The 14th of December and just 10 days to X-mas.

One of the most visit mountain areas in Sweden is of course Kebnekaise the roof of Sweden.

But there are o lot of places in the area that is easy to forget. One of them is Unna Raäita.

Unna Raita wind shelter..

And you shall also take the peak of Kebnetjåkka close to Kebnekaise mountain station.

And make the day with a real nice cup of cappuccino at Kebnekaise mountain station..

See ya tomorrow..

Today we open the 13th door. And today it will be about the best city in the world.

Chamonix is the playground of the earth. Here everyone can find an adventure that suits them.

Why don’t try wingsuit from Brevent:-):

https://vimeo.com/45569466

Well it is so nice in Chamonix, the village boils of expectations and adventures, adrenaline and endorphins. But the evening at a calm restaurant at the pedestrian street is nice. Try the local food, you will be suprised of the hospitality and the tasty savoyen food.

Fondue of fromage taste very good…

Another real nice thing to do, will be the glacier walk from Aguille du Midi to Pointe Hellbronner. From France to Italy. Taste the Italian coffee is a must. The new lift building is futuristic.

Few things can be compered to the Italian coffee at Pointe Hellbronner.

Just be aware of the crevasses on the glacier trail to Ponte Hellbronner.

Aguille du midi when it is in its best shape, climbing the ridge in bad weather condition will be challenging, or what do you say Rickard and Mattias?:-)

See ya tomorrow..

Today it is time for door number 12. And the topic of the day will be a bit of ice climbing and also about altitude sickness.

I dint think you have mist that I really love Ice Climbing. There are lot lots of reasons. But most of all it is the  material of ice. Its is unique every time, never the same. And you have to adept to the circumstances. It is technique, strength and a mental thing:-). Here the Swedish radio will give you a introduction of the ”creature” ice climbing..

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=1646&artikel=6091050

When it comes to altitude sickness the Doctors News in Sweden explain that High altitude medicine is also an issue for Swedish primary care. Peoples traveling habit has changed, and more people travel in high altitude areas and the adventure traveling increase all the time. So the primary care need to have knowledge of the risk factors related to high altitude.

When the degree of inclination exceeds the adaptability of the body, pathological symptoms arise with the concept of altitude sickness

The level of altitude will decrease the level of oxygen:

And the affect of the human body will be different of the altitude:

https://www.tindeberg.se/bca-slope-meter-1.html?___store=tindeberg_se&nosto=nosto-page-category1

https://www.tindeberg.se/produkter/utrustning/lavin-utrustning/bca-snow-study-kit-orange.html

A professional kit for assessing the quality of snow for avoiding avalanches.

See ya soon..

Today its time for the eleventh door, and follow a great track to Lunndorren.

There are a couple of place you can start your journey to the mountains in Jamtland. One of them is from a little and hidden place; Tossåsen. There are a small road, and just a couple of houses. You park the car, and can start your hiking directly.

After just a kilometre you follow the trail behind the small mountain lakes and can see the  fabulous Lunndörrspasset.

Here you can see two old B17 bomber planes, passing the Lunndörrspasset.

You can also go ice climbing here in the winter..

See ya tomorrow..

Today we open the 10th door, and will learn more about a artist..

Johan Tirén was born in 1853 in Sjalevad. When he was seven year old the family moved to Oviken in Jamtland. After studies in Norrland in the winter of 1881, in the spring he had a art exhibition with three sami paintings.

Due to this he managed to get an academic travel scholarship. He decided to travel south worth, and Belgium, Neatherlands and Paris become the target. What he discovered was landscape familiar to the Jamtland in Sweden. After a lot of travel he went back to Oviken in 1883, and he become it faithful in the rest of his life. Johan Tirén was strongly committed to the Sami rights and, among other things, made the strong painting ”Lappar tillvaratager skjutna renar”(Samis taking care of killed reindeers)

Samis guarding reindeer herd on X-mas night..

