The Sami’s calendar says we with fast step will enter the Pre-winter season. That is a good name, meaning it is about time to prepare for the upcoming Winter. The daylight become shorter and the temperature will fall. Time for reflection, planning and become contemplative. New season means you can try new habits. I will give you a link here for a more healthy life. But, I will just go for the cold shower in the morning, that will be a good start…

And talking about the Sami’s I will present the rein deer. The Sami’s life is all about the love to the nature and the rein deer, so it will be the heart of their life’s. The rein deer – boazu is an animal that fully have adopted to the arctic climate. Dependent of the season the retina (Sv. Näthinna) of the rein deer will change from blue to yellow and back to blue due to adaptation of the light of the season. In the Spring-winter it is time for the calving, now it is urgent times for the Sami’s. It is time to move the herd from the low lands to the mountains. Here will the calving become much more quite. During the summer the rein deer use the time to graze and fill up the depots for the autumn and the upcoming Winter. During the summer it is also time for the calf marking, now the Sami’s gathering for clearing out which rein deer is which. During the autumn it is the rut time for the male rein deer’s. This will take a lot of energy of them and they look really big and stately. After the rut, the will loose the antlers. The female rein deer’s also got antlers and they will keep them. That will help them to dig to get lichen (Sv. Lav) which is the rein deer’s favorite meal. During the summer the rein deer eat grass, herbs mushrooms and leaf’s. Since the rein deer is adapted to the climate it can store bot water and energy for cold periods. Another fact is that the fur is so dense so even if it has swam, it will not even get wet.

Reindeer’s Amazing Adaptations to Living in Snow | Snow Animals | BBC Earth – YouTube

So here is the year of the rein deer; It will start in May with the calving, before that the rein deer keeper have to secure that the rein deer’s has passed the ice passing and will be up in the mountains. Just after midsummer the preparation for the marking of the calves begin. Checking the fences etc. As soon the meadows is green the hard work of marking begins. During the summer the rein deer’s will be graze the lichen high up on the mountain slopes. In the late summer it is high time for the preparation of the slaughter. In the beginning of September the real work is on, and if needed it will also be in October. During this period the work is hectic, now all the meat and everything from the slaughter needed to be taken care of. At the same time the moose hunt season is on and also the fishing as well. In the beginning of the Winter, it is time again for gathering the herd and split the rein deer’s up. In the low land they will eat what the nature will give them but also the keeper will secure they got hey if needed and also moss.

So now you maybe got a better know of rein deer’s and might see them from a bit different angle?!

This weeks easy adventure will be in Swedish Lapland. Take the night train towards Katterjåkk. You leave the train, and your on the track at once. Noe you got 3,5km towards the Kattejaure cabin.

This is the target of the day, Here you will sleep and do a day tour toward the top close to the cabin. If it is a good weather, you also can do a day tour to vassivaggi wind shelter and back. But this demand good mountain knowledge and skills due to the high mountain environment…Then the next day you will go back to Katterjåkk station and enter the night train again…

This week I’ve been reviewing the Montura Brave2 jacket. This is a ”work jacket” for rescuer and professionals in the mountain environment. I like the jacket, but I missing a hood. With a price of 227 Euro I think it a bit too expensive.  The layering is not water proof, just water repellent and for that price I expect more. The visibility is something that is very good and also the pockets and the finish is nice. But due to price and the ”missing” of a hood it cant be just (NNNN).

A glimpse of Swedish Lapland: Ep.9 – DANCERS IN THE DARK – YouTube

And the training, I have stared the days with a cold Shower just for getting energized.. And I am closing in to the target 74 push-ups within 2 minutes. And 14 pull-ups…I’m on the way..

How to Feel Energized & Sleep Better With One Morning Activity | Dr. Andrew Huberman – YouTube

Bryan Martin – Wolves Cry (Official Music Video) – YouTube

See ya soon…

Today I will give a heads up for the easy accessible adventures. Ones that you can do just over a short weekend, or just a couple of days.

