Winter in the mountains
The winter season starts in December at the earliest when the first mountain ski resorts open. In Grövelsjön you can celebrate Christmas with full board and traditional Swedish Christmas smorgasbord. Those that have sampled this return as often as they can.
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Photo: Henrik Trygg |
The majority of mountain cabins and mountain stations open in February when snow is virtually guaranteed. Excellent trails are to be found covering large parts of the mountain chain. You can stay at a mountain station and make day trips or walk with a pack on your back between the numerous mountain cabins. The distance is usually around 10-20 kilometres between cabins, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. You do not need to carry much because a bed sheet is all you need - blankets are included for all beds. A kitchen and kitchen equipment is available in the cabins along with a limited number of food items that can be bought. In addition, many cabins and mountain stations have saunas. You can cool off in the snow or in a hole in the ice in one of the many lakes that are situated by the mountain cabins.
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| Photo: Henrik Trygg |
Going on a skiing trip in winter is therapy for body and soul. The later on in winter you ski, the better the chances of sunshine and longer days with sunlight. The technical demands on the skier are lower. No tricky downhill tracks, and if you are unsure you can always take off your skis and walk down. However, wider skis as opposed to narrow running skis are recommended. The sun is strong when it reflects against the gleaming white snow. With the help of suntan lotion you can get a wonderful tan.
There are a number of excellent places where you can simply dig a hole and make a nice bench made of skis, poles and rucksack and just sit in the sun and enjoy a coffee break. The endless expanses, the absence of stress and traffic noise and the smell of exhaust fumes together with the high mountains all make you feel a very small part of mother earth, humble to the forces of nature and extremely free!
In Sarek National Park, which has perhaps the most challenging landscape in Sweden, there are no mountain cabins. Here the experienced hiker who is fit and has good judgement and orientation ability can make mountain trips, and during the night camp down in bivouacs/igloos or live in a tent/cupola tent that does not need anchoring to the ground. One winter week in Sarek is a world-class experience for those who really want to test their physical abilities to the limit while enjoying the fantastic undisturbed mountain scenery.