy recycling. It got a water pillars at 30 000, but still got very high breathable ability. The packet are placed high for the harness etc. So this is also a favourite.

So now I hope you will have a easier choise  of shell jacket…

The book suggestion of the day will be the Sarek national park guide book, hiking, running and mountaineering.

Sarek national park guide book : hiking, running and mountaineering – Karl-Johan Piehl – häftad (9789151948263) | Adlibris Bokhandel

The Tallest Man on Earth – ”Love Is All” (Official Music Video) – YouTube

See ya tommorow…

Today we open door three, and into the IML process we will see. Since the Swedish Mountainleader organisation was found in 2014, the work with become a member in UIMLA (Union of International Mountain Leader) has become a target. And now eight years later we are almost there. So why it is so important for Sweden to get this membership? This will help us to get a good standardisation for the Swedish mountain guiding. So with three out of four modules, we are almost there. What is the difference to becoming a IML then? With a IML certification, you will be able to be guiding worldwide, in different environment but not where you need alpine equipment such as harness, crampons etc. The IML will also being able to guide on high altitude hikes, such as Tour du Mont Blanc as example.

(summer training in Valadalen area) In October 2020 we begun with the Summer Training module. This one was held with Enaforsholm as a base. With two UIMLA assessors in place we started the training. Weather forecasting/knowledge, first aid, navigation/positioning, river crossing, emergency bivouac, safety planning etc. The days become quite long I can tell. When we went to bed at 22.30 we all were really tired.

(Winter training in Bydalen area, Ice-axe technique) In February the second module was in place. At Bydalen area the Winter training took place. Snowshoeing, ice-axe technique, winter rope handling, winter navigation/positioning, avalanche rescue etc. The ended up in a mini expedition in the Drommen area. The cold wind swept over us, so it become a real good winter training. Sleeping in snow bivouac was a part of the training.

(Summer assessment in Offerdals mountain, River crossing examination)When September came up it was time for the first assessment. Summer assessment. This time it was in the northern part of Jamtland. In the Offerdals mountains the assessment took place. The week started with a speed navigation. Then we went out for a mini expedition including assessment of navigation/positioning, river crossing, first aid, safety planning, rope technique etc. When we came back to the base camp at Thursday I think we all was satisfied and tired.

At the moment we are in the middle of planning the forth module, the winter Assessment. It will be held in the end of March. And without revealing to much I can say it will include; snowshoeing, Steep ground on winter, navigation, avalanche rescue etc. looking forward to this. This time the assessors from UIMLA also will participate again.

So soon I hope we will be a fully part of the UIMLA organisation, and we got a good standard for mountain leaders in Sweden…

The book tips of the day will be: 

International Mountain Trekking – Plas Y Brenin National Mountain Centre – Häftad (9780954151171) | Bokus

Rock Collapse – Gouter, Grand Culuoire, Mont Blanc – YouTube

See ya tomorrow…

Second door this year:-). Deep in Lapland close to the Norwegian border the Unna Allakas cabin is placed. If you follow the trail from Abisko or Katterjokk. The distance is 35 K, but id you choose the Norwegian side you can start from Skjomen an than its is just 16 K. During the WW2 this cabin was in focus. Named as Sepal 2 ”Anna”, from here the resistance could plan espionage and sabotage to the German troupes in the area. One of the main duties was to inform about the weather, due to the allies bomb-planes. So the bombing of Tirpitz as well as the bombing of Narvik was helped out from here of the Norwegian Milorg. So here you also can feel the wings of history. 4 km North you can see the mining site Sjangeli and if you want to do a peak tour, why dont you try the Storsteinsmountain (Sv. Storsteinsfjellet) 1893m.  The Unna Allakas cabin got a 8-6-4 bed room, and also a (the sauna at Unna Allakallas cabin) kitchen in the middle with a wood stove. So why don’t you take a tour to the border, and visit the Unna Allakas cabin…Well I can also tell you that the Paltsacabin (sv. Pältsastugan) also was one of the Sepals cabin (named Måns 1) and here the resistance also build a escape tunnel for the refugees from Norway.

This days book suggestion will be two:

Operation Sepals : hemliga baser i Sverige 1944-1945 – Roger Albrigtsen – inbunden (9789185705337) | Adlibris Bokhandel

Vandringar kors och tvärs I Sapmi

https://miljosus.se/produkt/fjallvandringar/

Swimming Under a Frozen Lake | SAS S4 EP 5 – YouTube

See ya tomorrow…

Time to open this years advent calendar. This year it will be competitions and information as well as a book tip every day. Now we will tie the knot for all the adventures of the year. But, for being able to win the nice prices you will need to follow the calendar every day. Small clues will be hidden to help you out with the competitions. All prices will have bearing of mountain safety…

Time to open the first door of December! Today it will be about one of the gate to the Jamtland Mountains. A hidden pearl that is approachable.  A hidden village which you often have been driven past on your way to the mountains. But it is highly recommend to do a visit. You follow the Damman towards Bydalen, soon you will have Drommens North face on you left. In the valley your eyes be unknowingly constantly drawn towards the mountainside of Drommen. This year I have been here three times; Winter, Summer and pre-Winter. All trails are easy to find and access. As icing on the cake (sv. som grädde på moset) You can go to Arodalen or the wild Anaris mountains. But on the other hand you can explore a lot at the Bydalen itself. Why dont you do the three peaks. Drommen, Ostfjallet and Vastfjallet? That is what I have done, twice this year!:-) 

the book tips of the day; we will start strong with a Norwegian book

Friluftslivspedagogikk – Skolor – häftad (9788202575830) | Adlibris Bokhandel

Jingle Bells – YouTube

See ya tommorow…