Johan Tirén has given us a lot of knowledge about the samis trough his paintings..

And todays question: How many reindeers is there in Sweden today?(Winter herd) and what date has the samis there national day? Send your answer to +46 702 50 90 28 latest on Monday 11/12.

See ya tomorrow..

Today we got the 9th of December, X-mas closing in. Today it will be about the future state of outdoor..

I was on the lecture last week, it was about IT security. The discussion of AI (artificial intelligence) was one of the topics. I could not stop thinking about how it could affect the future state of outdoor and guiding.

One of the speakers was very interesting, and as a matter of fact I call him, and ask about his opinion about guiding, and outdoor and AI. I said, do you think the Mountain guides will be replaced of a robot in 10-15 years? He was quiet for 10 seconds, and said -no it will be in 5 years. But from my point of view he said; it will be a complement to todays mountain guides. The reason is that we want to have a human relation to hour guides. But the robot(AI) will be better in predicting weather forecast as well as the avalanche risk.

A robot with combined weather predictable skills and forecasting avalanche know how, will be a very good support for the guide in the near future..

So don’t get surprise if one of these will be helping you inb the outdoor activities..

Robots will challenge us..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXa9tXcMhXQ

https://www.milrab.se/compressport-tactical-raider-t-shirt-svart/cat-p/c1000151/p10503751

See ya tomorrow..

Today we open the 8th door, and get information about frost bites.

Frostbites occurs in principal in three ways:

1. cool of peripheral body parts (feet, fingers, ears, cheeks and nose) but maintain central body temperature. ◦If central temperature is not in danger zone, there will be alternately vasoconstriction and vasodilation in cycles of five to ten minutes (hunting reaction). In this manner, the tissue is protected and central body temperature is maintained
   ◦If central temperature is preserved, the peripheral temperature may be long before permanent tissue damage occurs
   ◦If the local cold effect is extreme, this effect is not sufficient to protect against damage
2. Cold effect of such a nature that the core temperature drops: ◦ ”Hunting reaction” ceases and temperature control mechanisms prioritize constant core temperature. In the peripheral tissues (arms and legs) there is a strong and lasting vasoconstriction which causes the skin areas to cool down very quickly
   ◦The temperature in these tissues falls until it reaches about -2 ° C. When the extracellular fluid is converted into ice crystals, the temperature is stabilized
   ◦The formation of ice crystals causes an osmotic gradient that leads to intracellular dehydration with increased risk of cell damage. Skin cells tolerate this quite well, but nerves and blood vessels are more sensitive
   ◦ If icecrystals are formed in plasma, it may also cause stasis and circulatory arrest in the area.
3. In case of rapid freezing (temperature drops above 10 ° C / minute), for example, when exposed to liquid gases, intracellular ice crystals are formed and direct cell death occurs.

Diagnosis criterias:

Separate between superficial and deep local cold injuries.
• Light or superficial cold damage (Grades 1 and 2) is characterized by the skin being movable relative to underlying structures.
• Serious or deep cold damage (Grades 3 and 4) is characterized by the skin’s hardness and immobility relative to underlying structures

Treatment goals:

• Restore normal temperature and blood flow as possible in the affected area.
• Give pain relief and possible infection prophylaxis.
• Facilitate the best possible healing of the injured area and avoid further tissue destruction.

Treatment of frostbites:

Quick and correct warming of the cold-damaged area is the basis for treating cold damage, such as hands-freezing.2◦The opening should not start until the risk of new nasal discharge is small
◦Updining of major cold injuries should often wait until medical treatment is available with regard to the pain

• If there is a cold freezing cold (prolonged cold but above freezing point), heating should be slower.
• pain relief when thawed ◦NSAID reduces tissue disorder, but opioids are usually necessary
◦Amitriptyline can be effective in cold weather without frost

• In case of acute and severe cold damage with a risk of tissue destruction, and if less than 24 hours have elapsed after the injury, thrombolysis may be relevant.3
• If the risk of infection is high, preventive antibiotic treatment is indicated.
• Good wound care and treatment with aloe vera cream reduces tissue damage.

