As a instructor and examiner and with my network I spend a lot of time with different kinds of guides. First of all, it is interesting why people become guide. But it seems as one of the main driver is to show people the fantastic environment in the mountains. I realize also that is often also is for knowledge and skills. So in a environment where all almost put them self in the first room, the guides want to give you a experience. From my point of view (and I said this before) you can get a lot of value of your tour by using a guide, if just for a day or so. But at the same time it is important to be selective when choosing your guide. The reason for that, is that all guides that I meet, all of them got different skills and experience. One will be a good chef, another is expert at flowers and the third knows the history of the area in detail. In the ground all are good in guiding but got there own ”flavor” on the guiding…So rethink what you want to have out of the guide and choose the one that bring up to your expectations.

This weekend I went to Skulskogen, this for reconnoiter the trails and cabin for the upcoming winter. The High coast trail goes trough the national park and its in it self a really nice trail. But this time we went to the North portal of the park, and choose the trail to Tärnättvattnets wind shelter. From here we continued to Näskebodarna which is really nice. Now we went to the north with Tärnätts islets,  here it was fantastic nice with a lot of good places for a night in tent and also really good cabins. This one at the mid islet was build with three different room and with a stove. So now I got a good idea of nice winter tours in the area.

(Skuleskogen delivers as usual…)

So far this year it ahs been a lot of nice tours: Ice climbing in January, IML examination in Norway February, Funäsdalen in March, Snasahögarna and Bydalen in April, Voss in May, and Skuleberget Via Feratta in June, and Ljungdalen/vargtjärnsstöten in August, Åre/Vålådalen, Skuleskogen in September a nice adventure year so far…

NSH, Atch & Hobes – Morning Sun (Lyrics) (youtube.com)

Next week it will be about tents….

See ya soon…

Today at 14.43 the autumnal equinox falls. So the Summer is at is end. Now it is Autumn and it will be until 10.20 am 21th of December. Worth to know is that at the north pole this is a beginning of six month of darkness, while at the south pole the autumnal equinox is the prelude to six months of uninterrupted daylight.

With us northerners and the equivalent in the south, the length of the days and the position of the sun in the sky change so much that we have four seasons, while in the tropics there are only two. I think that is something to be grateful for.

Autumn makes us a little melancholic and a sense of melancholy. A feeling that I think is very nice. Now we get time for some reflection and think about what we have done and what we have ahead of us. This, of course, with an underlying optimism. At this time, I usually think about those in mountain environments. What a short summer they have. But on the other hand, a fantastic spring winter that we partly miss. So light a candle, brew a good cup of coffee or tea, and reflect of all you have felt and accomplished. A new season is on its way…

(Photo Jonas Brunnemyr) The last weekend I was training 19 upcoming Mountain Leaders as you read about in the last blog. Today I will dig a bit deeper in the training. The first day is a lot about what UIMLA and SFLO is for type of organization and under what umbrella they sort under. It is also a lot about what are expected of you as an International Mountain Leader. IML leadership and It is also theory about river crossing and emergency bivouac. It also includes a lecture in mountain Weather. It is also contains a introduction to the speed navigation. The ground here is to explain the difference between orienteering and navigation.

At last I will end up with a continuously review of the Helikon-Tex Pilgrim Anorak. This jacket can be compared to Garphyttan orginal Anorak or Fjällräven Anorak 8m. The shell of this anorak is in Duracanvas. It is light weight and quick drying. Inside it is lined with a mesh, which will give a lot of opportunities. It gives a lot of options of pockets, which Helikon-tex fully used. And it is also god for a air gap during the cold season for warming up the air in between. With al of details and price wise this is a really good choice. So the rating will be: (NNNN+) and now you wonder why not (NNNNN)? The reason is that you must bring a shell during moister and wet days.

Hem igen (youtube.com)

See ya soon…

This weekend i went to Åre, I have got the opportunity to hold the introduction course for the Wilderness class. So the whole program started with a whole day of theory. It is actually a pleasure to be able to work both indoors with theory, and then go out and carry out practical moments. So holding lecture in leadership and responsibility, and working with your own values and attitudes for example was one part. The day ended up by explaining the Speed navigation test. In the next morning we then we carried out the speed navigation test. This with mixed result:-). But all got the reflection, that this is area that might be a good area to train. When everyone was done the next target was Vålådalen for a ”mini expedition”.

