So it is new year again?! Then it is time to conclude the year and to tie the sack. From a bigger picture 2025 has been a year with increased incidents. A average year 3-5 incidents is reported, 2019 was a year that stood out, with 7 incidents reported. This year 2025 there was 18 incident reported. So there is a activity that need to be done, worth to note is so the professional’s where involved…

From a personal perspective there is a lot of interesting learnings. Micro movements related to goals is one of them. And involve your feeling due to etic decision’s when you chose the target. Building strength with 5 basic workout.

The tour at Funäsdalen-Rogen-Sonfjället in one weekend was fantastic. Skiing and snowshoeing at the same time in fabulous areas will be hard to hit…The year started with a tour at Ullådalen which also was a fantastic tour with a end in the slalom slope at Åre, with a lot of laughter for the observers…The tour in Skuleskogen in September was also something to bring to the memory…Garmisch Partenkirchen and the Via Ferrata was a tour that will etched in the memory…

So all together another fantastic year. So to all my friends a real Happy New Year 2026 see you in the mountains…

Barfotabarn

See ya soon…

So today we have reach the 24th of December, and in one way it is time to remember. Remember what happens this year, lots of learnings as usual I swear. Not anything new, but nothing is ever black or white – what I first think its wrong, often can be right.

The middle layer is often a challenge, and of course it always depending to the activity. What – how and where… The first question; synthetic-Wool or Down?  There is no “best for all conditions” — the best is what matches the activity, the weather, and your sweat rate. Down, Incredibly high warmth per weight – lightweight and packable. Loses insulation when it gets wet (sweat, snow, rain) Requires you to protect it from getting wet. Primaloft-Synthetic, Works even when it humid, dries faster than down Maintains insulation during sweat and precipitation. Slightly heavier than down for the same warmth Doesn’t pack as little. Wool, breathable Wicks moisture without feeling cold. Self-cleaning, odor resistant. Does not provide as much insulation per weight as down/synthetics. So use it in this way; mobility and high level of activity (especially in wet, humid conditions. Down, cold dry conditions and wool-all-round preferably together with another insulation layer, and for comfort.

Christmas Must Be Tonight | The Band | OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO

See ya at New Year 31/12….

It’s not always the peaks that are the most important – sometimes it’s the places…A couple of thoughts has come up to me lately. Go with the flow is a used expression in life, and it can be related to the outdoor as well. Sometimes we should just stay, when we have found a spot that really feels good. To be honest, I may miss the solo trips, when it was just me and possibly Kenai (my husky). Just following a trail along a stream or up towards a mountain, and then sitting on the edge of the mountain and just enjoying the view – letting your thoughts flow freely…

The storm has stopped, the only thing that remain was the stillness…not a sound. The moon colored the mountain in blue,  the surroundings became distance less. It was as if the world had no depth. It was then that he realized that the silence was not empty. In the light of the headlamp there was nothing, only the snow, white and polished by the wind. The feeling, he could not describe it, but it felt like he was not lonely out here. He thought about the stories he had heard at the bonfires – ”It was nothing I saw, just something that followed…” It was just at that moment he did saw the tracks, not clear. Not like ski tracks. Just depressions in the snow, where no one should have walked. They didn’t lead forward. They didn’t lead backward. They ended where he stood. The next morning there was nothing left. The wind had erased everything. But every time he later walked alone in the winter mountains, in white fog or moonlight, he automatically slowed down. Not out of fear. But out of respect. Because in the mountains in winter there are things that don’t want to be seen. Only felt. And sometimes, when the silence becomes too total, it’s the mountain itself that walks beside you – to see if you know when it’s time to turn around…

And as the old mountaineers says ”“Don’t ever follow the lights in a storm.” Don’t follow those who never came back…

Bryan Adams – Christmas Time (Classic Version)

See ya tomorrow….

