Sunday 24th of May, and my 499th blog. Today I will start with a reflection. Make your life become your dream…These words are very easy to say, but how to do it in reality? From my point of view I think it is very important to do the planning. Because otherwise threre will always be a reason for not doing the thing you want. I always have som plans going on in my mind, and I am planning the adventures in my head. When I feel I really want to achive it, I do the challange or the adventure. So plan your adventure, and they will be done. And I think at the situation we are living in at the moment it is more important than ever. At the time you also got the time for planning the adventure ahead.
This week I will review the GSI Perculator 8 cup coffee brewer, it will be interesting, and tasty I hope…
This week I will review the book: ”Handbok Resemedicin & Säkerhet”. This book is for traveling safety, and I think it is a very complete and extensive instruction book. For the ordenarie traveller I think it is a little premium. But for a guide, I think it is a good book to got in the luggage. So NNNN will be the value of the book.
And from the playground of Chamonix:
See ya soon…And next week the 500 blog I will have a suprice for you:-)
Today it is syttende Mai, And what would suit better than a mountain history from the World war II, and as if by mere coincidence it starts in Trondheim.
Secrets in the Mountains…
This week I will write abut secrets in the mountains. During the world war II there were some actions in the mountain area. First, we should get acquainted with the Sorko Battalion. It stood clear for the Germans that it must be by the land way to control the northern part of Norway. This since the royal navy got control over the North Sea. The choice of the mission fell on the Austrian 2. nd Mountain division. In the night of the 4th of May in 1940 one of the Austrian battalions started its succor of the German troops in Narvik. The Germans had met great resistance from the allies in the area and needed support. The German General Dietl was in a precarious situation at the time. The plan was to move troops trough a trail close to the Swedish border and North worth towards Narvik. About 2531 soldiers should be involved in what would be called the operation Böffel. A group of twenty soldiers from the Sorko Battalion would be the reconnaissance unit of the operation. The supply for the group must be handled from the air by the Luftwaffe whom need to drop supply from air. The group started from Trondheim area at the 2nd of June at 02.00 in the night. the first day’s planned march was about 20 kilometers, but what kilometers it was! After 20 hours they were still struggling over log and stone. The first part of the Operation the weather condition was in real bad, and the Luftwaffe couldn’t drop the supply to the group. But as can be reading from the diary at the time -We were between Hellemobotn and Skjomen when a stork came flying with the message that Norway has surrounded and that the allies has left.
(Since Norway has surrended, the unit could use all possbile solution to get to Narvik)
Now the group could increase their speed, and after 900km the 13 of June, 13 days later Lieutenant Fritz Gessel could shake had with General Dietl in Narvik. The operation did not make any imprint for the result of the battle in Narvik, but it has a great signaling impact of that the German got a connection between Fauske and Narvik. The Austrian 2. nd Bergsjaeger regiment was a very skilled unit. Very well known with warfare as well as mountain warfare, and still it took over 20 hours for the first 20km of the march. So, this tells us two things; we got challenging terrain in the Nordic mountains, and I think our military mountain units stands well comparing to other countries comparable units. The military historian Lars Gyllenhaal has a very good view of the Nordic Scandinavian during world war II, and he tells us that the Operation Böffel was not a success, but at least it gave the soldiers good skills and training of the terrain in the area. Lars also told me that he got a plan to hike the march the way that the unit done. (I might enjoy him) He thinks he still can find rests from the march.
He also will release a new book I June; Trail to 200 Swedish monuments during WWII. Here he describe how you can hike to memories from the WWII. And here you can hear him talk about bargains from the war….
And if have got enough of the historical wingspan you might like this movie as well. A German and British air crew think they have destroyed each other but both survival, but have to cooperate to outlive the wilderness together.
Another good suggestion for the outdoor libary will be this book:
And a bonus quiz this week, how many bloggs has been made so far? A: 298 B: 398 C: 498 Guess and send the answer to +46-702509028.
Today I will write about how to choose and take care of your hiking boots.
First of all, your feet are just your feet. This meaning our feet are individual, so it is important to choose a pair that suits just you. When choosing what type of boot, you will buy, you must decide for what purpose you will use them for. Is it mountaineering in high altitude, in cold climate or just hiking on trails? Is it important for you that the boot should manage very wet climate you should go for one with membrane. So, what is the advantage and disadvantage of membrane? To be honest, some membrane works better than others, but are seldom perfect and lose their function over time. If you will use the boots under longer period in cold climate, you should consider a boot without membrane. Because it will dry faster when it got wet. Ok, so now you have decided if you shall have membrane or not. Now you must decide how stable the boot shall be, and high or low shaft? The higher and often heavier a boot is the more stable and of course more expensive. Now you probably got a range of different brand to choose from. Next step now will be to check the fit. Number one will be volume, your ankles size will be crucial when choosing boot. If you got a low ankle, it is important to select a boot that will keep your feet in place. If not, your toes will slip forward in downhill terrain. The second is the length, try the boot with double pair of socks. Press you heal backwards, lacing the boot and walk around. You should be able to move your toes. A golden rule of thumb is to have 1cm before the toes…Width your feet should not moving around in the boot, and not sit to tight. Then you will get blisters. So, know you just must choose the one that suits best.
