Now is one of the best period in the mountains for skiing. The light comes early in the morning. The night is cold, the days are long. The snow got good quality, The weather is more stable and your ski experience will be the best of the season.

Now is the best time for top trips in the Swedish mountains..

And now you can get a nice tan as well:-)

Another thing when you go skiing or biking or whatever you need  to use a good helmet. The Mips helmet is developed for the best protection. The Swedish surgery Hans Von Holst got some of the victims from bike accident passed his surgery table, and he started to think how he would decrease the injuries of the brain. The scientist Peter Halldin, has developed a composite solution and together they find out a way forward. The result is the Mips helmet we can see today.  So today we got over 80 different Mips helmet on the Swedish market (for cycling and skiing).  When will we see a climbing helmet with Mips?

The difference between regular helmets and Mips helmets are quite obvious..So invest for you brain its worth it..

And over to some news on the Swedish outdoor market. The Åre based company Elevantes has a new aggressive plan. Martin Netinder means that the new profile will be to go from a small company to a medium sized one. A modern mountain life culture will be the key values. The next step will be a summer collection, running, and cycling will be covered in the new collection. It will be on the market in 2019. So it will be interesting to see Elevenates development.

Elevenates will e interesting to follow in the near future..

The workout this week has been real good. With 13 workouts I think it will be enough. At Friday I did the 1000m row test, result: 3 min 17 sek. quite good as well. So it just to keep it up:-).

See ya soon…

 

With coffee in my hand and the husky next to me, it is time for some blogging. It has been an effective day today. I kept up the field work with pulley system for crevasse rescue. The routines must be in the backbone…

You don’t need so much equipment for be able to set up a pulley system for crevasse rescue..

If you prepare can do the double quite easy, but on the other hand the most difficult part is to stop the other persons fall..Then you have to build a belay.

This time at year it is important to build up the strength for upcoming activities.

Bench press WUTH(work up to heavy) The target is 100kg, soon there I hope..

The thing is to always challenge the body. One of my favourites is to do bench press like this:  5 low short ones, 5 high short ones and 5 fully. then 10 push ups. Rest for 2-3 minutes x 4. This will build you up.

The May is getting closer and the Via Ferrata season is coming fast. Be prepared soon its time for Skuleberget..

Soon, soon its time for via Ferrata…

I will now test the Karpos alagna plus pant and Aligna plus jacket.

Karpos the Italian trademark which focus on high intensive mountaineering activities..

The music today..thanks for the suggest Mattias..

See ya soon..

 

Today the blog will be about Kebnekaise. This is one of the most alpine area in Sweden. It also have a lot different faces and includes a whole area of wilderness. Summer or winter it doesn’t matter you will have a lot different activities and areas to choose between..

The ridge between north and south peak of Kebnekaise, you need equipment for belay and ice axe and crampons

In the year 1883 the French explorer lawyer and secretary of the French geographical council  Charles Rabot  ascend the peak for the first time. From Skjomdal in Norway they hike to Bugholm, and from there it was 100km left to hike. The equipment was primitive. Two cups of aluminium, one spoon, and one fork, and a coffeepot that should be used for both coffee and soup. The 22dn of august, after six days of rain they discovered the peak of Kebnekaise in shining sunshine. The basecamp was on a glacier, which today is named the Rabots glacier. At 19.00 that evening the peak was ascended. The temperature was 0 degrees Celsius.  At midnight the expedition was back to the basecamp. After 12 hours of hard work at the mountain, the men has just eating a chocolate cake.

Charles Rabot, the first man at the peak of Kebnekaise the roof of Sweden.

Which route will you choose, the ”free” hike of the western trail or the technical eastern route. Its not a easy choice..

The South peak from the north peak, a ropeteam on its way up to the south peak..

See ya soon..

 

 

 

So today we are already in April. That was fast…I’ve been up to Jamtland for a cross country ski tour. One of the best place to stay at is the Enforsholm mountain lodge.

