In the 70s I grew up in a working town. The weekend was spend with skiing and skating during the winter and hiking in the spring and summer. I cant remember all times spending looking into the bonfire, and waiting for the sausage to be grilled. The next step was to becoming member of the Swedish Outdoor Association (Friluftsframjandet). We spend winter cold night in Wind shelters, cabins and tent tipis. I think it was here I took my first steps to becoming a mountain man. The challenge to take part in tough adventures and proof to myself that I was able, that was would I think led me to the place where I am today. This was the first step to the stairway for mountaineering.

Last weekend I was doing a assessment of one of the IML’s that need to be assed. So flying to Bergen and train towards Voss which was the target.  After leaving the train and put some of my luggage at the hotel I went to hike towards Lönahorgi a real nice tour. Then early morning we took our coach towards Flåm for getting the clients of the day. Four American citizen’s that wanted to take a tour in one of the fjord and hike to a waterfall. So we started from Bakka and hike up hills. In the beginning the trail passed the pre-mountain wood and for every height meter the view become better and better. The ascending was hard and one of the participants have to stop after half way up. We other continued and a half hour later we reached the goal of the day. A fantastic waterfall with a incomparable view. The descending took a while, due ti it was slippery and steep in some of the passage. But all participant’s went down and all was very satisfied of the tour.

(A happy guide for a perfect day…)

The Dead South – Tiny Wooden Box [Official Music Video] (youtube.com)

See ya soon…

This has been a hectic week, du to travels and meetings. The week begun with a meeting with the Swedish mountain safety council. This time it was a distance meeting, but I was in place at Ostersund. The reason was that the Swedish Mountain Leader Council would now take over the Mountain Leader norm from the Swedish environmental Protection Agency, a historical moment. So from now the FLR owns the norm.

(Ulf Bergman (FLR), Ingela Hiltula and P-O Wikberg (Swedish Environmental Protection Agency)

The spring meeting in the council always contains interesting statistics, so even this time. What we can see the visitor rate for the western Jamtland mountain has decreased, due to the change of the area. At the same time it has increased in Funasdals area. Something the Mountain rescue can confirm. Due to this is a bit of change of mountain rescue efforts. Here the cross-country tracks will be high in the mountains and exposed to the elements. There will also be a work related to events and how to work in a constructive way related to this.

Wednesday was reserved for the annual meeting in the Swedish Mountain Leader organization. After six years as vice chairman and treasure and one year as chairman it was time for me to back of and step into the shadow. The selected board is very strong, and it is time for a new step in the organization so I have fully confidence for the future.

Chayce Beckham – 23 (Lyric Video) (youtube.com)

See ya soon…

The Swedish mountains stretch from Dalarna in the south to Tre riksröset in the north, and when we talk about Jämtland we often mean the western part.  But the Jamtland mountains has much more to contribute with. The Oviksfjallen and the Offerdalsfjallen and also the Skäckerfjallen and of course the Vålådalsfjallen. With that as a starting point, there are so many variations of tours you can do. You can start from Vallås, the sami village and hike toward Lunndörren or Anaris mountain cabin. Or why don’t you start from Hoglekardalen and hike towards the Anaris cabin or towards the Arådalens cabin. Another really nice tour is to start from Tossåsen and hike into the Lunndörrs pass, this will be a tour you want forgot. If you start from the Ramundberget towards Fältjägarstugan and Helags, you will get the opportunity to have the view of Helags from the backside.  From Helags I will recommend two nice trail choice. First you go from Helags toward Vålåstugorna. This is one of the trail with longest distance in the area. Afer 12km you passes Ljungan and now it will be uphill’s. But when you reach the cabin you can take a bath at ”Sturebadet” A creek near to the cabin. From here you can chose to go to Gåsån. This two trails you will be almost on your self. So as you cans see you got a lot of trails and path to try. And if you already know them all, try to find the old Sami paths in the area, with a compass and a good read at the map, you might find interesting trails in the area…

This week it has been a good training week, and ended it up with a orienteering workout today. It is good to wrap up the skills, and it worked out good. One miss, related to that I read the map badly.

The upcoming week will be hectic related to meeting in the Swedish mountain council and a annual meeting with the Swedish Mountain Leader organization and a trip towards Moss in Norway…

Skarra Mucci – Roots Rock Reggae Ft. Yaniss Odua (Official Video) (youtube.com)

See ya soon..