When it comes to winter equipment there is a couple a things that really is needed. I’ve been talkinga about shovels before so that is not necessary. But when it comes to tent equipment there are two things that is important. First of all winter pegs, you will not use the skiis for this. With the steel edges it is easy to get the tent string cut off. It is also easy to get a couple of birch stick to use. Dont forget a water bottle, it is easy to forget to dring during the winter. The windshelter shall always be with you. 

When it comes to equipment I can now present the result from the fieldtest of Silva Expedition and the tactical compass. Today I would never buy a compass without clinometer, you really need this for being able to avoid avalache terrain. Both of the compass got this. The differance is that the silva got it build in. The silva is easy to use and also got a good distance check within the leach. The other is a real bearing compass. I am used to use it in the army and if you ar skilled it is very good. But you really need to be skilled and comfortable for using this type of compass. So from a usage point of view I will give the Silva (NLA,NLA,NLA;NLA)Proster Multifunctional Compass (NLA,NLA,NLA) Really good price for what you get…

And while we are on the area navigation I will talk a bit of it. I have been orientering a lot the last week. For feeling comfortable and safe you need to be skilled. The best way of getting skills it is good to start with micronavigation.

Start with a 10.000 scaled map. Take a bearing between two points and look into details you will pass during the navigation such as height curves, stones, cavities etc. Also notice the distance. That way, you will be good at judging how long it takes between your targets. But you also must try other scale of course as well….

At last a nother phot from Helags:-)

Sia- Never give up (music video) – YouTube

See ya soon…

The car is parked. The snowshoes has been fitted, and the back packs is in place. The sun is shining while we walk among the trail towards the Kesu lake, We stop a couple of times to take nice pictures with the sun and snow. The snom is crisp and hard, so it is easy to walk with the snow shoes. The target for the day is the Helags mountain station 12K ahead. Normally it isnt any hard walk. A couple of snow mobiles pass us and give us a greeting. Soon we have walked over the ice, and its time for the first hill. When we reach the top, the wind hit us. Now the sun does not go the power to warm us anymore. The wind is in our faces, and it is hard to hear what the neighbour is talking  about. The snow swirls in the air, but the seight is still good. After 6K and halfway there we take a short break. I suggest us to take something to eat, to be able to take the last 6k in head-wind. We struggle on and soon we reach the winter trail from Faltjagarstugan. Now we now it is just 1K left. So we keep up the good speed and reach the mountain station. It is nice to get inside after the tour. The day after we have the Helags peak as our target. But the wind and sight have other thoughts for us. As we waked up and looked out from the window, the doubt of the possibility to get there made it self remind. But the will is the half way, said and done we should at least try. In the valley into the glacier the seight in sudden dissapear, and in the next second it was back. But after struggle upphills for twohundred heightmeters we decided to get back. A vice desicsion. With a broken hope, we were back to the mountain station. The other went to bed for resting while I decided to try to get up to the nearest peak. The weather cleared up, and I got a real nice view of the valley and the mountain station, but the next second it was white out. As a guide I have taking a bearing to the mountain station and that was a real good decision. The problem with a real white out is that you will be having trouble even to understand that what is up and down etc. The next day it was time for going home, (Photo Ulf Bergman How glorius a greating the sun gives the mountains/John muir) and of course the weather was perfect. But hold on, I think it is because that is the moment you will remember:-). So over all a nice trip to Helags…

When it comes to equipment, I will be testing to different compasses this week. One ordenary and one bearing compass. Both got clinometer for checking the inclination. A must if you are in avlanche areas. For me it is important that it should be easy to use in both daylight and in darkness. So it will be interesting to give this two a report.

When it comes to workout it has been a real good week. A lot of orienteering and running and also fighting. So it will never be boring…

Hollow Coves – The Open Road (Official Music Video) – YouTube

See ya soon…