22 days of blogging, and today it will be about avalanches and stoves. This week a big avalanche was triggered in Bydalen. It is unusual that avalanches is triggered so early in the season. The frost in the ground has not been so deep, which means it can happen. The best way of avoiding avalanches will be to be off areas when the risk of avalanches is high. Therefore it is very important to have the knowledge of the area.

Today we will reach out the question -does gas stove work at high altitude? Do canister gas work at high altitude? There’s this sort of myth running around out there that somehow operating a canister gas stove at high elevation isn’t going to work very well.  Maybe, or so the story goes, you need to use white gasoline (or something) at higher elevations.  This is a persistent myth that has been passed on, hiker to hiker, for years.  And it’s just exactly that:  A myth.

The myth got its start back in the early 1970’s when canister gas stoves started seeing more wide spread use.  The fuel used back then was 100% n-butane.  N-butane is a lousy fuel for cold weather.  Backpackers at high elevations encountered something that caused their canister gas stoves to work poorly:  Cold.  And thus the myth was born. The myth is kind of fact based.  Kind of.  I mean gas stoves were genuinely not working well at high elevation – but the elevation itself was not the problem.  The problem was actually the cold, and the problem would have been just as bad or worse at sea level.  Thus, a misinterpretation of real events lead to the myth.  The real problem was cold, but people wrongly concluded that high elevation was to blame. When multiple gasses are mixed together, they form a blend that has far better cold weather performance.  You still need to consider cold weather, but it’s no where near the issue that it once was – and cold weather can impact a gas stove irrespective of elevation. n-butane -0,5 Isobutane -12 and Propane -42.

But what is important is efficiency…So, what are the ”best practices” for fuel efficiency?  Here’s one list.  Items are listed in general order of importance, the most important being listed first.  1. Pick a sheltered spot.  On top of a rock or picnic table might be convenient, but it’s going to be windier up there.  Set up your stove on the ground behind a rock or log.  On a windy day, this is absolutely the most important thing to address in terms of efficiency, far more. important than how you actually run the stove itself. 2. Turn it down.  High heat = inefficient.  This is the number one mistake of new stove users – they open the valve 100% (i.e. maximum), which is the absolute last thing that you want to do if you want to be efficient.  Running your stove at say 30% of max will be far more efficient.     Lower heat = more efficient. Of course it’s going to take a bit longer when you turn down the heat.  Here’s where you’ll want to experiment.   You need to find the balance between speed and efficiency that works for you. 3. Use a windscreen.  Yes, even on an upright type canister stove (like a Pocket Rocket), just not a full 360 degree windscreen.  If you use a (partial!) windscreen with an upright canister stove, be careful to check the canister frequently with your hand.  If it feels so hot that you can’t leave your hand resting on the canister, take immediate steps to cool things down.  See Canister Stoves and Wind before you use a windscreen on a canister stove.
In general windscreens add to efficiency in two ways.  They a) prevent wind from blowing away the heat and b) focus the heat on the pot.  Because a windscreen focuses heat, it’s always good to use a windscreen even on a day where it isn’t particularly windy. 4. Use a heat exchanger pot.  A heat exchanger pot (e.g. MSR Reactor, Jetboil Flash, Primus Eta Express, etc) can save a lot of fuel.  Now, you will save fuel with a heat exchanger , but usually the heat exchanger weighs more than the weight of the fuel you save.  In other words, using a heat exchanger is often heavier overall.  However, if on a trip you prevent having to carry a larger or second canister, a heat exchanger can actually save you weight.

The Raveonettes – The Christmas Song (youtube.com)

See ya tomorrow…

December the 21th, and today it will be about tent. What really is the difference between a three and a four season tent? And due to that what should I chose? First of all you need to figure out if you are going out for Winter tours or not. Ok, you say -but if I don’t know if I am going for a winter tour in the future then? I probably will help you out with that question as well today…So what will be the difference between a Winter (four season) tent and a three season tent? First of all will be the weight. Of course a more cozy and easterly tent will weight more and also cost more. So number one will be the weight. The second will be the braces, how they are placed and their load carrying and capacity stiffness. On a Winter tent the braces is normally not crossed and they run in channels on the outside of the outer tent itself. But on a three season it will normally be in the tent and don’t have the stiffness neither the load carrying. This will result in two things; the weight of snow landing on the tent will push the tent down, also the wind stability can be reduced. So the third will be the number and placement of ventilation. In the spring-summer and autumn you will have a good breathing of air trough the tent, this for reducing moister and so on. In the winter the situation will be reversed. You want the air to be stable so you don’t loose heat, But at the same time reduce as much of the moister you will generate through your breath. So in the winter tent you have other solution for this. And due to this a winter tent always have the sides so you can connect them easy with the ground surface. They can also have a storm mat on which you can lay snow etc. for a isolation and anchoring layer. The fourth, will be the apse, this one is often big enough for cooking and prepare you clothing etc. In winter this will be appreciated. So how do I chose now then? Well, as I started with what do you need? Are you going for a lot of winter tours, the first choice would be a four season tent. If not a three season tent will be good enough.

