- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,292
Hello all
Im currently in Stockholm, Sweden on a work-related trip. I had been planning to go on several overnight hikes, but i suffered a very bad case of sinus inflammation which rendered me sick for about 2 weeks. Several trips to the doc later and a whole bunch of prescription medicine too, i was finally feeling ready for a dayhike.
The area i visited today is called Tyresta National Park. Its consists of a primeval forest characterised by a rift valley landscape. Mankind has not altered/impacted the forest in any way.
There are 400 year-old giant pines here. Lots of ravines/gorges with rocky outcrops abraded by ice and outcrops covered with lichen.
The trailhead is located about 20 km south of Stockholm. Right by the parking place, there are some info about the area and the wildlife found in it.
A pretty neat set-up providing an overview of the park.
It was about 10 C/ 50 F today and abit windy. Not much sun when i set out, but i it was supposed to get better. There was still alot of snow in the gorges where the sun didnt reach.
One thing that surprised me about the area, was how boggy it was. I believe it is because there had been loads of snow, and being mostly rocky ground the meltwater would collect in swamp-like areas. If i had know how it would have been, i would have brought my gaiters.
But thank god for my Meindl Gore-Tex boots! They literally saved the day, as i was ankle-deep in water several times througout the day.
I didnt have a proper map of the area, all i had was an A3 topo printout of the national park. The printout lacked meridian lines and the scale was totally off. I expected to stay on the trails, so i thought it would do fine. IT would have, if i had stayed on the trails, but of course i decided to venture off the beaten path later
...and i payed the price!
Here i am studying the printout.
Some scenery:
After a couple of kilometers hiking though dense virgin forest, i decided to step off the trails. I hiked on and reached an area that was devastated by a forestfire in 1999. It was over one and a half weeks before 400 fire fighters brought the fire under control and it was even longer before it was completely extinguished.
The fire was a disaster in many ways, burning 10% of the national park, but from an ecological perspective, the forestfire created the conditions for the natural regeneration of the forest.
This is what i came from:
And this is what i headed into:
It was tough walking
Ive never seen so much deadwood situated in swamp-like conditions.
I aimed for a rocky outcrop about 75 meters high. I set the course and scrambled across the terrain, over ravines and down gorges.
I did my best at plotting my position and bearing. At one point i couldnt tell, where i exactly was, cause everything looked the same. I couldnt distinguish one outcrop from another. I had a GPS on me, but it wasnt much use, as my printout lacked a grid.
I tried pushing on to what i thought was the outcrop on the map. Up untill now, i had maintained a steady pace avoiding a sweat at all costs, but i noticed myself starting to push harder when i didnt know where i was
even though i should have done the exact opposite.
It was pretty windy up there too, as there werent any trees to provide cover. Luckily id brought a hardshell, that came in handy.
After scrambling up one place after the other i took an altitude reading on my ProTrek and woe and behold...the reading verified my location.
Now it was time for lunch. Id brought some rye bread, som ham and a hardboiled egg.
Its funny how the simplest of foods taste the best, when your out in the woods
Some gear shots...My backpack for the trip was my trusty Osprey Stratos 34. Id thrown in a down vest, goretex hardshell, FAK, kettle and multifuel stove, some apples/food, and some firelighting capabilites. I also had a waterbladder and a Nalgene.
Some more scenery:
There were these scat-pellets literally all over the place. I know they come from a deer of some sorts, but im not sure which. My track/scat literature is home, ill have to check up on it when i get back. A Izula placed next to them for scale.
A stream i had to cross. At this time i was getting a bit tired and didnt want to risk slipping into the stream, so i used my Swisstool to make a walking stick.
I like the Swisstool, its one of my fav multitools! Definitely recommended :thumbup:
And here we go again...im not lost, just temporarily confused
No, seriously, it wasnt like it got critical at any point. I knew at all times where i was, even with the crappy printout, i just couldnt pinpoint my EXACT position at times. Anyone who has hiked in dense forest with a map and compass knows what im talking about. I aslo had a GPS with me where id plotted in my cars parking place.
Finally back at the car! Took of my boots and swapped to my sneakers. IMO proper footwear is one of the few places where you shouldnt be cheap. They can either make or break your trip! Meindl comes highly recommended :thumbup:
All in all, a good way to spend a day. If anyone happens to be in Stockholm, i highly recommend Tyresta as a destination.
I often live vicariously through other BF'ers posts, so i hope you enjoyed my pics this time!