The first suggestion will be the Sonfjället tour. Here you take the car, and turn it towards Sveg-Hede. It will take you about ~6 hours from Stockholm. Here you can stay at Nysätern mountain cabin. Early morning next day you turn on your headlamp and just outside the cabin the trail starts. Now you follow the foot of the mountain “Gråsidan” northern foot, towards Sododalen. The trail is uphill’s in the beginning and you will take a couple of height meters here. After almost 4 km. you will pass a trail-crossing. Here you can choose to go around Valmfjället or go directly towards Sododalen. After 1.2km more you reach the windshelter. This one is new and with a nice stove (so bring some firewood for a nice rest. From here you cant ascend the 1,5km to the top od Sonfjället with a fantastic view or you can continue towards the wind-shelter (2,2km)close to Medstöten. Or why not do both? Now you have the option to either go to the wind-shelter close to the peak and set up the tent, or use the wind-shelter for a night. Or go the 7,2km back to Nysätern and stay there. Eat breakfast and you are ready to go home with a fantastic mountain  experience with you…

The second suggestion will be the peak cabin of Åreskutan. You take the night train from ex. Stockholm at 22.39 and you arrive in Åre 8:33 in the morning. You put on your backpack and walk towards Tottbacken. Follow the trail towards Getvalen and up to Sadeln. You will pass the Lillfjället and Hällfjället on your right side. When you pass the Lillskutan it is time for the challenging part of the day. Here you will have a real uphill part, But with nice weather it is just a pleasure with the view…Soon you reach the top cabin, and you can eat your packed lunch and start the descending. In the evening you jump on the night train towards Stockholm at 19.41 and at 05.47 you weak up in Stockholm with a full day of new adventures…

This week I will test the Montura Bravo2 jacket. This is a heavy duty jacket for mountain adventure. With a lot of pockets and visible areas, it is produced for mountain professionals.

Dying For A Name – YouTube

See ya soon…

Well, it is time to summing up this years summer season. With a nice Via Ferrata tour in May at Skuleberget, and a peak tour to Helags in June followed with a tour to Oviksfjällen in July, and Enafors – Storulvån in August, Lunndörrsfjällen in September and in October a tour to Offerdalsfjällen. So summing up that I can only be satisfied. Now its time for planning the upcoming Winter season and check all equipment…

This weeks reflection will come here; First of all will be my thought about STF and there handling of the lease management in western Jämtland. Driving from the back seat has never been a good way to steer something. And after a limited result, STF explained that it was a good choice for the environment etc. From mu point of view it had been better to do a poodle, and say -sorry we have failed, because we was to late on the ball…

The next reflection will be about how do you want to be remembered? I couple a week I was on a funeral. It was a light funeral, where the priest told us about the person. And it was all very nice word, and everything was consistent with how he was. So how will you be remembered? I think that is a very good question, and it might be a thing to think of ahead…

David Kushner – Daylight (Official Music Video) – YouTube

See ya soon…

This week I’ve been in Långsåsdalen/Mjölkvattnet for the International Mountain Leader Summer Assessment. This area is perfect for this purpose. With no trails neither path or lanes. The summer assessment include areas as Speed navigation, Night navigation, Navigation in poor visibility, Leadership, First aid, River Crossing among a lot of other stuff. You as aspirant really need to live up to UIMLA IML standards. The first day of the assessment it was really nice weather, late summer feeling. Wednesday the rain was poring and 20m/s in the gusts of the wind. And in the morning of Thursday the snow was falling from the heaven and the tent was covered with frost. All of the participants did a good work, but due to the standards not all passed. You need to be prepared, and got focus for the challenge you will get during the examination.

So here we start the Assessment in such a nice weather…

The area is perfect for assessment…

One of the tough challenges will be the night navigation…

Ropework at steep ground will be another part of the standard.

River Crossing is both challenging and dangerous/risky…

As IML instructor you need to be objective, open minded and also flexible. The weather changes, the participants have different type of knowledge and skills so you need to adopt. But summing up this Assesment we have done a great job, with a very relevant result. So a happy instructor in the end…And unless it is not raining it is not training…

See ya soon…

Bryan Martin – Wolves Cry (Official Music Video) – YouTube