A normal week, with nine workouts and 500 minutes of training. More hours in the gym, and less in the running trails…Ended week with two hours longboarding. Nice…

In Sweden the highest peak is the south peak of Kebnekaise. At least at the moment. Very soon the northern peak will become to bethe highest(if not already). This will be a challenge related to the fact that the peak is more a technical climb. Today the Kebnekasie mountain station got mountain managers to guide the tourists to the top. But to the northern peak it will requires an authorized mountain guide. So either they need to hire more mountain guides or secure the area with fixed field solutions such as wires and ropes etc. In Sweden the Environmental protection agency (Sv. Naturvårdsverket) is responsible for this. Today they have done nothing, and very soon the pressure will be high to climb the peak from tourists. I hope the first accident not will be the starting point for building the required safety environment.

Kebnekaise North Peak..

Christopher McDoughall new book will soon be able to buy, after ”Born to run” he has written ”Kraftprovet” which is a book about the human inbound but forgotten physical ability. Naturally movement, stubbornness and proper nutritional intake. Thus back to basic again. Up in the mountains in Crete in Greece he try the challenge a British/Greece special forces team was subjected to…

This weeks music track…

See ya soon…

Another week has past. the training has been good six workouts so far and 270 workouts totally so far this year:-). When it comes to challenge my self I have take a step. I need to train the balance and the ankle, sp what can be better than ..longboard:-).

In a article in the Swedish magazine ”outside”, Morgan Johansson a writer write about the safety in the mountain environment. That we are to cautious, and bring to heavy and to much stuff. (He has also wright the book; Hiking featherweight sv. Vandra fjäderlätt). He means that we should be more careful by the travel to the mountain environment, due to it is more car accidents then mountain related accidents. He means that we got to many forefingers point on safety and security. He got a point, but when it comes to safety from my side there will be no ability to cut the corners.  we can also hear and read in the news of people that need to be rescued, related to the fact of lack of skills or the right equipment. Today it is so accessible to get into the mountains, and having good equipment cant compensate having good skills. So go up in the mountain environment and get skilled, and use a mountain leader or a mountain guide to become more skilled. That is what you pay for. The knowledge of years in the mountain environment, the knowledge of the specific area and equipment..And you, never trust a guy with shiny gear:-)

http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/familj-fastnade-pa-kebnekaise/

Next year there will be three tours in the Chamonix area. Between the 8th and 21th of august. So if you interested read about it under news and updates.

Glacier walks and top tours in Chamonix valley 2016…

National geographic: Helags number three.

The Helags, had been pointed out as world number three best top tour. National geographic has pointed out Helags as the third best top tour in the world. I hope this will invite more people to this fantastic mountain area.

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=78&artikel=6221381

Helags, the third best top tour, due to National Geographic.(Photo Ulf Bergman)

This weeks music, Sabina Ddumba:

See ya soon..

Nine workouts the last week. Lots of running this period as usual. Upcoming period the focus will be for strength.

My thoughts about motivation:

I often got the question of how I get my motivation. An easy answer from my side will often be; The more energy you put into what you want to achieve, the easier it will be to get it. But it aint just that easy…

Motivation includes three main parts, to have a clear target. If you planning and have clear target it will help you to become motivated.  Target must be in short terms as well as in long term. The second will be to have a good skill to imagine. Train your ability to imagine that you have achieve the target, how it feels etc. You will experience resistance to get to your goal. Here comes the third part, you need to have so called ”impulse control”. No shortcuts will get you there.. so your internal talk must be trained. This for get up 5 a clock in the morning, do the extra set at the gym…So develop your impulse control. You can do it every day. Stop drinking coffee or the. Using sugar, or get upset of the weather or the late train…

Train your brain to become a help to achieve your targets..

See ya soon

A new week of training has past. nine workouts, within six days. Trail-running and strength. Also a visit in a mast, with a terrific view and the feeling of height..

Trail-running with height…

And a nice view…

Planning for upcoming adventure is on going with fully focus. Next in schedule will be Chamonix, and a glacier hiking in Valle Blanche area..

