As I headed back towards the airport on December 27th after a welcome break back home in Sweden over Christmas there was one small ting of disappointment. No snow. While it is not shocking to have a Christmas without snow south of Stockholm these days, it had meant no sledding, no snowball fights -which you never get to old for in my opinion – but perhaps most importantly it had meant a missed opportunity to cross country ski.
“Friluftsliv”. It is a widely accepted word in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. There is no direct translation in the English language. It encompasses much that cannot be simply put into words. The best way to describe it is perhaps a life in the free air, where nature is very much part of everyday life. It includes many activities, both big and small. At the very foundation of this notion is the right to roam, Allemansrätten.
Howling winds reaching 25 meters per second. A thick snowfall creating a complete whiteout. Not so much as a sliver of blue skies in four days. Not quite the relaxing stroll through the beautiful fells of Jamtland we had imagined. But, as far as testing out gear goes, we couldn’t have asked for better conditions.
