Sunday, and soon we will step into April. A lot of good workout this week and also a first review of the Mountain Equipments Fang 42 back pack.

From my point of view, back pack can be devided into to different camps. The expedition pack with a volume from 70L and above. The other area is day or short tour pack. The volume here is from 25 and above. I’ve been testing and checking a lot of back packs in this area and the optimal is hard to fine. 35L is a bit to small  for me as guide, and 50L will be to large.

The Fang 42 from Mountain Equipment is a very good back pack. With the 42L it is optimal from my point of view. It has a big pocket inside were you can put a shavel etc. It also got long straps, which is very easy to work with even with gloves. The fabric is tough and can withstand chafing from cliffs etc. The lid is easy to take off, and can be adjusted when needed. So what is the disadvatage then? Well, a back pack with this price I think shall have gear loops. From my side I also expect that a build in wistle in the bracket…So 4,5 is a very high grade, and it might be my favourite on my back.

When it comes to winter skills it is a wide area. You have to have significtantly more skills and experience comparing to Summer adventures. The cold in hand in hand with the wind will become a challange for us. The snow that cover the ground also means that we need to have even a better control ov our navigation focus and skills. There is also a lot of other equipment we neéd to know how to use. 

So were to start to become a good winter adventurer? First of all, study and understand how weather works. Follow the weather in the area where you are going to. Ok, so now you have start to understand the weaterh good that step one. Now you need to learn how the cold will effect your body. For example, when huttering which is a normal behaviour when you are cold, you really need to take in more energy to your body. This meaning you must have exta or emergency food in your back pack. Knowledge of how the body will react you can read about on the internet. But, get out when its cold and discover it by yourself. Windshelter is one thing you must bring, but you also need to understand how it works. And as I describe the training in the 1930s you need to understand the soul of the equipment you use. Not just how it works. This meaning work with it during tough circumstances. Why not try it with blindfolded eyes in hard wind…Navigation, practice micro navigation. You use a 20 000 scaled map, and move from short from piont to point. This will give you a good selfconfidence, and that you will need in the mountains during winter. Always remember KISS= Keep It Simple Stupid. That will help you out. Also use COLD= Clean, Overheating(avoid)Layered, Dry. During the winter, you also shall take care of each other and looking for ”white” spots. As you understand it is more demanding during winter comparing to summer. But as you can see, it is duable to train and get skills even if you are living at sea level…

Winter skills 1.1: choosing boots and crampons – YouTube

Tom Walker – Fly Away With Me (Official Video) – YouTube

See ya soon..

March is good, a long weekend in Salen Sweden. Snow mobile, free heel skiing and sledge dog pull what can be better…

Salen delivers, ok it is not wild mountains but it is really nice to be here. Snow mobile cross country driving, really fun.

Early morning, the sun is shining in trough the window. The husky is already awake. Putting his wet nose to my face, telling me to get up and enjoy the sun rise. I get up dressed myself fast and get out for a walk with the dog. Passing the mountain bakery and bying some new baked bread for the breakfast. Gettting back to the cabin. The family is still sleeping. The breakfast is done when the wake p 30min later. The husky is eager to get away. So just put on his harness, and get him into the car. Time for a nice tour towards Granfjällsgraven. We have become a åpart of the establishment this time of year. The waitress recognize us insantly. So after a cup of coffee it was time to get on track again. So after the sledge dog pull, it was time for some free heel skiing. IMG_0165 A happy mountain leader in the piste. Two days with this schedule cant make anything than happy. (Ulf Bergman a happy mountain leader)

Same local beer is also always nice:-)

This weeks suggestion of book will be a guide to taverns and skiing in Dalarna.

Lord Huron – In The Wind – YouTube

Listen to this music, shut ones eyes and dream yourself away in free heel sking in the piste….See ya soon

When is the best time of year to go to the mountain? I should say -anytime.

Here follows the description of all seasons of the mountains and what advantages and disadvantages.

January, normally this is the cold mounth. This time you will be almost alone. Few have discover the icy world with the blue light. The first snow cover the ground, and now you can start look into the base layer of the snow for the upcoming winter season. But you have to plan good, the daylight is short and it will be dark early.