(This boot with Gore-Tex lining you should use wax, and not grease)
When it comes shoe care it is a chapter of its own. Your new boots life-span will be affected of your ability to take care of them. Use a sponge and lukewarm water to remove dust and dirt from the boot. Remove the shoelace, clean the boot under there as well. If you have a boot with membrane you can use a toothbrush to clean it inside. If the membrane get dirty it will not work. Remove gravel from the sole and now the boot is clean. Now its time for new waterproofing. Here we use two different products; Wax or grease. Normally people do not know the difference of those twos, but that can makes a disaster. Never use grease on a membrane boot. This will go in under the surface and lock the membrane, so use the wax for these boots. If you have a nubuck boot and you don’t want to destroy the surface, you must use a Gore-Tex spray. But sooner o later you will need to use wax for those ones as well.
Today the workout contained 15k hiking and 1h at hte gym. 10×10 cal rowing and 10×10 push-ups. All under 10 min(09.32) So focus of the cardio…During the hike it started to rain. And I thaught there is a thin line between bad weather condtion and bad attitude condition:-)
Now we closing up the quiz, the price you can win is this:
The top of the day is 1768m and it is the highest peak in the Vasterbottens county.
Often, we have the view ahead in focus, the future and upcoming events. But today I will look backwards. Because we always have a lot to learn from the past. Both from a personally view, but
also in a history view. The history and the culture also go hand in hand, and that why culture is so important. Many people mean that we not should put money into culture project and activities. But I
support that. Because it is important for that will set the footprints for the future…Well today I will take you on a journey, first to a Sami story including a helicopter accident. And, a bit about our mountain sport history. I hope you will enjoy the travel. In my early teens I went up to Jamtland, and I think that that have made who I am today. And this may be why I want to tell this history for today.
The story of the silver reindeer calf. In the end of the 1600 a Sami family have their Sami grazing land on the Bastunasfjallets northside. The father of the family was a wise man a so called Nåid (shaman). So, at one of the reindeers calving period he chooses one of the calves and silver it. He announces it as “seite”. He hides it in a crevice, and one it was time for the movement of the rein herd from
summer to winter pasture and vice versa he took out the “seite” and worshiped it for securing his own and his family their happiness and prosperity. When he the first time placed the silver calf in the
crevice, he read a incantation that meant if some else not from the family would see the silver reindeer(seite) he would die before he could tell were it was. And if today the incantation has been working, and no one have told that they have seen the silver reindeer calf. In 1977 a helicopter was flying in the area. One of the crew was Kent Lillspokis Andersson the son of Spokis the mountain pilot. The helicopter crashed and all members of the crew died. The question was having they seen something on the slope of Bastunasfjallet, the silver reindeer calf? We will never know…
The beginning of the mountain tourism.
The mountain tourism begun in the end of the 1800 in Sweden. But before that the science has started exploring the northern part of Sweden. This paved the way to open the mountains, . The year
was 1895 Astrid Cleve and Lilly Paijkull begun their hiking towards Kvikkjokk and Stora sjofallet. They have changed their skirts to a more comfortable waterproofed and shortened skirts. This short one just reached down to the ankles. These two women represents in many ways a transitional period in the Swedes relation towards the mountain world. Her travel contributes not only the science science part but even that they were emotionally affected of the mountain environment. This travels also resulted in the doctoral degree she earned at Uppsala University. But before this Carl von Linné already in 1735 was traveling from Kvikkjokk as well and write a lot of diaries and books about the environment. And now the science has got their eyes on the nature, but it needs to be spectacular. In 1835 Karl XIV Johan was visiting Tannforsen close to Åre. (Called the Nordics Niagara fall). The landscape painters and the Science contributed now the knowledge of the fabulous mountain environment up in the north. The English tourist Alex H Hutchinson meant that if possible, go to the Swedish mountains because is a relatively "cheap" alternative to the over-exploited Alp in his book Try Lapland a fresh field for summer tourists .
The importance of the communications.
(A company of tourists enjoying dinner at Sylarnas mountain lodge in 1962)
One very important reason for traveling towards north was the development of communications. During the year of famine, in late 1860 new roads was built in northern part of Sweden. But for
reaching Jamtland the easiest way was to go for Oslo and from there train to Röros. And from there transportation towards the jamtlands mountain environment. When the Norrlandska tvarbanan(today the mittbanan) was build in 1882, the mountain in Jamtland could be reach by train from southern part of Sweden. This opened up the mountain tourism in a broader way. In 1885 the Swedish Tourism Association was founded and that history we know all about��. In 1897 the first mountain hut with food service was promoted, the Syl-cabin. Worth to mention is that during the world wars the mountain tourism was slowed down. But during 1926-27 the downhill skiing was introduced in Sweden. The Austrian officer Georg Bilgeri held courses in Solleftea in downhill skiing. The first ski lift was build in Are in 1940 and it was here the first World Championship in alpine ski-sport was held in 1956.
This weekend I have trekking the Malardalstrail. Nice and good for preparing for the mountain trails…With a fantastic view over Malaren the beginning of todays trail was good. The uneven ground is good for the feets..
Todays quiz will be about a peak at the height of 2016m. It is a dubbel peak, and you might know the name from Selma Lagerlofs book Nils Holgersson wounderful journey. The name of the peak is Sami and means ”Old woman”. Send an SMS with right answer to +46-702509028 and your name.
These words are very easy to say, but how to do it in reality? From my point of view I think it is very important to do the planning. Because otherwise threre will always be a reason for not doing the thing you want. I always have som plans going on in my mind, and I am planning the adventures in my head. When I feel I really want to achive it, I do the challange or the adventure. So plan your adventure, and they will be done. And I think at the situation we are living in at the moment it is more important than ever. At the time you also got the time for planning the adventure ahead.
Säkerhet”. This book is for traveling safety, and I think it is a very complete and extensive instruction book. For the ordenarie traveller I think it is a little premium. But for a guide, I think it is a good book to got in the luggage. So NNNN will be the value of the book.
