This week I was holding a lecture for the Swedish Alpine Club about how to become an International Mountain Leader. With that lecture I can state that the sixth event was done. So, I can say that I currently have a good overview of IML and the new SE mountain Leader standard. Patience and diplomacy are two good qualities I have developed during this year; I can promise that. And one more lecture to go with the Swedish Tourist Association.

Winter navigation, a unique, important but difficult skill to refine. I will now try to help you on the way to that. First, it is significantly more difficult to navigate in winter compared to summer. The reason is that the visibility can disappear of a sudden, and you will also have times when you don’t have visual references in the same way. heights, saddles, valleys and ridges your ability to read these terrain contours become extremely important, and you need to be good at reading them in the terrain. The compass is king, always carry a spare compass with you. Winter navigation requires more, you need to plan even more. The usage of shorter “legs” is crucial. Shorten the distance within the group and use sign as signaling. Navigation in winter conditions requires more time of course. Your plan should include alternative routes to shelters, catchment etc. Be aware that ice can be weak and snow bridges can collapse and so on. Practice reading maps without seeing the terrain, this will be a good way of developing your skills. Always have some fixed direction to get you to a place from where you can continue navigate if you get into a “white out” situation. So, what will be the main findings of winter navigation?

• Training is crucial for becoming confident.
• Compass is the primary navigation equipment.
• Always bring a spare compass in your pack.
• Since winter navigation is more complex, use short “legs”.
• Always have some fixed direction for the compass, if you get into “white out”.

Title – Chris Stapleton – Devil Is Closer Than You Think | AI Music

See ya soon (1st of December in this years calendar)

The year is coming to an end, and it is high time to reflect on what has happened and what has been achieved. This morning, I was at the local café and as usual taking the first coffee after the morning workout. The owner and I talked, and I showed him a picture from my last tour. He looked at me and said,” You really got the opportunity to see and experience a lot, I have just seen the wall of the bank next to for the last seven years”. He is true about that; I really have the luck and the possibility to travel a lot. So, what have I experienced this year so far?

Motus Parvus. I have learned that it is the small movements that make the greatest changes. This means that just a degree of changes in combination with an already set habit will be the key. It brings me unsolicited into the next learning: curiosity, this is one of the most important things to develop. It will help you to see things from new angles and understand other people’s drivers and values. And maybe most important, today when AI etc. governs facts and perceptions the curiosity will be the tool to secure the fact in opinions and views. Efficiency, the first two learning in combination with this will be a strong key for new experiences. With good planning you will get the opportunity to experience a lot in relatively short time. Occasionem Carpe – Seize the opportunity, this will be a bit of “Yes man”. Planning in all its glory, you must get the ability and the courage to step from the planned or the everyday or the usual…

One more learning from this year, take a step in all direction N, E, SW to be able to ensure the location you are at. Move to secure that you really are where you are…

The training is going well, and early morning speed hikes and cross-country running and also workout at the gym. So nice to get up early in the morning and meet the day…

Next week I will blog about the Winter navigation…

See ya soon…

I am an introverted person who thrives in social situations. There’s something contradictory in that statement, isn’t there? I really love to be alone, but at the same time I can really love to attend at a ball or cocktail party (even if I get bored after a while:-)). But can solitude becoming a strength? And if so, how does that work?

First of all solitude fosters self-awareness, it enhances emotional resilience and it will boost your independence. In a society where everything is measures in time, and should be fast or even faster it is easy to forgot and to be lost within our mind soul and spirit. When you are alone you will enhances your self-awareness, it makes space for introspection helping you out for being authentic. It clears out your real goals and values without influence from outside. It also builds your emotional resilience.

This by processing emotions -how things really feels, it helps you to  face your vulnerabilities. All of this will build up your self-compassion and ability handle changes. Add to that it will boost your independence. Being with yourself helps you to become more comfortable of being in you own company. Take a step back and check your self from the perspective social media. What does that do related to this? (no pointing fingers, just a reflection…) You will need less dependency from others to validate you, because you will know and how you will value yourself. The solitude will also increase your creativity and focus as well…moving distractions allows for better concentration and gives your mind space to wander, fostering creativity and insight. And one of the most important thing is the reduction out of stress, quite solitary time helping you to calming your mind, recharge your energy and reduce the stress level. So this is why solitude can become a strengthen routine.

From my own reflection of the topic is that when I’ve been in a context with lot of people, it fells good to just be on my own for a while.

Soon it will be time for this years calendar…

Mark Knopfler – What It Is (Official Video)

See ya soon..

When I take my first two steps, two feelings are signaled to me. The first is that winter is coming, the crunch underfoot and the smell, the second is the stillness.

This time in the mountains (pre-winter) is fantastic in that way. The third national park for this is in front of me  in a frosty dress. My journey towards one of Sweden’s highest waterfalls has just begun. I quietly think that now I will enjoy every step and that is how it will be. After only two kilometers, slightly uphill, I arrive at the waterfall. The moisture from the fall is in the air, painting the rocks and mountains with a thin crust of ice. After enjoying the noise from the fall, it’s time to move on. Now it’s heading uphill, and the edge towards the ravine leads in the right direction. Once up at the edge of the fall, you get a nice view from the bridge. From here you start to get a view of the national park, but on this particular day there is haze in the air layers. Which means that this spoils the view at least for the moment. Following the trail back 130m means that you come to the trail towards Harrsjöstugan. But that is not today’s goal, but the Rörsjöstugorna located on the southern edge of Lissrörsjön. The trail here goes on bare mountain and is easy. Pretty soon the morning’s first stage goal is visible.

It is a whole cottage area, with a sauna cabin, the tourist association is responsible for the cottages and the main cottage is closed for the season. But you can almost feel the atmosphere and hear the murmur of curious and expectant summer visitors.

One of the cabins is open all year round for safety reasons. There are six places to stay and a stove. Soon the fire is crackling nicely in the stove, and your eyes are drawn to the dancing flames of the fire. Now there is only one important detail missing to complete the enjoyment, a cup of coffee.

With simmering anticipation, the espresso maker is brought out, and soon the cabin is filled with the smell of a fire and freshly brewed coffee – hard to beat. Soon the energy stores are filled and the fingers are warm, so impatience slowly creeps in and it is time to pack up and continue the day’s trip. The first part of the trail down to Björbäcksstugan, which is the day’s final destination, is an easy descent. We pass a few small puddles with ice on them. The further down we go, the more the temperature rises, it gets hot. But soon we reach the final destination and another day in the mountains is over. The next day the tour was at the Gäljåfjället, whereby two large moose could be targeted. But as Kipling said -that is another story…

Whispers of the North (2002 Remaster)

See ya soon…