And one of the winter events in the planning phase will be a winter climb over the crest from the north peak to the south of Kebnekaise..

A crest adventure in Kebnekasie Sweden..

And keep your eyes open, the planning of next summer events will be presented under news and updates soon, so sign up!!

Keep up your shape, so you can participate in the adventure when it appears:-)…

Be prepared for the next adventure…

And at last a motivational movie…enjoy!!

See ya soon…

Even a mountaineerier need vacation:-) This time I Went to Rhodos for a swimming and sun vacation.

I met Papastamatis a guy that got a outdoor store with a real good philosophy. He was working actively to get people into the adventure and hiking area. Visit his store while your in Rhodes:-).

I nice outdoor store in Rhodes.

When it comes to training, my planning is to train as much different type of training as possible. This for avoid injuries and don’t get bored. This period the trail running will be in focus.

In Jamtland the Vålådalen area.

This time I went to Vålådalen area. Run from Vallbo to the mountain cabin Anaris. One of the smallest cabin in the Sweden mountains. With lots of trails it is easy to choose different ways. This time I choose the trail trough the Ice valley (Is-Dalen) a fantastic trail. I was warned before for the high levels of water in the creeks, but with high speed and long jumps it worked out fine:-). It was still lot of snow in the mountains. the colour of the blue sky, the white snow and the green-brown mountains was amazing.

The use of La Sportiva Buschido was a terrific choice. Perfect stability and a grip I never had before. This together with the perfect fit makes the experience 100% of satisfaction.

When it comes to Anaris Cabin, normally you will be there by your self. this related to that fact that it is quite unavailable. But this time it was fully booked. Ten persons, and a perfect weather. 9 of them was trail runner. so it has become a real concept in the Swedish mountains…

Anaris mountaoin cabin. One of the smallest mountain cabin in Sweden.

About being a alpinist and values…

It is very important to clarify what are the most important, and what you value most in your life. What you stand for and what is the most ultimately motivates you most. If you don’t have this cleared out,  you will never feel your decision will be the right. Take your time and think about your most important values. Use them as a tool when you need to take important decisions in life….

Becoming a good mountaineerer, you need to think trough your values. And when its done, go for it….

At last some motivational video…

See ya soon…

Get up early in the morning, and did a field test with light stoves. The object this time was JetBoil Sol alu. and Primus Light +

The Weight: Primus 390g JetBoil 300g

Height: Primus 150mm JetBoil 165mm

Price: Primus 1234:- JetBoil 1299:-

Effect: Time for cooking 0,5L water: Primus 4 min. 38 sec. and JetBoil 2 min. 8 Sec. This stoves are just for hiking. They are very easy to use. On the Primus Stove the pietzl lighter didn’t work. The JetBoil includes a holder for the gas. They are light, and take very little place. But aren’t nothing in tough conditions.

JetBoil and Primus Light stoves…

The summer is coming up, and the mountains are calling. It is time for planning the season. A good suggestion from my side will be: Hiking and cycling in Funäsdalen and Ramundberget. Real good area for outdoor adventures. And why not test downhill in Åre or test the Peak Performance vertical K track. Run from Åre to the top of Åreskutan:

http://www.ramundberget.se/

http://fjallmaraton.se/peak-performance-vertical-k/

That all for today, and don’t forget to look at the guides advice under News:-)

Se ya soon…

Saturday morning, it is early. The clock has just passed 05.00 and I am already up. Having a small breakfast and then to the hill. A up going sun, and it is already hot in the air. A deer jumps out from the high grass when I am starting the ascend. after 15 times up and down and I am done. The training has been great, 9-10 workouts every week. Endurance and training of the forearms is focus at the moment.

Early morning, hill training in a slope…

Mountaineering involves a lot of risks. As a guide you need to mitigate them. The inclination is a factor you need to take in consideration. The chill effect is another, risk of avalanche and as well the wind. All this is all factor that will affect your decision on the mountain. When choosing route, and were or how and what to do this will be aspect to taken into the decision-making.

