This week the training has been hard. Du to a Cold I had to replant. But that resulted in a good weekend, with Swim-run and strength workout. With eight workout, it went good in the and.

The Environment protection Agency in Norrbotten in Sweden has decided to do fieldwork on the trail to Kebnekaise. So during the summer 4 Sherpa’s from Nepal has been there and building. They have motivate it related to all accidents. Well, since 1995 there has been 3 deadly accidents which can be connected to the south peak of Kebnekaise. But its not directly connected to the western trail to the peak.

The four sherpas from Nepal, who has building stairs up to Kebnekaise south peak.

From my side it has been much better if they have been building a Via Ferrata or other fieldwork for a more safe trail to the North peak, which will be the highest, and which is much more difficult to reach.

The northern peak of Kebnekaise, which will be the highest in a couple of years.

You can use your sleeping matt as a float device..

Now the autumn has come, and the water start to get colder. It is important to know what to do if you fall into cold water, or if you have to swim for come to safe land. What is very important is that the carotid artery (sv. hals pulsådern) must be over the cold water. Then you will have more time for survival. And you can use your sleeping matt as a flotation device.

This week I would like to present Faltjagar cabin (Sv. Fältjägarstugan) The cabin is in the mountain cabin 65 model. It was build in 1965. But the first cabin was build in 1945 by The Kings Field ranger Regiment of Sweden. It was in the memory of three soldier which fell in a snow storm 4-5 of March 1944. A plaque is still in the cabin of the incident. You can reach the cabin either from Ramundberget or from Helags Mountain station. The cabin got 20 beds today.

Faltjagar Cabin in Jamtlands mountains.

See ya soon.

Been home for a couple of days, since Chamonix. Yesterday I raced in the Tough Viking race. The largest obstacle race in the Nordics. 15km with over 35 different obstacles. Cant say that I was good prepared due to my training.

15km with over 35 different obstacles, and place 108 its ok.

Chamonix this time has been real good. With two different missions, and set-up it went real good.

The team roped up for the arête at Aguille du Midi..

With a successful glacier hike at 3600m and with a smiling sun everyone was satisfied. Well some of us with moved limitation after the mission:-)

As a guide you always have to rethink your role and skills/knowledge. I think it is important that you all the time get a bit deeper to knowing yourself. You must be in a good physical shape to handle upcoming situations. You must be so skilled so you can have a mental preparedness for new situations. So as a guide I challenge my self all the time, and being in the mountain environment makes you humble and rethinking your skills, knowledge and both mental and psychical strength. Safety and credible with a big portion of trust, that is characteristics a guide should have.

The second guide mission completed with happy clients and a happy guide.

So now its onsly start planning for the winter season, and next years Chamonix event. And maybe it will be with trail running and some peak attempts:-)

This weeks presentation of mountain cabin will be the Anaris Cabin. This is one of the smallest cabin in the Swedish mountains. With just 10 beds, it is seldom visit. You have to do at least 20km to get there which deters some. But it is still worth a visit, the are is very nice and you will really like it.

Anaris cabin can be reach from Vallbo, Valadalen mountain station, Lunndorren cabin or Hoglekardalen.

If you going here, you probably will be alone almost of the time..And you, it is a terrific goal for a trail running…

Two older men was lost in the northern mountain environment close Riksgransen. In the news we could read that they were using a green tent. I think it is very important to think about the colour of your equipment. Use colours that is visible, if you being in trouble, that will help the rescue crew..

Gear with high visibility can help you when the accident is there..

See ya soon..

Been in Chamonix since Thursday. Weather has been quite ok, and the tours fine. Started up with a easy one to Plan Praz. And on Friday a tour to Aiguille du Midi and Pointe Hellbronner.

Rope up in a rope team, and move safe on the glacier…

A happy guise and client moving down on the glacier ridge at Aguille du midi.

Today a day off, and a trip for acclimatization up to Grand Montets at 3200m

A nice trip for acklimatization and a perfect view over Massif Mont Blanc

See ya soon.