Enaforsholm mountain lodge, a fantastic view which will make everyone humble..Starting the day with that view…(Photo Ulf Bergman)

We got a plan to make a peak. I have chosen the Storulvafjallet. The reason: a perfect view over the whole Jamtland mountain area. Who can even had dream about a sunny day with no wind at all. This day will be one to remember rest of pout lives. Even the 18 and 20 year old daughters was quite satisfyed at the peak:-)

 

My daughter enjoying the peak tour to Storulvafjallet..(Photo Ulf Bergman).

I got the opportunity to test the Grivel Randonee back pack. And this one was real good. It is perfect for this type of activity. 5 out of 5 NNNNN.

A back pack in its right element, the mountain environment. (Photo Ulf Bergman)

My husky helps with pulling us up to the peak. He and me really enjoy the snow and the mountain environment.

My real good life mate Kenai, we share the same interests. (Photo Ulf Bergman)

When I saw this fellow enjoying the life and snow I was so lucky. Happy for being a part of his (in best of case) 15 year long life. This gives perspective. Maybe I should think so about the marriage and with my daughters and all of my  friends..Love you guys<3

The second day was planned for a tour from rundhogen to Grasliden. You start in the pre mountain wood and step by step get higher up. This tour is so nice because you have the Storsnasen and Getvalen in sight the whole day.

On my way to Graslidenfjallet.

This day ended with a meeting with the Swedish king and Queen on the ski track. With a husky pulling in the front of me, I just got the time for a short Hey:-)

So to conclude the whole eastern, it has been magical. I have been in the area a lot of times during Eastern. Lot of time snowed in at Sylarna mountain lodge. But this time is was pay back.

Gasen, Helags, Sylarna Blahammarfjället..

A fantastic Easter at Jamtland Storulvan area..(Photos Ulf Bergman)

I love to have control over my equipment. Now I have started to get it in control. Still need to take care of my rope salad, but I have the solution for it so soon..

Structure over the gear..

See ya soon, and on Thursday there will be a special blog about Kebnekaise mountain..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2MqHvbvhSg

 

Time is running away, and soon its Easter, and also April. This time is perfect for the cross-country skiing in the mountains.

The early spring in the mountains is fantastic, but you have to be early so you get crust instead of sorbet.

This time is perfect for preparing for the upcoming adventure. This weekend I’ve been practising crevasse rescue training. The routines must be in the spinal cord.

The routines must be there..

From my point of view, it must be easy to set up a crevasse rescue. You just need to add a few special equipment to get a easy way to set up a z-pulley for a crevasse rescue. You can use your standard carabineer or if you want use a pulley or a DMM revolver carabineer.

Use normal carabineers or DMM revolver with a combined pulley. You can for sure use a normal pulley as well, the friction will be less.

1. First you have to build a belay, you can use your ice axe if it is a T (technical axe)

2. Start to build the rescue set up. You can use standard carabineers, but you need to have a brake for the rope. The Petzl Tibloc, is perfect for this. If the rope team got two of this it is easy to build a rescue solution.

The Tibloc together with the carabineer will lock the rope and you can start the rescue. You can also use it as a ascender if you has fall into the crevasse to help your team to get up faster(if you not to injured, or of course unconscious)

It is easy and it works fine, if you train it will be easy to set up when its needed at the mountains. With a Tibloc it will easy to do.

The workout this week has been tough but good. 1000m ski-ergo: 3min 28s. And yesterday 10×10 back squats@50kg and some upper body strength. and today 10×10 bench-press @60kg and some upper body strength..

See ya soon…

So we are in mid March. I really love the seasonal fluctuations. And one of the best is the early spring. When the night is cold, and the day is warmed up by the sun.

Early spring, one of the best season of the year..

When it comes to the theme re-wild yourself, this weeks task is to start a bonfire with fire steel. The only rule is that you should use a fire steel, that’s all.

Re-wild yourself, start a bonfire with a fire steel. the task for this week in for re-wilding yourself. Send a picture of it. To +46 702 50 90 28.

Now its time to build up the strength for the upcoming rock climbing season. For that reason I will give you some good exercise.

