Sundays is good days. I always feel a bit of melancholy, and it gives room for reflections. I also use the Sundays for improvement and develop my skills.

A nice cup of coffee and some good education it a nice way to spend the Sunday..

Today I’ve been training a lot as well. Started the day with one hour and fifteen minutes speed walking with the Husky. After that a real nasty Cross-fit workout with the police friend of mine. Then another speed walk with the husky. And ended up the workouts of the day with speed running 30 minutes with the husky. After all of this its time to read the books and make new prusics for the upcoming ice climbing season.

Ice axes is basic for mountaineering. First of all there is two different classifications. B and T class. The letters stands for Base and Technical. The difference is that the B ones is lighter and cant be used for technical climbing. Those ones are perfect for normal mountaineering. The T ones is much stronger and can be used for belays. The ”walking” ice axes is normal 50-70cm long. The alpine ice axes is normally 50-60cm long. The technical ice axes are fully curved with steep pick angles. You use this ones I pairs, one with adze and one with hammer. Some of the ice axes is semi made for both ice climbing and alpine use. From my point of view, if you are going to ice climb buy a real technical from the beginning. otherwise you will be disappointed. There is a big difference between them.

If you are going to ice climb, use good tools from the beginning..

This one is a semi technical ice axe. It got some angle but not as much as the ones above..You can use it temporal for technical climbs, but not in the long turn. But is perfect for alpine use..

When it comes to gear, and that the winter season is knocking on the door. I have find a pair of interesting winter running shoes. From the Italian producer La Sportiva.

A winter running shoe, for alpine use. The La Sportiva Cross over 2.0 GTX

For more information follow the link… https://www.sportiva.com/crossover-20-gtx.html

See ya soon, and then about first aid in the wilderness..

A pre-winter tour, and upcoming adventures..

Thursday lunch the car was turned to the north. This time it was time for a tour to Jamtland/Halsingland. The pre-winter tour has its own spirit. The mountains are going to sleep, and the whole environment preparing for the winter to come. The brook begins to freeze, and the frost begins to come. The days are short, so you have to plan to use the daylight as effective as possible. This year the tour was planned for the Helags Mountain. Number three on National geographic list of best summit hikes.  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/lists/hiking-backpacking/worlds-best-summit-hikes/

Ulf Bergman with fire wood on the back pack (photo Mikael Linder.)

Nine a clock we started. The backpack with firewood was on my back, and we started to follow the track upwards the Torkilstoten slope. The ground was shallow frozen, and here and there snow. We followed the trail up to Helags, and it was quite easy to see the summer trail. After three hours we reach the target of the day. Time for the Base-work and get everything prepared for the night. Saturday was meant for a summit attempt. So we started and heading up for the northern ridge. Some of the slopes was snowy, some icy and some was rocky. Sometimes the wind was real hard and at 1500m we decided to stop, got some coffee. After a short discussion we decided to descend.

Time for making decision of continue or turn…(Photo Mikael Linder)

A guide in his right environment, on the mountain…(Photo Mikael Linder)

After a short repacking we continued on the trail to Sylarna. As usual Jamtland delivered a fabulous day..

A hard choice, going to the summit of Helags or go to Sylarna..

And then it was time to go back home..

The trail back to the civilisation..

The snow and ice is on its way, and it is time for planning the upcoming adventures. There will be a couple of Ice climbing tours I hope..

So Alvdalen/Trangslet and Rjukan in Norway will be the target. And some skiing it will be of course. The planning is on. A tour to Iran and summiting the Mt Damavand is also a target for 2018..

When it is cold, some hot music will thaw us up..

See ya soon. On Thursday a new blog will be done..

Mid October, and we mowing towards coldness and frost. The days getting shorter for everyday, just to remind us to take it slower and prepare for the winter. I am just in the middle of planning a upcoming tour towards the Helags mountains.

Helags, you can reach it from Ljundalen or from the Faltjagar cabin.

In the last Blog you could read about losing focus, and lust. Here comes some help for you all to think a bit more positive..

1. Start the day with positive affirmation. Your first thought will set the way..2. Focus on good things, even if they are small. 3. Finds humour in bad situation. Looking backward at it you will probably laugh about it. 4. Always turn failures into lessons. 5. Always have a positive self talk. It have more impact then you might thought. 6. focus on the present…

Now I have tested Karpos Mountain pant and mountain jacket. This is developed for high active mountain sports such as; Ice climbing, ski alpinism, mountaineering.

Karpos mountain pant, a real good trouser. A perfect friend at a cold dry windy mountain.