Today I will present the Vålå cabins (Vålåstugorna).

Vala cabins in the centre of Jamtland mountains.

The cabin was build in 1930, and combined the rails from Stensdalen and Lunndörren to Vålådalen mountains station. During the 1800 there was copper mining in the area, there are still some tracks left. 3km vest of the cabin there are still three holes from the time, and a rest of a mining cabin in stone. From the cabin you got a amazing view. From the cabin you can reach the Gåsen cabin and Lunndörren or Stensdalen. You can also reach Vålådalens mountain station directly. Another very interesting trail is the one from Vålå cabins to Helags mountain station. This one of the longest trails in the area. Seldom used, so you probably will be alone on the trail.

This week I will test a new underwear from The North Face. It is not wool which is the first choice today. I will test it and so what it goes for.

TNF Kanagata underwear with Bicolor cationic yarn for the inside and nylon on the outside.

The training has been great this week. 670 minutes and 9 workouts. Today a combined workout at the gym, and 5 x 500m interval training.

See ya soon

Today here will be a new article series about mountain stations and mountains cabins in the Jamtland area. First out will be the Gåsen cabin.

The Gåsen cabin in Jamtland.

The first cabin was build in 1926, The Gåsen cabin is a hub in the area. You can reach; Storulvån, Sylarna, Helags, the Vålå cabins and the Stensdals cabins. The view from the Gåsen cabins is spectacle. You have the Sylarna massif in the west, and the Helags massif in the south west direction. You can also summit the top of Gåsen while you are staying here. There are also  a lot of small lakes in the near. With 50 beds there will always be space for the hikers.

And so to the training, there has been a lot of endurance training. Swim run with 1900m swimming and 8km running, a speed march of 7km with 22kg back pack within 45. 50min(target was 50min, so approved:-)).  This is good for the preparation for the upcoming guiding in the alps. While I was doing the 7km  speed  march, I was thinking about how to mentally motivate myself. It was a tough target, and I have told some people I was going ti do it. that was one of the triggers. And also to see how much I could force myself to the limit. The mind game during the endurance will be so important.

Train you mind to focus on the right thing..

And over to some new clothing. The Salewas Agner shell jacket is a real good jacket for the hard adventure.

Anger a good shell jacket for alpinism from Salewa

This weeks music:

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMtFv1wiNDQ

See ya soon

Its a hard work to be a reindeer shepherd. The samis work together, but it is a tough work due to you have to alert to protect the herd from wild dogs and wolfs. Even eagles and lynx’s is a threat. And the wolves has a supernal affect for the samis. They wait for the shepherd to become tired, then he will attack the reindeer herd. So you better not sleep.

A tough work to be a reindeer shepherd..

When the shepherd has been relieved, he fall into a heavy sleep. Nothing can wake him, well you would need a big pot of coffee and at least 5 minutes to get him awake. But if you whisper: ”Snuölke butji sisne” in his ear. He will wake up within a second. It means; the wolf is in the reindeer herd.

The wolf, one of the treats for the Samis.

When it comes to the mountain tourism in Sweden, it can be generalized into to areas; Mid Sweden and Lappland. The advantage for mid Sweden will be the access. It is easily to get there and within less time. When the railway company has decided that they will stop the night train, I am surprised that the tourist association not has stared to find other solutions. It would be easy to set up bus package from the big cities. Or package agreement with car hire companies. In this way they can ”own” the tourist the whole way to the destinations

. A solution that has been proven before, bus to the mountain area…

When it comes to training, it has been more endurance during the summer. That is good for have some rest from the gym training. Now I am prepared for the new gym season. There has also been a research about the training environment. And if you going out in the nature the negative thoughts will be remarkable reduced comparing to be in the city environment. This weeks exercises will be the plank, but do it with wide arms. You even train the chest doing it that way..

A new and even tougher way of the plank..

Challenge yourself with new exercise, you have to do that for improving. Keep on, it will rock:-)

And some new music at the end..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fk3MVA4dWc

See ya soon.