1. Partial grip pull up. Palms down and thumbs out. Perform as a normal pull up. 3 x AMRAP.
2. Plate pinch Pinch a plate in each hand between your fingers without holding on to the handle or lip of it. Hold them at your side for as long as you can. When this gets too easy, try pinching two plates together.
   Sets: 3, Reps: To failure, Rest: As needed
3. Towel Pull up. Loop a regular workout towel around a pull-up bar. Hold an end in each hand and perform pull-ups as normal. Just make sure to move your head to either side as you get closer to the pull-up bar!
   Sets: 3, Reps: AMRAP, Rest: As needed.
4. Farmers Walk Grasp a pair of heavy dumbbells or kettlebells Keeping the core engaged, walk from one end of the gym to the other until you can no longer hold onto the weights.
   Sets: 3, Reps: To failure, Rest: As needed.
5. Push ups Lie face-down on the floor, hands at shoulder-width palms on the ground, toes driving into the floor. Think about trying to grab a handful of the ground, as this will fire up the muscles in your forearms important for grip strength. Push yourself up, so your hands are under your shoulders, and your body is a straight line from the back of your head down to your heels. Slowly lower yourself down so your chest touches the floor.
   Sets: 3, Reps: AMRAP, Rest: As needed.

Barbell shoulder press, a good exercise for the upcoming rock climbing season..

This weeks secret peak will be Schwarzhorn in Trento Val di Fiemme Italy.  A early morning in July, 05.00 I started. At 06.45 I was standing alone on the summit. The sun on its way up on the blue heaven. The quietness, the grandeur and a  magnificent morning. A feeling of loneliness but the affinity of the nature..The moment I will carry with me the rest of the life. So get up there, early in the morning and feel it..

Schwarzhorn, your next summit to enjoy?

 

See ya soon…

 

 

 

We are almost in the middle of March, meaning that the spring is on its way. The Swedish meteorological institute inform that the spring tend to be wet. The reason is that it has been a lot of snow this year. So if the middle temperature is high, and if it will rain it will be a real spring flood in Sweden and Norway.

If you are going to the Swedish mountains during the spring, check the water levels of the floods before you choose your trails..

It is time for planning the spring and summer adventure. Spring time for me is the same as Via Ferrata. So at this time I am planning for the upcoming via Ferrata challenge..

Plan and secure the adventures in your calendar, so you can implement them..

The mountaineering season is of course the year around, but sky hiking or climbing season is also time for planning. One of my favourites, which is nice and accessible I the Graukugel in Bad Gastein. You can access it directly form the hotel in Bad Gastein city.

Graukugel in Bad Gastein is a real nice peak, and easy to access and challenging enough..

And the workout level, well with 60 minutes of fast hiking with the dog, 60 minutes with my friend the police at the gym, and 1 hour of skiing with the husky the quota for the day is done…:-)

And this weeks music..

See ya soon..

Sunday evening, time for some reflection. pouring up the coffee, and planning for the upcoming adventures. That’s nice Sunday afternoons.

After a long day in the mountain environment, climbing, cross country skiing, hiking or mountaineering. Can you recognize the feeling when you enter the mountain station, the refuge or the cabin. In a sudden everything feels great and the blood gets warm immediately. Even to get in the tent with a hot bottle of water close to your body makes you feel comfortable. If you been there you know the feeling, I am talking about..

Even a wind shelter can feels like home, in a cold mountain environment..

When it comes to climbing, and especially ice climbing your mind sometimes will challenge you. You have to workout your mind as much as your muscle strength. At the climbing gym you need to be in the red zone. Meaning you must get in to the uncomfortable zone. You have to recognize how your mind will be affected, and how you can work with it. your inner talk in those situations. Take help with it from your partner to push and getting feedback. You will fall, for sure, so be prepared for it..Get into the red zone and stay there you will grow with it..

You will fall sooner or later, be prepared..

You need to be prepared for the times you needed it, get into the red zone..(Photo Mikael Linder)

And now over to some news in the outdoor world.

The Swedish company Houdini will start to rent out outdoor clothing. This for saving the environment, and help people to get less luggage when travel to the mountains. At Copperhill in Are, you will be able to rent the shell clothing for skiing or mountaineering.

Houdini always a step before for the environment..