To be honest I have done a pre-list for all days in the calendar, but I didn’t save it. So all days has been built ”ad hoc”. So also today, when it will be about small things that makes comfort in the outdoors. So one of the good things to bring will be the insulated seat, easy to bring and very nice to have. Another really good thing will be to have a red reflective paracord for the zipper on the backpack where you store the 1st aid kit. Then everyone and you know where it is. A tent lamp is always cozy and also nice. This one will be used with a candle light, and makes it real comfort in the tent…

have you ever discovered that your headlamp has been switch on in your backpack, and the battery is empty. The solution? Take one of the battery and put it in wrong direction. Now you just need to turn it and you will for sure got light.

Bringing a hammock can be really nice. But here you will get some advice; Be sure the hammock is long enough. Number two lay in a diagonally angle, this will get you in a more comfortable position. Let the head end be lower then the foot end. Use a small pillow for the comfort, you will for sure enjoy that. So now its just to find the ”sweet spot” for the best comfortable position…Small things that will make it more cozy and easy…

Shinedown – Searchlight (Official Video)

See ya tomorrow…

New acquaintances are always nice, and who knows, in this case maybe challenging too…One of the areas in the Swedish mountains who’s often will be forgotten is the part between Jämtland and its in the southwestern part of Lapland, close to the Norwegian border. The journey here starts at Strimasund, You pass the bridges, and then you heading towards the Getrudstjärnarna. From here you follow Sotsbäcken down to Artfjället, from here you got a couple of options. There are no trails or marking, so you must be good in navigation for this area. There are some wind shelter in the area, but bringing a tent is a requirement. But if you get here, you for sure will return is a real wilderness here and not crowded….

Traveling Man

See ya tomorrow…

Today it will be about workout, for an outdoor athlete the exercise must be easy without equipment. But it must also cover the core strength and due to age maintain strength and mobility for preventing injuries. So here you will get 5 five field approved exercise…

First of all the dead hang. This must be a ”active hang” were the the shoulder is activated. Grip just a little broader than shoulder , just hang and lift your self a bit (activate the shoulder) The second one, will be the bear walk. Get on all fours. Now just lift your knees just over the ground. Take a move ahead – left hand and right leg. The third will be the single leg Romanian dead lift. Stand right up, bend your back right down forward and lift one leg (lower to you feel you stretching your hamstring). The fourth will be the Pike push-up. This will build up your shoulder stability, your elbow should move slight forward (not to the side!). To make it more difficulted, get your feet closer to your arms. And the firth one, the hollow body hold, this one is a really core exercise. Lay straight on you back, and press your lower back against the floor. Now lift your shoulders and legs from the ground simultaneous. The arms over your head, and the legs straight. This build your lower back and the core…

And when it comes to the challenge from last weekend – A micro adventures in a wind shelter. So this morning I went out for a outdoor coffee and here is the result.

The Killers – When You Were Young (Lyrics)

See ya tomorrow…

I’m going to the mountain, the phrase might include a long journey or? Sweden is a long country, but the mountain area starts in Dalarna. This meaning you don’t have to go to far, before you can get the smell of mountains in your nose. The Sonfjället national park is situated in Härjedalen not far from Sveg, and quite close to Funäsdalen. The accessibility and the  nature experience is well worth a visit.

Sonfjället is a solitary, wild mountain where ecological depth, wildlife presence, and isolation demand humility, preparation, and sound judgment.

Its a cold morning and the chill bites me in the nose. With snowshoes I am on my way towards Sodo valley in the heart of the Sonfjällets national Park. I just left Nysätern behind and the uphill track is in front of me, after 1000m I have climbed the first 100 height meters. The snow is crisp under the snowshoes in the early morning. The pre mountain forest has been shaped by the harsh weather up here, both pine and birch are low and wind-stricken. If you’re lucky, you might pass the dry fir tree with the carving from 1716, someone wanted to draw attention to the place when a pilgrim died at this place… I trudge along the trail and soon reach the plateau below Gråsidan. That’s when I see something in my left eye. It’s something big moving. I spot a golden eagle, and at the same time I see the reindeer herd. The amazing bird takes off and disappears upwards. A powerful experience, and I continue towards the path cross. Soon I will be down at Sododalens Wind shelter. Here its time to eat and drink for getting power to continue to the peak of Sonfjället – Högfjället. Getting to the top involves a steep and rocky approach, and not infrequently with strong winds as an additional factor. So this time too…Standing at the peak will not be for long, My face is blasted and I even have trouble seeing. I aim for the windshield and soon I start to get closer. After a short break I continued back to Nysätern and a rest at the cabin.