(Here is the difference between a three and four season tent. The ground isolation, The placement of the braces. The kind of ventilation that is used and also the apse)

Here you can see that this tent do not got the braces outside, and no ground contact in the same way and also a small apsis.  But you say, you have not answer the question if I not sure about the winter tenting what do I chose then? Well, my suggestion then will be a 3+ season tent. So here you got an suggestion.

This can be used during Winter, but not for serious use the forth season…Big Agnes Copper Spur HV2 Expedition – The General Prepper

If you want to reduce the weight for a four season tent think if you need a two or three persons tent. With a two persons tent you will reduce the weight a lot…

Blame It On The Mistletoe (youtube.com)

See ya soon…

Today it will be about an old knowledge, but it will be interesting and fun but also good to know.

It can be a magnificent experience, but terrifying at the same time. My own smallness in this grandeur, but then we shall remember that when we look upon the stars they also can lead us. But then we need to know our constellations.

1. Find the Polaris, the North star. It is the brightest star in the Ursus minor, and now you know where north is located. You can also use the end of Ursus Major to find the polar start as you can see in the picture above.

2. For finding the direction of south you can use the constellation of the hunter and Orion.  Look for one moderately bright, one dim, and one fuzzy star hanging down from Alnilam, the middle star in Orion’s belt. This represents Orion’s sword, which points to the south. The fuzzy “star” is actually the Great Nebula of Orion, an interstellar nursery where new stars are being formed.

If you want ti find direction, you can use this suggestion: Chose a star, you might chose the brightest as a suggestion. Drive two stakes in the ground. The two stakes should be about 90cm between. Now you wait for the star to move in the night sky. Stars move from east to west. So if the star are  rose you are facing east. If the star sank you facing west. If the star facing left, you are facing north and it the star facing right you are facing south.

Coldplay – Christmas Lights (Official Video) (youtube.com)

See ya tomorrow…

Today I will give a salute for the Swedish Mountain Leader Organization. This is a non-profit organization. But with a heavy focus in mountain safety and mountain leadership. This autumn we have held webinars in Hypothermia and frostbite and also about ice skating. 8 aspirants has been involved in the UIMLA International Mountain Leader training and two of them have got their certification. Three of them is in a good way to reach the target in a (who says it would be easy to get the IML cert?)

short while. SFLO as organization has also been one of the drivers for starting the new organization of Mountain Leader Council, which will be the branch organization for owning and develop/maintain the Swedish Mountain Leader norm. And as the cream also signing the Kebnekaise protocol, for a more sustainability tourism. So I am so proud of being a member of this organizations

Göteborgsvarvet 2023 (youtube.com)

Ice Hunters: Cave of Dreams (youtube.com)

See ya tomorrow…

A new day and a new door to open. Today it will be about leadership. First of all leadership is all about of leading ourselves. You can read a lot of books about it (I’ve been) you can also do a lot of courses and different types of self tests etc. And if you try to fins how to work with leading yourself, you got a lot of suggestion. But a couple of them turn up every time; mindfulness and long slow walk. I can only agree on both of this two. A long and lonely hike in the mountains is a very good way of learning about yourself. Mindfulness is a very powerful tool for being grateful of life and solve stress among a lot of other disruption. If you haven’t been for a long lonely hike, i really recommend it.

Now it is time to talk a bit of a ”modern” view of leadership. The future minded leadership.

Here they talk about the future minded leader ladder. This included four steps; Envisioning, this step include curiosity, optimism, brainstorming. The second step is exploring and include pragmatism, worst-case scenario, gathering diverse inputs. The third step is navigating, and include empowered, confidence and enthusiasm. The fourth step is result, and include readiness with uncertainly. Well, it all about of being including, positive and be a great and including role model. I think a lot of this is worth a thought, but to be honest some of it is new and some is something that many of the good leaders already been thinking about and doing. Leading today is about change both all around you but at least yourself, you are a ongoing construction. But you need to find just your brick for the next step of developing to evolve…

See ya tomorrow…

When it comes to winter tours you need to have some tools and equipment you will need, so here I will present some tools I can recommend to bring with you at your tours…Always bring a extra sleeping matt with you. With this outside your backpack you can rest and have a insulated layer between you and the ground cold. You also have a extra layer to sleep on, and it he inflatable one break you have a reserve. Also bring a whistle, this is good if you need attention etc. A snow saw is always good to bring on the winter tour. With this you can build a shelter fast and easy,  and it will also help you to dig a block for checking the layers related to avalanche risk etc. Snow sticks for the tent is another detail that can be really good to have. This for anchoring the tent if the wind will be strong, and be carful if you use the ski for anchoring, the steel edge can break the string. Bring a bit of round steel, this can be good for repair of a snow shoe – stick or a sledge…And due to the environmental changing and due to the fact that the winter trails normally passes lakes, moors etc. I think I will bring a shortened ice peak for checking the ice when needed. I also always bring a probe for checking the deep of the snow if needed due to building snow shelter or for avalanche work of course…

Pretenders – 2000 Miles (Official Music Video) [HD Remaster] (youtube.com)

See ya tomorrow…

In the deep of the Jämtlands forest you can find a really nice area, the Offerdalsfjällen.