Im currently in Stockholm, Sweden on a work-related trip. I had been planning to go on several overnight hikes, but i suffered a very bad case of sinus inflammation which rendered me sick for about 2 weeks. Several trips to the doc later and a whole bunch of prescription medicine too, i was finally feeling ready for a dayhike.
The area i visited today is called Tyresta National Park. Its consists of a primeval forest characterised by a rift valley landscape. Mankind has not altered/impacted the forest in any way.
There are 400 year-old giant pines here. Lots of ravines/gorges with rocky outcrops abraded by ice and outcrops covered with lichen.
The trailhead is located about 20 km south of Stockholm. Right by the parking place, there are some info about the area and the wildlife found in it.
A pretty neat set-up providing an overview of the park.
It was about 10 C/ 50 F today and abit windy. Not much sun when i set out, but i it was supposed to get better. There was still alot of snow in the gorges where the sun didnt reach.
One thing that surprised me about the area, was how boggy it was. I believe it is because there had been loads of snow, and being mostly rocky ground the meltwater would collect in swamp-like areas. If i had know how it would have been, i would have brought my gaiters.
But thank god for my Meindl Gore-Tex boots! They literally saved the day, as i was ankle-deep in water several times througout the day.
I didnt have a proper map of the area, all i had was an A3 topo printout of the national park. The printout lacked meridian lines and the scale was totally off. I expected to stay on the trails, so i thought it would do fine. IT would have, if i had stayed on the trails, but of course i decided to venture off the beaten path later
...and i payed the price!Here i am studying the printout.
Some scenery:
After a couple of kilometers hiking though dense virgin forest, i decided to step off the trails. I hiked on and reached an area that was devastated by a forestfire in 1999. It was over one and a half weeks before 400 fire fighters brought the fire under control and it was even longer before it was completely extinguished.
The fire was a disaster in many ways, burning 10% of the national park, but from an ecological perspective, the forestfire created the conditions for the natural regeneration of the forest.
This is what i came from:
And this is what i headed into:
It was tough walking
Ive never seen so much deadwood situated in swamp-like conditions. I aimed for a rocky outcrop about 75 meters high. I set the course and scrambled across the terrain, over ravines and down gorges.
I did my best at plotting my position and bearing. At one point i couldnt tell, where i exactly was, cause everything looked the same. I couldnt distinguish one outcrop from another. I had a GPS on me, but it wasnt much use, as my printout lacked a grid.
I tried pushing on to what i thought was the outcrop on the map. Up untill now, i had maintained a steady pace avoiding a sweat at all costs, but i noticed myself starting to push harder when i didnt know where i was
even though i should have done the exact opposite.It was pretty windy up there too, as there werent any trees to provide cover. Luckily id brought a hardshell, that came in handy.
After scrambling up one place after the other i took an altitude reading on my ProTrek and woe and behold...the reading verified my location.
Now it was time for lunch. Id brought some rye bread, som ham and a hardboiled egg.
Its funny how the simplest of foods taste the best, when your out in the woods
Some gear shots...My backpack for the trip was my trusty Osprey Stratos 34. Id thrown in a down vest, goretex hardshell, FAK, kettle and multifuel stove, some apples/food, and some firelighting capabilites. I also had a waterbladder and a Nalgene.
Some more scenery:
There were these scat-pellets literally all over the place. I know they come from a deer of some sorts, but im not sure which. My track/scat literature is home, ill have to check up on it when i get back. A Izula placed next to them for scale.
A stream i had to cross. At this time i was getting a bit tired and didnt want to risk slipping into the stream, so i used my Swisstool to make a walking stick.
I like the Swisstool, its one of my fav multitools! Definitely recommended :thumbup:
And here we go again...im not lost, just temporarily confused
No, seriously, it wasnt like it got critical at any point. I knew at all times where i was, even with the crappy printout, i just couldnt pinpoint my EXACT position at times. Anyone who has hiked in dense forest with a map and compass knows what im talking about. I aslo had a GPS with me where id plotted in my cars parking place.
Finally back at the car! Took of my boots and swapped to my sneakers. IMO proper footwear is one of the few places where you shouldnt be cheap. They can either make or break your trip! Meindl comes highly recommended :thumbup:
All in all, a good way to spend a day. If anyone happens to be in Stockholm, i highly recommend Tyresta as a destination.
I often live vicariously through other BF'ers posts, so i hope you enjoyed my pics this time!
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