- Joined
- Aug 4, 2013
- Messages
- 158
I usually wait until July before I dare to go into the mountain expanse in my region. In the arctic part of Norway where I live, the snow usually don't melt before midsummer. But the sun was so warm, and the weather so nice, that I took a chance, and went for a simple overnighter in the mountain region next to my home village.
From left to right: my 70 liter backpack, an inflatable sleeping mat, port wine, my tent in a waterproof bag, canteen, titanium pot, first aid kit, tent accessories, compass, titanium cutlery, warm clothes in a dry pack, 550 paracord, foldacup, leatherman, my army edition new testament, sleeping bag, buff, bacho laplander folding saw, fällkniven F1, spyderco persistence, headlamp, food dry pack, primus omnifuel with gasoline, cutting board, chocolate, head wear, firekit, sitting pad and alcohol napkins.
I love the sweet stuff.
My wife dropped me off at a small fishing village not far from where I live. My plan was to make my way back home over the mountains.
The view from my first rest. This is an overview of the small village, there are just a handful of people living here.
The map was probably not needed, but I like to familiarize myself with the terrain. And it's handy if I got lost.
After about one and a half hour I reached the snow. It did not seem like the mountains had got the memo that spring had already started.
The view from the mountainside.
I love my boots, but with every chance I got I took em off . The air temperature was maybe 15 degrees Celsius. Warm weather for warm boots.
I found a frozen lake far up in the mountain side with a rotting reindeer carcass laying next to the shore. I did not refill my canteen.
I did not bring snowshoes or skis. It was a risk, knowing that the snow levels might still be high. I decided to climb a high point, and get a good view of the path I had plotted out on my map. This was the view, and it was not very uplifting. My destination was over 30 kilometers as the crow flies, and from that vantage point it seemed like most of those kilometers would be snow heavy. I decided to change my plans, and just camp where I was. And maybe find an alternative route tomorrow.
My camp site.
A few hundred meters from my camp site, I found some birch trees. But they were growing in a very steep part of the mountain side, with overhanging snow. These were the only sources of wood in the practical proximity, but it was dangerous to gather it. I took a chance. And I found one tree that I believed was dead. But it was a demanding task to bring it back to camp.
My portable home. Quite cozy if you don't mind the green everything.
One of the benefits of snow: natures refrigerator.
I understood quite fast when i was processing the wood, that this would never result in a good camp fire. The wood was way too fresh. I had misjudged the tree. But I gave it a try anyway, sadly to no avail. I had a primus stove, and a warming sun. I figured that the need for a campfire was not big enough to justify an other journey down the mountain side.
Nutrition for body and soul.
I had a few visitors on my camp site later that evening.
The midnight sun. It makes it a bit harder to sleep, but after wading through the snow for several hours, I slept like a child.
I learned a few things on this trip.
1: Bring two kettles if you can, one for cooking and one for purifying water. Doing both with one results in some disgusting drinking water.
2: Snow is heavy as sin to wade through without the proper equipment.
3: Don't be rushing when picking out fire wood.
Thanks for reading!
From left to right: my 70 liter backpack, an inflatable sleeping mat, port wine, my tent in a waterproof bag, canteen, titanium pot, first aid kit, tent accessories, compass, titanium cutlery, warm clothes in a dry pack, 550 paracord, foldacup, leatherman, my army edition new testament, sleeping bag, buff, bacho laplander folding saw, fällkniven F1, spyderco persistence, headlamp, food dry pack, primus omnifuel with gasoline, cutting board, chocolate, head wear, firekit, sitting pad and alcohol napkins.
I love the sweet stuff.
My wife dropped me off at a small fishing village not far from where I live. My plan was to make my way back home over the mountains.
The view from my first rest. This is an overview of the small village, there are just a handful of people living here.
The map was probably not needed, but I like to familiarize myself with the terrain. And it's handy if I got lost.
After about one and a half hour I reached the snow. It did not seem like the mountains had got the memo that spring had already started.
The view from the mountainside.
I love my boots, but with every chance I got I took em off . The air temperature was maybe 15 degrees Celsius. Warm weather for warm boots.
I found a frozen lake far up in the mountain side with a rotting reindeer carcass laying next to the shore. I did not refill my canteen.
I did not bring snowshoes or skis. It was a risk, knowing that the snow levels might still be high. I decided to climb a high point, and get a good view of the path I had plotted out on my map. This was the view, and it was not very uplifting. My destination was over 30 kilometers as the crow flies, and from that vantage point it seemed like most of those kilometers would be snow heavy. I decided to change my plans, and just camp where I was. And maybe find an alternative route tomorrow.
My camp site.
A few hundred meters from my camp site, I found some birch trees. But they were growing in a very steep part of the mountain side, with overhanging snow. These were the only sources of wood in the practical proximity, but it was dangerous to gather it. I took a chance. And I found one tree that I believed was dead. But it was a demanding task to bring it back to camp.
My portable home. Quite cozy if you don't mind the green everything.
One of the benefits of snow: natures refrigerator.
I understood quite fast when i was processing the wood, that this would never result in a good camp fire. The wood was way too fresh. I had misjudged the tree. But I gave it a try anyway, sadly to no avail. I had a primus stove, and a warming sun. I figured that the need for a campfire was not big enough to justify an other journey down the mountain side.
Nutrition for body and soul.
I had a few visitors on my camp site later that evening.
The midnight sun. It makes it a bit harder to sleep, but after wading through the snow for several hours, I slept like a child.
I learned a few things on this trip.
1: Bring two kettles if you can, one for cooking and one for purifying water. Doing both with one results in some disgusting drinking water.
2: Snow is heavy as sin to wade through without the proper equipment.
3: Don't be rushing when picking out fire wood.
Thanks for reading!
Great pics.