And todays X-mas gift suggestion will be…

A sock with a heat package..

https://www.smartasaker.se/sv/artiklar/batteriuppvarmda-sockor.html

And a rescue blanket which will keep you warm in case of emergency..

https://www.addnature.com/campz-rescue-blanket-496075.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhCUCxet2a4

See ya fomorrow..

Today we open door seven, and it will be about knowledge among others..

If we looking in to statistics we can se that the tourism in the mountain environment increasing. We can also see that the seasons will become longer as well. A fact is that people or less skilled, but with better equipment. We can also see that young people is one of the area were it increase most. The mountain safety council (fjällsäkehetsrådet) have notice that, and has promote a training for that:

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/jamtland/battre-fjallkunskap-i-skolan

What is important to this is that it is easy to find the right stuff/gear for every activity in the mountain environment, but the skills people forget. A good mountaineerer knows that good equipment, even how good it is can never replace the skills. So get out and get every hour, minute and seconds in the mountain environment. It will develop you.

Enjoy every second you can get on the mountain. If you are lucky you will get a nice view from your shelter..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOFABXxxGA4

See ya tomorrow..

Today it is time for door six, and today it will be about gear.

When it comes to gear, I have been trying a lot of different brands and equipment. There are things you might put some more thinking and quality for. Due to clothing I always use the layer principal. With a merino wool undergarments top, you will stay dry and warm. And there will be no odour , for the first day at least. When it comes to sleeping mat, I normally use a inflatable one, and during winter season I add one more. If I planning to sleep in a snow shelter, I will choose one with groves/patterns so it will slide less.

Use a sleeping mat with groves for the winter shelter..(combined with a warm one)

Gloves, I can talk hours about it. Because the gloves is so important. You hands is you most important tools, (except for your brain)So they most be able to work. I always bring a pair of mittens with me. And use gloves off different types depending on activity. Today there are a multitudes of variants so you have to try, and see what’s suits for you and the activity.

Gloves for climbing, but does they work on a cold wet and icy wall?

And most important will of course be the coffee. To start a day to be the best, the part coffee is essential:-)

Starting the day with a nice coffee, means is going to be a good day..

See ya soon

Due to some technical issue door 5 will be open now.

When it comes to workout and mountaineering, we can divide the area into three;  Energy-efficient processes, Strength and technique and mental training. You have to combine those three in a thought trough planning. It will be easier if you start with a analyse of your strengths and weaknesses. Now here comes one of my other thoughts; you are the best to build up your program. You can get help from a PT, but he or she could never give you exactly what just you need. They can though help you with your planning and of course motivation. My self as an example, I struggle with leg strength. The endurance will never be a problem for me, but I have to develop my leg strength. While ice climbing you need the strength for getting a good technique. Her you got some good exercise for leg strength and balance.

https://www.trainonline.com/single-leg-dumbbell-press-on-bosu-exercise

https://www.trainonline.com/weighted-glute-bridge-on-bench-exercise

So you have to work with the endurance over the whole year, then you build up your strength before the upcoming season. Autumn build up strength for winter activities, spring build up for summer activity. There you got it. You have to think border specific training. For example; how do you use your biceps/triceps in ice-climbing. That movement can be done in the cable cross machine..

Adept the movement to want you want to archive within your branch.(Ice climbing for example).

When it comes to mental toughness this can be a help, and why not a suggest of a Xmas gift?:-)

https://www.adlibris.com/se/bok/mental-toughness-a-guide-to-developing-peak-performance-and-an-unbeatable-mind-in-everyday-life-9781514677773

The winner of the contest this week is Mattias. and the price:

250g bear roasted coffee for field use.

See ya later:-)