I have wrote a lot about acclimatization, and there is a lot of research in the area. The scientist has during a period found that the brain will be affected in thin air. A research has defined that even at low altitudes such as 4000m will affect the brain. It can make you to lose your short-term memory. At a brain-scan you can also see affects at your brain, such as decreased brain size. To avoid this negatives effects, you got to follows the advice of planned and scheduled acclimatization. When you reach 2700m you should not ascend more than 300m/day. Walk high and sleep low principle will be the precept. So if you don’t want to have “black holes” in the brain, follow the advice:-).

Drink a lot, and follow the advice for acclimatisation. Walk high sleep low..

And don’t forget to look under ”news and updates” . There you can get the Guides weekly tips:-)

This week the music will be Nightcore Ghost town..

See ya soon

So we are in June, on the news this week, we was informed that the Tourists has come to the Swedish Mountains. What they didn’t know was that you cant use the trails. It is still to much snow. They have planned, and have packed the backpack, but now they must turn around due to the weather situation. A good lead will be to follow the samis eight season; winter, spring winter,  spring, pre summer, summer, pre autumn, autumn and pre winter. This can help you to planning your mountain trip in Sweden.

Around midsummer it will be fine for trekking in Sweden, then you can avoid this type of situation:-)

The training this week has been real tough. 9 workouts, running, trail-running, gym, swimming, fast trekking with backpack. I ran 27km with backpack for breakfast at Saturday, great:-).

And at last a good suggestion. Planning for summer? Åre in Sweden has got a lots of good activities. Downhill biking, kayaking, cave-crawling, trekking. And don’t forget the Via Ferrate  at Skuleberget, a perfect stop on the way..

Here come this weeks music, The white Buffalo enjoy..and train hard..

Se ya soon!

The most important thing will always be to develop your experience.

Always test the equipment before the tour. Do your special customizations for your needs

When it comes to training for a mountain-expedition, there will be three phases. The first will be to get the base. The length of training so your body can adapt, and so you don’t get injured.

The second step will be to get the endurance, cycling, swimming, running long intervals etc. Now the body must be able to work for 12-14 hours.

Endurance training, a must for a mountaineerer…

The third step  will be branch specific training. From my perspective it is very good if it can be together with mental training. So if its possible train as likely as the tour your going for..

Try to get the training as much as possible like the tour you going for…

The mountaineering area is in a very interesting situation right now. There are so many people, with so many different wills. The mountain lodge try to adept for all the needs, but somewhere there is a risk that they will lose themselves in it. But it is here the guides come in. Use a guide for the special event, and the mountain lodge can keep its own character. That is what I think will be the future…

And about the training, 9 workouts a great week with a lot of hill training. and thanks Marcus for the sparring:-).

This weeks music will be a acoustic one, enjoy Jack Savoretti..

Se ya soon again..

Staturday morning, I got up early, and did trail running 18k. The sun warmed up the air, real  nice. It is easy to run..9 workouts this week, this with good mix. I also tested a new pair of  trail running shoes.

La Sportiva Bushido. A real good shoe, with a very good grip in the terrain. The front is build up for protect your toes from getting hurt from stones. A very Comfort shoe. 5 Nordic lights out of 5:-).

Sometimes it is good to reflect of what you have become. At the training the other day I was watching my shadow on the hill in the rising sun.

Look at your shadow sometimes and think;-)…

And ask your self if you did become what you wanted to be..

I have been writing a lot of acclimatisation. Another thing that might help you to adapt easier to high altitudes is the  Maca berries. A super fruit from the Andes.  I will at least try it to see if it works. The natives in the Andes eats it for faster acclimatisation.

Lowa has also come with a new mountaineering boot, Mountain Expert boot. I haven’t test it, but it looks like a good product..

Lowa Mountain Expert, a boot for hard mountaineering conditions..

This weeks music will something new..

See ya soon again…