In 1978 a serious accident occurred in the Anarisfjällen with eight deaths as a result. This was the starting point for the Swedish mountain safety work. the government appointed an inquiry whose proposal was that the state should have overall responsibility for the area. And already in 1979 the Swedish Mountains safety council saw its light. One of the important findings was that the lack of leader and leadership was one out several reason for the incident. According to a government decision in 1984 the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency become responsible for coordination, training, information of mountain safety. In 2001 the council started a work with quality assurance of the training for mountain guides, and the mountain leader norm took its shape. The purpose of this work was to establish a national minimum level for commercially active guides. So the norm was set with 16 including moment, Since that time there have been few if any changes of the training. This has been discussed and lift up in the Swedish Mountain Safety Council and there has been some work with it, but we stand still at the moment. So why is this a so important issue for me personally? Well, many want to become a Mountain Leader, but few don’t understand or ignore the responsibility that follows with the role. A nice day at the Jämtlandstriangle is really nice, but guiding at Kebnekaise the south trail in dark and fog is something quite different and which you as a guide claimed to master. The guide and the guides standard is that settles the standard of mountain safety, that why its so important to me. I will never fold one inch for the mountain safety. The guides must be the role model, the knowledge of safety must be the badge of novelty for a guide. So this work will constantly going on, I never getting bored of it!

This is one of the SFLO’s most important work at the moment. This and establish the IML as a standard…

Today I will start to review a backpack from Lundhags, the new Padje Light 45. This is a backpack for gram hunters. With its 45L I thing it has good space. The weight 1.09kg so it is very light. But still got a frame of 8 mm aluminum, so it is very stable. It has the option to vary the length of back, so it can suits you right. The hip-belt is comfortable and it got a lot of ways to add equipment outside the sack. The mesh pocket brings you up to 11L more, and can be used for drying cloth if the sun is shining. At my first test i really like the frame and how the carrying system is built. There is a gap between the back and the sack, that seems to be fine, for reducing the heat. So I will come back one I got more to say…

The next gear to check is the Garmin Foretrex601. This is a military/tactical developed product from Garmin. It shall be easy to use, and will be the prefect tool to define your spot, and get you back to the starting point or to a ”way point”. It suits the arm perfect, and the buttons is easy to understand fins and use. But I will come back with more info when I have test it in the field…..

Durand Jones & The Indications – Is It Any Wonder? – 8/28/2017 – Paste Studios, New York, NY – YouTube

See ya soon…

The evening start to get dark, this meaning the autumn is here. The nice thing is that the speed will go down and you can light up a candle and cozy up. Use the evening for develop your skills. What can better be than thigh knots, and refine your skills in areas that need to be developed. Or read books about the mountains. Today I will wright about mountain safety. It is crucial and very basic for us mountaineers. The first thing will be to being able to navigate with map and compass, so let us begin there. Now probably some of you say -why, is that necessary? We got the GPS. Well, if the battery is empty or if you don’t get coverage. Than what? So the compass will be your friend always…So invest in a compass you feel comfortable with, that is the first step.

Now your training can start. 1. Put the side of the compass from your starting point towards your destination point. In this example I am going from the wind shelter of Svaaletjhake towards the point height 1251. Here I need to be as precis as I can.

My next step now is to turn the compass house lines parallel with the maps lines. Important here is that the northern arrow in the compass house point towards north.

Now I got the line and i also got the direction within the compass. Now i just have to turn the compass so the needle points in the northern arrow, and I got the direction to go.

Now you also got the direction at the compass house; in this case 298. This you can memorize or writhe down, if you collides with the compass, so the position is disturbed

This was the first step to become more mountain safe. It will be continued..

DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG – Where The Angels Fly (2020) // Official Music Video // AFM Records – YouTube

See ya soon…

Doesn’t we always strive for something? During the week, we strive for the weekend. At the weekend we strive for being able to fix and do all we have planned. And being honest, don’t we even strive for going to the mountain? Think if we strive for strive in our innermost being.  Stop a bit human, be grateful for all you got. Embrace the good thing in your life, your health and your friends. By doing this I for sure can tell you that the next journey you are going to experience, it will be even better. And as Michael Kennedy said: ”I learn something every time I go into the mountains.” With the hand of your heart, isn’t that true? For me it is true…With at least two!? upcoming adventures, I am so thankful. A mountain trip every month, what can better be?

This week I cant help comet the trouble at Kebnekaise mountain station. If you don’t know what I am talking about, it is about the  stomach upset that was there. I blogged about sustainability a short time ago. I think this is related to that. When you to eager to get too much people at one spot, you got this phenomena. Ok, I understand that they need to get money, but to which price? I am sorry to say, but here it has been to crowded for a long time…

”After a day of hike, everything has twice its usual value”

Oliver Anthony – Rich Men North Of Richmond – YouTube

See ya soon…

Friday morning I arrived at Enforsholm to provide an extra summer training for International Mountain Leader aspirants as an instructor. After getting lunch, and fixing the bed and so on I set up the equipment for the theoretical part of the training. A lecture in leadership, evacuation planning, river crossing, weather and a repetition of rope technique on steep ground. Next step was to practice the last part with steep ground technique. Then it was a fantastic three course dinner at Enaforsholm, and a short evening brief of the upcoming mini expedition.

After breakfast we was transported to Storulvån, and we was ready to start the mini expedition.

One of the team got the first target on the map,  and the other has to follow or way for being able to tell me exactly the position where we were at the target. So everyone have to train there ability to count steps as well. Following the height curves as well. We also discuss how to ensure that we are in the place we think we are. Also the importance of self-confidence within the orienteering skills. Now another aspirant got the responsibility to take us to a new spot. Now we got the mission to collect something special to bring and explain at the next stop (a flower, a animal poop or something else). We also practice the semi belay set up for steep ground. After another orienteering leg it was time for setting up the base camp. Next step was a orienteering leg and also a river crossing discussion. Back to the base-camp and dinner. A night of sleep.

Day three started with a navigation leg(in another scale of map) and soon we reach a good spot for steep ground training. Here all participant got the opportunity to practice. Next step a navigation leg and at the target a workshop in emergency bivouac . We continued towards the Ulvån for a river crossing training. So step by step we talked about how, when (and when not) pass the river. How to use a rope as an extra safety. After crossing the river a couple of times we was done and started the journey towards Storulvån for a lunch and personally feedback.

Reflection;  I been preparing this course for a couple of weeks, and I really like to being in the educating environment with focused and inspiring people. Learning by teaching is one of the best way of developing your self. With a high focus for a couple of week, and when its is a sudden is over, I am standing here with a melancholy emptiness, was this all? Have I doing it all right and fully? Hm. that will my feedback from the participants tell. Intensive, but with a  capacity for adaption will be my own reflection.

Dj Reggae Summertime Sadness Bassnya enak – YouTube

See ya soon…