I am always interested in companies that are less known in the outdoor market, but deliver with high quality, function, details and to reasonable prices. In Sweden the Stellar Equipment is one of those. With the Guide shell jacket and shell pant, they will be a competitor to count with on the market. I think it is a real good product, with a good price as well..

https://www.stellarequipment.com/se/m-guide-shell-jacket-orange

The music this week is an goody one..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z40AsHrVJEo

See ya soon

It has been a lot of activities last time, therefore it has not been time for blogging. But here it comes..

Three weeks ago I was in Are for skiing and to provide a mountain safety lecture. A lot o fine skiing , with a Manchester morning on Friday. Then it was time to jump on to the snowmobile for a mountain ride.

Nice morning at Areskutan, with Manchester morning skiing.

Free heel skiing at Are, nice weather and conditions..

Snowmobile in to the mountain environment..

The Mountain manager in action on a lecture in mountain safety..

A wind shelter can be the difference between life and death on the mountain with bad weather conditions..

 Last weekend there was a ice climbing tour to Rjukan. Rjukan is probably the best ice climbing areas in Europe. The environment is awesome and make you want to try winter actions.

Awesome ice climboing in Rjukan Norway..(Photo Mikael Linder)

With four whole days of ice climbing your technique will be developed..

Mikael Linder working with an ice screw at the ice wall. Great technique..

Cold weather and frost will not stop a ice climbing bum…

This week I was interviewed by a student, after his question battery he asked how I have become so successful. I was surprise of the question and it was so unexpected. I thought and tried to answered him. Sometimes I think we all need to sit down and think for a while. It was very spiritual to have the conversation with the guy. It all ended up in a thought about how to become a better me. I think it is important to have role model to look upon.

Ed Veisturs one of my role model of a mountaineerer..

But it also very important to also become a role model for others, but most of all for yourself. Inspire, and motivate others and yourself to become a better you. And maybe rewild yourself a bit. Get back to were we want to be. To get that, you might can get some help for it here..

Find some who can help you to push your limits..Take on a little more then you think you can. Imagine you already reach the target. Look how others reach the target. Inspire yourself to action. Don’t stop until exhaustion. Work on your weakness. Accept the discomfort..

And this week, we got the first lesson of rewild yourself. Get out in the nature and just listen for 20 minutes. just be quite and listen on a place you like..

See ya soon..

So we are already in February, in the middle of winter season. Today we got the record of cold of the season. -39,5 degrees at Nikkaluokta.

With minus 39,5 is good to get the knowledge of cold…

This week the ISPO fair has been held in Munich. There a lot interesting topics. One of them is sustainable textile. Ecological aspects such as recycled nylon and PFC-free bio technologies based on renewable raw materials are a focal point of the industry. Incorporating Econyl (recycled nylon) into their collection, it isn’t just the ingredients of the textiles that are pursuing a stronger sustainable push but finishes too.

It is time to take a stand about sustainable choice when buying new clothes. It is also important to not have poison close to your body..

Products that was rewarded at the fair was for example:

Tecnicas new boots, Forges. The winner at the ISPO fair this year..

http://www.tecnica.it/forge/

Also another Italian producer was awarded. Kongs new helmet Leef was another topic at the fair.

https://www.kong.it/en/2-products/items/f3-helmets/p630-leef

Blackyak is another interesting dealer, For the past 40 years, BLACKYAK and Dongjin Leisure have developed in mountaineering, outdoor apparel and gear. From the first brand store „Dongjin Mountain“ in 1973, we have been striving to become one of the leading companies in the outdoor industry.

Blackyak, a interesting company, which is quite unknown here in Scandinavia.

http://global.blackyak.com/en/magazine/welcome

A real nice back-pack for climbing is the Warthog 26L SS15. A stripped backpack for demanding routes. With no fancy details, this is just for the fast technical alpine tour..

http://www.highsport.se/butik/produkt/Warthog-26L-SS15

The adventures stands like spikes on the slopes. Free heel skiing in Are, Ice-climbing in Rjukan Norway and cross country skiing in Jamtland. A perfect beginning of the year. But don’t forget to plan for the spring and pre-summer. its time for planning the Via Ferrata tours now:-)

Join us for a Via Ferrata at www.viaferrata.se for a extraordinary experience..

See ya soon..