From Vålådalen it was time to work with micro-navigation, and lead a group at the same time. So here you must have or at least train for having the ability to having overview at the same time as you shall now exactly where you are. So after a couple of navigation leg, we arrived to the night camp. But if anyone thought that this was the day, would end up disappointed. dusk and night navigation stood at the door. So after a couple of navigation legs, then it was time for a couple of hours of rest. (with a speed navigation test in the body, and a lot of micro-navigation the student fell at sleep). A crisp night and morning. But with a coffee the new day get up to speed.

This day we have a couple of navigation legs, and then it was time for pointing out coordinates for a helicopter rescue. When that was done we talked a bit of weather prognostication, and also the river crossing technique.  So overall a lot of different skills that is connected with the International Mountain Leader training. So we as instructors we where very satisfied with the course…

Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus – II MOST WANTED (Official Lyric Video) (youtube.com)

See ya soon…

Today I will start with the review of the Helikon-tex Pilgrim jacket. This is a really nice jacket/Anorak.  It has draw string in both the end and in the waist. This is very good because it ill be very flexible and also with losing it up, it will be good for the ventilation. It also got ventilation under the arms. It got pocket all over, at the arms, at the chest and the side of the chests and also the kangaroo pocket as is a signum for anoraks…I have not been tested this in hard core, but so far I am more than satisfied…(NNNNN).

At the moment I am preparing for training the students at Campus Åre, which will become Mountain Leader quite soon. I will held a short introduction of the IML process, and some tests and also a mini-expedition. I really like the moment of becoming an instructor, you have to step up and you always learn a lot from the participants of a course.

Another reflection done lately is that the environmental effect of the warm up situation is that the mountains will be affected. At Kebnekaise we now can see a lot sign of the impact of that. This meaning that the Mountain safety has to be checked and  thought out. The glaciers are melting, The snow cover melts and avalanches will increase and also landslides. Increasing of heavy snowfall and also breakouts from glacier lakes, so it will affect us all.

Ronnie Davis – I Won’t Cry [Official Video 2016] (youtube.com)

See ya at Monday….will be off Sunday.

This week has been a good workout week. With 9 workouts within seven days is rally good. Four workouts at the gym, and five trail running. One of them 70s x 20s  x 8 intervals. So still going strong:-).

One of my favorite spot will be Sonfjället. readily available, somewhat unknown and with a fantastic view over Jämtland and Härjedals mountains. This area and mountains are something that you usually just pass by. But it is so well worth a visit. It is one of the most bear-rich areas in Sweden. You can easily reach the ”Högfjället” from three direction, but I will suggest two of them. The first the blue one. You start from Nysätern, hike trough the Sododalen, you can stay at the wind shelter and continue in south direction until you reach a small pond. From here you start the ascend in north east direction, you will pass two peaks before you reach Högfjället 1277m. My other suggestion will be to start from Dalsvallen, and you heading fo the same pond, and the same way up towards Högfjällets peak. The way back will be trough Sododalen , with a possibility to stay one of the two wind shelter for lunch etc. If you are lucky you might see a golden eagle here as well…

This week and next week I will test the Helikon-tex Pilgrim Anorak jacket. This is a ”tactical” jacket. Wind proof, and with lot of pockets. It can be waterproofed with wax, and the weight of the jacket is 1kg. With a zipper in the middle as usual at a anorak, it has good ventilation possibilities, it also got zippers for ventilation under the arms. So what is my first judgement of this garment? I like the anorak model, even if its a bit ”old fashion”. Since it not waterproof, you still need a shell with you (that is a minus from my point of view) This looks like a real nice bush craft jacket.  But still more to come after checking it…

This week I will start a  series of articles on hidden or forgotten mountain cabins. We start this week with the Sårjåsjaure cabin. This is unmanned, and open all year around. With its 10 beds and the glacier lake it is worth a visit, it is situated in ”no where” but if you approaching the Nordkalott-trail you will find it on your way…

Coffee makes the world go around. Tired of the instant coffee at you tours, now you got an alternative. The No normal coffee is a tube coffee – yes you read it right coffee on a tube. This has a taste of nuts, chocolate and caramel.  Squeeze it in the cup, pure some water and you there…and the cost? 170:- for 20 cups…

Paolo Nutini – Candy (Official Video) (youtube.com)

See ya soon…