(Kittelfjall in January Photo Ulf Bergman)

February, at this time the enthusiasts have starting to appear. But still not crowded anywere. Do a real good planning and got a bit of luck, you can be skiing in the moon light. Still a bit short day and long nights but you can get really good skiing. 

March, now everyone is going to ski. Now it will be queues both on the roads as well to get to the cable cars. But now the light help us up and its much easier to plan the days. With a bit of thinking out of the box, you can find your own spot for a playground. With more people and a sun that can warm up, you have to be even more aware of the avalanche risk.

I will continue next week with April, May and June.

Today I will give you antother suggestion of mountain reading. Bernhard Nordh In the shadow of the March mountain(Sv. I marsfjällets skugga), is a book about a sattler in the mid of 1800 . With a challnge from both the samis and the locals they live a really hard life in the outskirt. In this book we can follow there life. I Marsfjällets skugga – Bernhard Nordh – Häftad (9789174636727) | Bokus

Fjallraven has some new apparel coming up for this season. The Abisko lite trekking jacket is a good solution. For you who likw speed hiking this will be the choice. This is a comfortable jacket for summer hiking in warm conditions. Made from G-1000 Lite Eco with back and side panels in stretch fabric for good ventilation and freedom of movement. You can also open ventilation zippers in the sides to release excess heat on intense treks. Adjustable hood and hand pockets that are accessible even when you have a backpack on.

East Love – Left My Love – YouTube

See ya soon..

The seventh of March. The spring winter is here, and it is just to enjoy it. With a ski weekend ahead and a mountain tour to Helags in a month life is so good.

Today I will present a new acquaintance. Aksel Lindstrom was born in Rossbol, Lockne. In his twenties he moved to USA, and after a couple of years he went back to Jamtland. Here he took the jamtdogs side, and saved the breed from disaperaring toward the grey dog. He founded the ski factory Kalevala at Aspas in Jamtland. In 1936 Aksel moved to Storlien. His mission here was to lead the mountain rescue with his dog team. With his experience from Alaska this duty suit him perfect. He had himself nearly died in a snowstorm in Alaska, but was rescued by a friend, who thanks to the dog team found him where he was ready to die in the Arctic snowstorm. This experience would now come in hand. With a good agreement with the manager of Storlien Hotel, this included the responible for mountain rescue during the winter and painting during the summer. But the manager died in a sudden and was replaced of a ex officer. Aksel didnt like the militair and become enemies. The ex officer forbade aksel to have dinner together with the guests,but the worst was that his paintings was sold to lowest bid. 

Now Aksel decided to quit, and stared to write a book about the event. But as luckily some of his friend stopped it. At that time he could have been acused for defamation, a crime that has cost him a couple of year in jail. Whatever he continued to write and 12 novels. The Beast (Sv. Vilddjuret) is the book that describes the Storlien period of Aksels life. And I found a part that suites the time when we train the first IML:s of Sweden.

The main charachter in the book is Guttorm, a young sami. 

Now Guttorm is about to become a real mountain leader. Ten men from different parts of Sweden is gathered at Kodbas for a two week training of the art of leading tourist trough the dangers of the mountains. Guttorm will be the eleveth participant. He has got the oppertunity due ti the Barons good will. Two weeks is a short time to catch up with something so extensive, and the trainer Leopold Froststierna is lonly to train the group. Leopold assumes all the participant has a good experience from mountain experience and all needed equipment. But as he says; it is not enaugh to now the name of the equipment and what it should be used for. You also must know its soul. Slowly he takes a ski in his hand. -this is a ski with a attached binding he begins. For a mountain leader the ski is the most important equipment during the winter, and which you all must know everything about. He keep on by lifting the ski in all parts, even tough it is whole piece of wood. He explain that the front is called the brattet, which is suitably built to glide easily on the snow. The course also contained the knowledge of how to build snow biouvaqes. A very important part of the mountain safety that a mountain leader must master fully.

Naâman – Lucky Day (Official Lyric Video) – YouTube

See ya soon..