I’ve been on a trip to the Hoga Kusten area in the north east part of Sweden. With a couple of good days in the Skule skogen area.

And so near to Skuleberget a Via Ferrata session was naturally.  A warm but very fine day, resulted in two routes and a couple over hours hanging on the cliff side.

The yellow route at Skuleberget..

The training follows the plan, and at this time of year there are two focus, endurance and preparation. Preparation for the upcoming guide season.

Its time for the preparation of the upcoming guiding time.

And how to do the training, well 30 minutes of pull-ups, push-ups, dips and row. And this combined with 5k running. Tonight there will be a 30k fast hiking with 30 kilo back-pack. that endurance training..

And here some new interesting equipment:

Suunto Spartan Ultra will be awaiable in august. A new collection of GPS clocks for multisport and adventures.

A new back pack from Gregory:

Gregorys Baltoro, a new back pack.

Lundhags Makke pant, a smart field trouser. With ventilation on the inside of the thigh. One of the best trousers I have test (without scale protection)

And you, don’t forget the Utefest at Docksta 9-11/9.

http://utefest.se/

See ya soon or on upcoming Sunday!!

BR Uffe

Trail running in history areas. During the weekend I went up to Jämtland for some trail running.

I started from Tossasen on Saturday morning and run to Lunndorren mountain cabin. The old trail between Jamtland and Harjedalen.  Quite interesting place. During winter you can fins some real fine ice climbing routes. But be aware of this is one of the toughest place to be at when the wind is hard. So this is the place to prepare for a tough expedition. If you able to set up the tent here in a storm, you are ready for high peaks. There was no people at all at the trail, so its not so very often used this days.

And now over to the guides tips. It can be hard to set stiches in the field, but then you can use some surgery tape instead.

And this weeks music will be an old goldie:-)

See ya soon..

For becoming a good mountaineerer you need to strengthen your mind.

To build up your mind strength, you need to improve your; confidence, courage, commitment, control and your purpose. To start with the confidence. How to build it up: Stay away from the negativity and bring on the positive. Change your body language and image (pulling your shoulders back etc.) Don’t accept failures and get rid of the negative voices in your head. Be prepared, read and learn all about the area you are going in to. For tough times, when all else fails: create a great list.  a list of all your life experience. all things you have accomplish.

A mountaineerer thoughts:  This time of year is very hectic. We planning for all upcoming events, and there is a lot to planned and get fixed. But the most important will be to remember to live the life you want. I also think it is important to do some unplanned adventures as well. Just go out with no special purpose, let the purpose be to live and enjoy. A good cup a coffee in the mountain environment will be good enough. So keep up your spirit, and do some easy adventures as well:-)

And the training, still going strong and follows the plan. Today there has been a trail running workout, and a time at the gym. 180 strict press within 9 minutes is quite good.

And some gear: I have tried Dynafits Enduro 12. A trail running backpack. It is sitting perfect on the back, and you almost don’t feel it even packed with equipment. A good friend at the mountain trails..

And this weeks music will be Swedish with a message about that the road is the target. Good thinking enjoy the ride, reaching  the top will be a bonus:-) A good thought.

See ya soon..

The summer is upcoming. You can feel the power of the nature when you out there. At the moment the training is in the best of ways. You can combined everything. At the moment it is planning time, lot of activities is coming, and need to be planned. So there will be a time to spent in Chamonix. And there will be some tours to Skuleberget to look forward to.

Ulf Bergman, in a guides best position. Out there with clients.(Photo Goran Karlén)

The training follows the planning, and 8 sessions this week. real tough ones also.

This weeks product will be Grivels back pack. Grivel always got real good stuff. High quality, and with real god detailed solutions.

Grivels Zen 30L (also available in 20L and 40L) Ski slot and Ice axe slot. A prefect friend on the mountain.

Calazo has also coming out with a new guide book. Mountain hikes in Harjedalen. Quite good information of the Harjedalen area in Sweden.

And some good old training music..

See ya soon.