These boots are made for walking

...And walking they shall do; here's a little "progress report"

Time flies by and so does the hiking. Flows very well I believe. Have now left about 200 km of footprints behind me. Two weeks of exploration in how I like to do this. Nothing is set in stone though, always happy to optimize wherever I can. For instance; today I was offered a bag of milk powder, so why not try adding this to my morning porridge and perhaps go as far as to my coffee? 

The weather has changed from cold northern winds to now more springish weather that allows me to sleep through the night without being cold to the bones with all my woolen wear on me. Apparently, the area I've been pasding through has been 5 degrees Celsius colder than average at this time of year. Up north in the mountains where I'm heading they measure this year the most snow in 60 years. Something that actually can affect me if I end up there before the snow has melted or in the middle of flooding due to heavy snow melting. Can't spend to much energy in worrying about this potential problem. Can just be aware and let it remind me that I really shouldn't hurry but take my time and enjoy the forest. Like, really cliche carpe diem goddamnit, stop worrying about the future so much! 

Human interaction reaction

The Swedish border remain "closed". A few days ago I ran into a little family-get-together gathering, half Swedish half Norwegian. Was nice to see them being able to meet exactly on the border with the table between them celebrating life. Too, I've lately run into quiet a few very welcoming situations with both beers, sausages, coffee, cake, wafles, lots of good stories and even people that offered to help me out doing my laundry in their home and offered me a shower. With soap. And shampoo. A heated floor. Big soft towel, fully equipped kitchen and television in the living room. Almost overwhelming. 

These moments of recognition from people really fuels my engine and makes me aware of what I do. The ultimate motivation. A little help and push forward. But don't get me wrong, the four walls, lock on the door and all the bills and everyday life isn't something I miss. I'm totally into this and really hope I can proceed till "the end". On the other hand, I can't help myself from imagining the life of people in the houses when I pass by or interact with the these. To hear their stories, their choices, why they live here and especially how they experience corona being situated almost exactly on the border. In search of inspiration to my own life I find it very pleasing when someone opens up and shares a bit of history.

The road and gap in the forest is the border between Norway and Sweden 

Luxury and sophisticated, still; the best I got was a little piece of advice from another adventurer who biked the world: he gave me the name of a lake with trouts just a few days hike from his home. With that in mind, well rested and some milkpowder from the family I was really happy to head back out into the woods. Thanks to the group of friends from Skotterud, especially Ida, Maiken and Martin who helped me out with my laundry, shopping etc., and to Mathias, Inga and their daughter Lea who welcomed me very warm hearted in their garden with coffee and waffles.

Commitment is gold

All the stress I've put myself under both physically and mentally has taken its toll a bit. Felt the need to calm down and do a double rest day. Left ankle is sore and so is my old broken foot. Last thing I want to do is to get bad inflammation in joints due to power through-syndrome. Especially ankles. Too, I sent back a bit more gear. Felt good. Sun screen, cutting board, a little kitchen box etc. 1 kilo. Got a reminder from a biking tour friend that made me see that last year I made it through the whole thing without pants in a very minimalistic way. So, even though I'm going to the mountains this time; why would I carry a cutting board? I expected to send back gear and now it feels so right to do it. 

I'm more committed to the route up north as I've send my maps and contact lenses to a post office further up. Good. Kind of have a target now to aim at now. Makes me able to visualize the purpose of this first big part of the trip: strengthen myself through the lowlands to the foothills of the mountain range. Think it'll be about a month or so before I'm there.

Met a bunch of local youngsters and they served me beer and gave me company. Thanks!

Fish attack!

The identity and technicality 

Slowly I'm becoming a hiker. The reality is becoming real and it is surreal. Some times the feeling of loniless and solitude  kicks in but then suddenly out of the blue something amazing happens. Like when a freaking badger took me by surprise (perhaps it was the other way around) and he ran scared shitless away. Or all the birds that come so close when I sit still in camp and read. And espcially the beaver-engineers working on their construction site taking down sometimes trees much bigger than they would ever be able to transport back time! Or simply just how good it feels to have company when it's there and then go back into my own world and destiny. I'm familiar with solo adventures but now I'm familiarizing with it again.

Have been really in doubt about the choices of gear but think I'm happy at where I am now. Not ultra light but not bulky. I'm safe with this and versatile. Using the multi fuel burner costs me 10% of gas (super expensive up here), and inspired by my Finish friend Alpo, I am now using a fire steel to ignite my stove now allowing me to stop buying and carrying 6/12 packs of matches or dealing with broken lighters. Aaahh feels good to change such a small thing. Thank you Alpo!