Today it will be about current trends within the outdoor activities. So what are the trends we can see? So in one sentence; outdoor gear is modular, lightweight, sustainable, safety-oriented, and built to maximize experience without unnecessary weight or complexity. There have been some movement from achievement rather towards experience. Meaningful experience instead of ”ticking boxes”. Learning & skill growth is also a trend. Sharing rather than performing. Authentic unfiltered stories, and here we can see more of going from ”look at me” towards ”look with me”. Short adventures and modular trips is also something that will continuing. The expectation of sustainability of the activities can also been seen to increase.

From a guide perspective this will affect the guiding areas as well. Here we can se a direction fo going from ”doing more” to ”doing better”. More demands of sustainability focus and choice of terrain etc. Focus on education rather than instruction, the participants want to learn and got more value out of the activities.  Current outdoor practice prioritizes judgment, humility, and learning over objectives, speed, and spectacle. So as guide you need to understand the movement and adapt towards this.

Note; Just for clarification, this is about trends and not facts…

Janne Schaffer – Norrland (winter)

See ya tomorrow…

When it comes to outdoor activities, the clothing will be elementary. This for having a nice experience, but also for avoiding cold, wind and wet. First of all it will be important to avoid common errors related to layering – wearing to much while moving. Waiting too long to add isolation. Poor ventilation use. No spare dry layer. So what is the layering in its core? A first layer of control moister. Temperature will be the second and protection – always. So into the first layer; function keep skin dry. Here will wool or synthetic be the best choice. Snug fit, breathable and quick-drying. If your base layer is wet, it all will fails. The mid-layer, this layer shall keep you warm but not sweaty. Fleece or light synthetic or thin wool layer. Expectation for this layer will be breathable, easy to vent and work within activity. The last but less important layer will be the shell layer. Here we will be talking about hard shell(wind and water proof) and soft shell (breathable and wind proof). This garment should be having adjustable hood, good ventilation solution pit zips etc. And one golden rule related to the topic will be ”start cold, stay dry.” There is also a forth layer – the isolation layer. The layer will preserve heat during rest and so on. Down or synthetic is the usual material used here. Good layering is active not static – meaning that remove layers before sweating. Add layers before cooling, adjust often and user zippers – ventilation often. Always remember that wind is a heat thief. Secure you got isolation from the wind direction a barrier between your body and the wind.

Naâman Feat. Dub Inc – Crazy (Official Video)

See ya tomorrow…

There are a couple of national parks in Sweden. One of the are situated between the Dalarna and Härjedalen community and along the Norwegian border. Its one of the earliest parks, established in 1976 and with a area of 197 square kilometer. (Here you can see the cabin within the area) The park is well known for its blockfield terrain, with areas with large angular blocks, stone ridges and narrow passages between rocks. The feeling in the area is categorized as ancient and untouched. It is technical demanding and distance in the area are deceptive. The Rogen cabin is situated in the middle of the area, and feels very cozy, it has just 300 guest night per winter season, you can compere with Lunndörren with its 1100. Worth to mention is that the National Park is a part of the Rogen -Femundmarka wilderness area. The area is exposed during winter season with extreme cold ”pockets” and the area require navigation skills. Since the area got bad coverage, you need to bear that in mind due to safety. Its a area I want recommend for beginners during winter, but summer June-August will be another thing. During winter the area is demanding, and require skills. Winter in Rogen is not forgiving…

08 God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

See ya tomorrow…