In this area you will be alone. There are lots of reindeer so will have to take notice of them and act with caution. The are is perfect both under summer and winter conditions. A good starting point will be the wind shelter north Långsåsdalen. From here you can reach the whole area. With no trails or paths so you need to have good navigation skills. Here you will be far from ways and civilization, but you will be the free outdoorer…

This are has become a bit of my outdoorer heart…

Anne-Marie – UNHEALTHY feat. Shania Twain (Official Video) (youtube.com)

See ya tomorrow…

During the winter you will have some more option of building a emergency shelter. You can of course just use a standard bivouac with a bivouac sack, but it is much better to use the snow as a insulter for the bivouac. But using the snow will be much better and if the weather is tough you need to get away from the wind. Then a snow cave where you use blocks and your skied will be a good choice. You can also build a quinzze, This will take more time, but will be comfortable. You start by shovel snow to a pile. Be aware so you don’t peak it. You will put some stick as you can see at the picture so you don’t do the walls or roof to thin.

Follow this steps; 1. Chose a good place for the quinzee. 2. Size the quinzee 3. Shaping your qiunzee and use your backpack and stuff or getting ”air” inside the shelter.  4, Put in the sticks. 5. Carving out your shelter.

See ya tomorrow…

Today it will be about base layer. When it comes to base layer you have to chose what you will use it for. It can be categorized into three levels. Light-mid. heavy.  The lightweight is good when you have high intensive activity and its not so cold. It will dry fast, but as said before will be colder. The range will be between 125-200 g/m(2) This base layer i also the most breathable, perfect for the mountain run/sky run for example.

The midweight will be typically around 200-300 g/m(2).  this will be of course the one that you can use in broad range, it will be some breathable and can be warn in mid cold conditions. The disadvantage is that it can be hot and feel muggy in mild weather conditions. The heavyweight will normally be around or over 300 g/m(2) is primarily developed for demanding conditions in really cold weather. Using this variant in mild weather it will be really sweaty. You can chose by two different material: merino-wool or synthetic. Merino,  Breathable, comfortable, warm for the weight, wicks moisture well, fights odors naturally, retains heat when wet, and UV-resistant. but the negative will be Pricey, not very durable, longer dry time, and typically requires line-drying. Synthetic, Durable, comfortable, lightweight, wicks moisture well, generally affordable, easy to care for, and dries quickly. Negative, Not as odor-resistant, warm, or breathable as merino. So if you are going to very high intensive activities, then the synthetic can be the first choice. I like the ones with crew neck and breast zipper so I can ventilate when needed.

And if you are going for real cool weather, the Brynje and Amundsen of Norway will be my first choice.

See ya tomorrow.

To continuing to the topic of don’t stop evolve , so will I today present some good books for all outdoorer…

The first suggestion will be; Go here instead. A bucket list book with alternative suggestion then the normal places to visit…Go Here Instead – Resor & fritid – inbunden (9780241568835) | Adlibris Bokhandel

The second will be about navigation. The Contents include essential knowledge about general map use, orienteering, compass use, and navigating over multiple types of terrain.

Also includes topographic map structure and use, map legends and symbols, the military grid system and coordinates, measuring scale and distance, interpreting aerial photographs with maps, use of compasses of various types, interpreting map relief and elevation marks, map drawing, GPS, and orienteering methods and tips. Map Reading And Land Navigation – FM 3-25.26 US Army Field Manual FM 21-26 (2001 Civilian Reference Edition) – Us Department of the Army – inbunden (9781643890357) | Adlibris Bokhandel

AMC guide to outdoor leadership. the revised version 2923. Inside you’ll find: Accessible, comprehensive techniques for new and experienced leaders- Comprehensive coverage of leadership concepts.  Advice and anecdotes from diverse experts on decision-making, communication, risk management, and more- Tips and techniques for motivating kids and young adults. AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership: Trip Planning * Promoting Dei * Group Dynamics * Decision Making * Leading Youth * Risk Management – Alex Kosseff – häftad (9781628421514) | Adlibris Bokhandel

The Ramones/Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)/Lyrics (youtube.com)

See ya today…