The Norwegian flag symbolises the right to roam

After the Norwegian national on the 17th of May I decided to keep the flag as a simple tribute of the right to roam. I also decided to remove the mail app from my phone and practice bird recognition with a  bird app instead inspired by Mathias who I spoke of earlier. Furthermore I was given a box of worms, a few fishing lures and some advice from this older man on a porch who had seen me by a lake earlier. Can you believe it? This kindness. I love it and it stays with me only to do the same sort of thing when I get the opportunity. 

Summer is coming. The mosquitoes are waking up. Uufffff!

I couldn't determine the killer. Holes in neck and around lower back part. No blood on the ground of much in fur really. Left on road. I put him in the forest..

The learning curve

What is it that I want to do with this blog? Am I hunting for likes and recognition? Am I trying to obtain sponsorships and do reviews of the incredible new ultrafeather-hyper-super-dino-camo-powerthrough-jacket-2020-v.2.1 build from half Robocop-armor and half Harry potter's invisibility cape?!

... the answer is no and truth is that I haven't thought it through about this blog-thing. Like this journey I'll let it grow on me, learn a thing or two and improvise. At least I hope to provide an insight into life on the go in a backpack, add some depth to my photography on the way and tell a story or two about what comes to my mind being alone on the road..  or in the forest.. or on the mountain.. or on the trail.. or in the tent.. or where ever, I guess you get the point. This is a different life.

What can I say.. I managed to empty my food bag and fill it again and do it all over gain. Each time with better stuff and more accurate to my needs. This is one of the biggest learnings so far. Holy sourkraut I gotta eat a lot to get the calories I need. Calculated it and 5000 calories on a daily basis means that I need to eat more throughout the day than I actually am able to?! When I did my biking adventure I stopped every place I could get ice cream, candy and whatnot. Just freestyled my way through. On my kayak expedition I was carrying so much food I never gave it any thoughts really. Now, I have to think forward a lot more. I need to do this systematically. The body and head answer promptly if I don't snack before I should have snacked. To be organized and ration all my food accordingly to the planned amount of days in the wilderness is key to keep the energy flowing smoothely through my veins.

It's been a little adventurous and strenuous moving through terrain with no trails or roads. I definitely need to commit 100% to the understanding of how time consuming it is so I don't underestimate it. Too, I now accept that trails on the map do not necessarily exist in the real world. Important. Just accept and go. At one point I spiced up the tough terrain with losing my phone in the bush! What an exercise in orientation skills and mental focus it was to backtrack those 20-30 minutes. Fortunately I managed to find it safe and dry among blueberry bushes and heather. I did not leave home and safety to cut the wire to friends, family, podcasts and music.

Border between Sweden and Norway 

Honestly, I was scared of this trip! I see in my packing that I packed a freaking roll on deodorant?! What was I thinking? Sent some stuff back to a friend to get rid of one kilo. My worries, anxiety-kind of low self esteem-syndrome packing probably has roots in a badly broken foot one and a half year ago. But, to my surpise it does the job pretty well. Not without pain, but using it this intensively motivates me to stretch it a lot in the evenings. Maybe this will actually benefit it long term wise?

Too, so far my body can do this. Knees, back, legs, thighs etc. Actually feels good. Seems like this winter's ski touring pays of in more than great views and excellent skiing.

Body an head. Substance and mind. Both in contact  with my ego, self and all Jung&Freud's friends seems to slowly adapt into expedition mode. Getting back into routines. Remembering the tent plug count for each camp to ensure I've got them all with me when breaking camp. Sending the camp coordinates through the sattelite device. Channel positive thoughts into lows. Remember my socks after wash! Yeah, forgot a pair... again, should just be a routine to check everything all the time without being paranoid and ocd. Take things a bit slower and do just one thing at a time. Easier said than done. Need to feel this to fix it.

Up till now it's been cold and a little windy everyday. Below 0 celsius every night and around 8-10 through the day. After a day of hiking I haven't had much energy left. Just went for a swim almost everyday. That feels so good. Happy about what is in my backpack since it's what's keeping me warm in the tent during this cold spring weather. Even had fresh snow falling! Seems like it eventually is meant to roll over into some milder springish weather from next week.

The few people I've met on the way have been really nice. A farmer gave me eggs and beef, a shop owner gave me pastry and a hunter picked me up in his truck on the paved road to bring me to the next trail. The kindness I meet really boosts my motivation. And the farmer's cows looked to funny

Okay fuck it, I'm rambling on for just a bit more. Hang on and check this out.