The pant will get 5 NLA out of five. A real good trouser, with all good details such as snow lock and pockets under the line for the harness. a real thinking trough product.

The karpos jacket..

The expectation of the jacket become of course high. But it was a bit of disappointment when testing it. With a price level of 20 euro, and a jacket developed for ski alpinism and high intensity activities a good ventilation will be expected. But this one got nothing about it. It got good reflections but that is the only detail. It also got shallow pockets, feels a bit cheap…So three NLA:a out of 5.

And when it comes to ski alpinism, here you got some inspiring movie. Sylarna one of the best places for adventuring in the Swedish mountains..

http://play.mittmedia.se/video/rikard-westling-och-mattias-skantz-klattrar-syltraversen?t=23

At the end, a dreaming back to the dolomites…

Early morning at 04.30. Fast up to the top of Schwartzhorn close to Cavalese in the Dolomites. The nature started to wake up during my ascending. I early got the feeling that this would be a fine day. I followed a slope, the sun was shadowed by the mountain. At the top I was all alone, except for the Madonna at the picture… We was looking out together in calmness, just enjoying the sun set over the alps. What a moment, I will carry it in my mind forever..

See ya sson

This week I got tired. Tired of workout, tired of reading and tired of outdoor stuff. I think it related to that the summer has past, and the feeling is telling me that I haven’t done all I expected to do.

It is interesting due to that I have been guiding, climbing, downhill cycling and a lot of Via Ferrata. So the feeling is quite wrong from that point of view. Probably it is related to the fact of not having a long term goal. Maybe you are in the same situation so here comes some things, which might encourage you to get back on track. So start finding a target for the upcoming period. Or maybe it is time for a change? Why not test the 30 day rule. Test a new habit for 30 days. Eating vegetarian, do meditation, walk before work etc. Limited to 30 days will help you. Live like you mean it. Practice harder (mastery isn’t a natural gift, it’s is a daily devotion)

Yesterday and today I went up early, running with my huskie. Now I am back on track again…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x1ziD2Zmq8

Get some inspiration..

Over to some new stuff..

Tarp is not my favourite equipment, but I know many prefer it. It is easy and fast as a shelter when you are lonely on a hike for example. Here comes one with a double function. You can use as a pack list as well.

Tarp with packing list..

Just apply your equipment on it and you got control over your equipment.

Another thing is all places that needs to be discovered. In Norway they got the Bergenbane.

A interesting way for new discoveries is to use the train. The highest place on the track is Fïnse, a fantastic place..

Finse a fantastic place in Norway..

And here you got a good inspiration for workout during this period between summer and winter..

And  a picture to dream out from..

See ya soon.

In the samis year wheel we are in the fall, which means that their reindeers live in the low lying terrain. With the minus degrees the bite gets worse. At this time the sarv (male reindeers) slaughter will be done. And the new reindeer calves get marked. It is the time for preparation for the Winter

.

A painting of Johan Tirén ”a sami with dog”

The mountain station and mountain cottage are closing. The mountain will be lying by it selves. The weather can be either kind or really hard. The temperature started to become cold. You have to start early in the morning, because the sun will not be up for so much many hours. During this season you will be alone; this meaning it will be calm. But on the other hand you have to be prepared. Every fail will result in consequences. You have to trust on your own skills, and your own self-confidence. The summer trails can be hard to find, due to they are covered by snow. The winter trail will not work due to that the moors and tars are not frozen. The air is crisp and it is often easy to be properly dressed. Due to that it can be long evenings in the tent or wind shelter, it is good to have a god stories in readiness..

When it comes to this period in the Swedish mountains you better respect the weather. It is important to know how the wind will effect you.

The blue line will means big risk for cold injuries.

But also the wind will take the heat from your body so you have to isolate for that fact. Build up with three layer, and if it is windy is good to have a prima loft or a down sweater to protect you from the wind chill.

A classic prima loft jacket is useful to protect your body and to get a distance from the wind and body..

And when it comes to weather listen to the local stations on the radio and television, and talk with the locals. They often can see and know the sign for a incoming storm etc.

Respect the weather forecast and take wise decision..

Have a good control of the weather of the area for a couple of month, then you get a know how about of it works..and you will be prepared.

And at the and another painting from Johan Tirén, ”fishing close to Snasahogarna” This is one of the most beautiful, and forgotten places in Jamtland.

And don’t forget to write good things in your book of life..

See ya soon

A bit boring to listen to, but look and listen. Easy to become a better mountaineerer..