Sometimes I sit by lakes and just stare into them. This is where my head really is allowed to flow around in the moment. Like.. there is space for my head which normally is not there. So often on this kind of touring it feels so natural to do absolutely nothing. And that's when I noticed that every time I sit by a lake having one of those empty-headed peaceful moments and the huge birds,cranes, come flying straight over my head cruising over the area I get the feeling of them being dinosaurs and me being so far from everything. Man.. I've really spent time looking at these fellas. The cranes. They're beautiful. A bit at war with the swans, but they manage. And the sounds they make! Holy potato they can scream. Look this up on YouTube if you care. As I sit there and whistle to them they answer with these incredible noises that echoes through the forest endless times. Enhancing the moment! Was lucky enough to catch a tasty trout the other morning while cranes where wandering around on the opposite side of the lake. What a morning.. And what a dinner that night :)

Here's one cheesy rhyme for a cosy time to roll up this blog post and finish it:

I'm not counting kilometres but days. 

Not counting kilos but chocolate plates.

Like tom waits sang this morning in the tent to my morning coffee out the tent door: you haven't seen the morning till you've been up all night. So, blog ya later and feel free to come join me for a walk! :)

Sat forth, packed up and walk the walk

All right, all right.. Corona is still on and you know it. As it probably affects your life, it affects me as well. Everything has been cancelled. I have nothing to do, no difference to make. My home feels like a cage sourrounded by weather that brings up all kinds of bad excuses not go out and enjoy. I lost my drive. Have begun opening the fridge a bit too often and actually scrolling through the facebook news feed more than once a day. All indicators are red. Caught up by the luxury of having everything I need, but no reason to exist. The difficulties of being the most important person, right? No kids to bring up, no den to protect, no festival-pack to be part of this summer, no reason to just go out and make money. But it's spring now.. And life should be lived to it's fullest. No regrets! So..

Norway is changing its colorscale into hopeful-green, trouts have started feeding and I could just walk out the door. Like the few adventourus hobbits did it in Lord of the Rings. You remember reading about these brave characters doing the unexpected? It's simple like that actually. To leave everything behind and walk out the door. No expensive premade dried tour-food and chocolate deposits on the way. No definitive plan, but goals. Yes, that's what I'll do. Find the essentials and walk the norwegian/sweedish border from south to north. From the foresty hilly delta lowlands to ridges of million of years of landfolding in the north where the caledonian mountain ranges dominates the scandinavian peninsula. That'll be my destiny. Good old-fashioned tramper with fishing rod in one hand and camera in the other. A new identity to dedicate to. A little scared. A little nerve. A little interesting. Something different. No clue if I can go through with it.

I explained this to my mother and she made me aware of a Norwegian figure of speach that goes like this: "hvorfor sitte inne når alt håp er ute", which translates into "why stay inside when all hope is outside?". This is so true. So cliché but applies so well in this case. It's time for a little outbreak. So, I have resigned from my appartment, applied for a new place in autumn and will "thruhike" Norway (kind of) this summer. Thanks to my mother for the encouragement. Thanks for not judging me for doing the iregular but following the little Frodo inside me. Thanks to everyone who supported this, said goodbye and whished me good luck. I will now open my eyes and live, leave behind frustration and anger over the smallest things. Only by leaving the cage am I able to fully see the beauty of it, smell the thrill of the hill, taste the lake, freeze from northern winds and feel anxiety of bear-vicinity and crazy moose and excitement of the big fish biting. Practice not to look back.

I took out: inflatable mat, light windjacket, tarp, 6 litre dromedary, extra case for solar panel. Switched the z-lite mat with the cheapest available from a local outlet. Also let the little solar lantern stay at home, but actually I miss it. It's difficult to choose between what's nice to have and need to have, when you pack for spring-summer-autumn/forrest lowland continental climate to exposed mountainous highlands coastal climate.

This travel is grounded in reflections on which dangers and hazards I potentially encounter along the way going through bear territory, difficult terrain, being for longer periods in areas with no phone reception, forest fires, moose with calf, snakes, hypothermia, broken equipment, the damn Norwegian climate, etc.. Knowing my capabilities, do's and don'ts and when to stop is key. A lot of this is reflected in what I'm bringing in my backpack. To you who aspire to do something similar; I give to you my packing list in another post. But please, do your own research to find solutions from anything from snakes bites to river crossings to crazyness and solitude. Too, we need to be aware of our own behaviour in the wilderness, rules of national parks and how to handle our own shit, litteraly. What I do is not based on the thought of moving fast and light. I do carry everything I need for all terrain, only food I'll have to resupply every 10th day or so.

Thanks to my friend, August Toven Gautun, for lending me his sattelite communicator and sharing many stories from the backcountry. He kind of provided me the best 'life insurance' i can possibly get.  Simen Nicolaisen deserves a thank you as well as he will be my main contact person directly connected to the sattelite cummicator.

I'm over and outside! Corona-times..