North of Sweden in winter time...

[Ivanhoe]

I just spent 12 days in the north of Sweden, living in two cabins
and spending my days skiing, walking or taking photos. I've got
no friends , so I had to go alone.

First I went to Vindeln for a two day snowmobile drivers course, which is
mandatory in Sweden since 2000. Here it is still allowed to drive these on
speciffic trails and freely in some special areas. Norway recently banned
snowmobiles for private use, so we hope that we can have them here,
if not too many people gets killed driving them...

This was off season, so I stayed in a large hotel complex as the only
quest for two days. Two gym's, sauna and dining hall all to myself.

On my way up there I slept in tent while it was about 12 minus celsius.

Reindeer on the road.

Here I sank down to my nipples in snow. Where is the door?

A wonderful landscape. Look at that mist. And the clouds.

 

[silentpaddler]

Looks like a great spot. Much better than a southern vacation.

 

[Ivanhoe]

A cabin where I stayed. This belong to my family and just stands empty nowadays.
We try to use it as much as possible...

A rented 4-cylinder snowmobile that's only gone 60 km... I'm following one of the trails
made for these vehicles.

Marsfjällen (the Mars fjells) seen from Fatmomakke. An old saami tradingplace.

Here I saw a falcon chasing an all white Lagopus that flew right down into the snow
to get away. Thats one of their escape tactics.

Lots of gear in a small cabin. I'm drying my tent here.

 

[johnnythefox]

fan bloody tastic more photos please

why did they ban snowmobiles?

 

[Ivanhoe]

An amazing entrance to the treeless alpine high mountains. One of the most impressive things I've seen...

White out conditions comming up. What's mountain and what's clouds?

You know the weather is getting serious when the old Swedish Army motorcycle face mask
gets taken out. -28 degrees celcius, 5 to 10 m/s wind and driving a snowmobile.
The chill factor gets frightening.

But it was going to get worse. At this point there was nothing to do but turn around.

Doesn't matter what gear you've got, in these conditions it is getting dangerous. (Especially if you're alone... )

 

[Ivanhoe]

At this place my car overheated and I got stranded. Didn't feel too good in -20 and
me not even having seen another car that day. 15 minutes later the car was okay again.
(I had glycol in the cooling system to cover -45, but something happened anyway.)

Me feeling like an explorer.

Setting sun.

Road's end.

It's so much snow that the road is closed. Until the first of June!

Just taking a p.... is a whole endevour.

 

[Crowe]

Stunning !!
I hope you can find someone to share it with.
Crowe

 

[JC1984]

Looks amazing, any northern lights?

 

[Ivanhoe]

Breathtaking views.

It was an amazing trip. Not everything worked out perfectly, but instead I got
a real adventure and got to meet some truely wonderful people.

I spent the whole time in or around Klimpfjäll, close to the norwegian border
in the north of sweden.

 

[Husky]

Great story and wonderful pictures!
With a cabin in the arctic I would be amazed if you can't find friends here that will help keep you company!

 

[Ivanhoe]

Norway banned their snowmobiles (but for work duty) because
of their environmental impact. The old two cylinder ones really
pours out nasty materials from the combustions, more than
all of the normal cars put together. And the snowmobile frightens
reindeer and a lot of people gets killed on snowmobiles each year.

A ban has been proposed here in Sweden as well, but been voted down.


I saw no Artic Light this time, despite there being a massive sunflare
at the time, seriously cold and crystal clear skies some nights.

I've seen the Artic Light before and it is just as fantastic as you imagine...

 

[Ivanhoe]

The "having no friends" was'nt totally serious...

I tried to go up there during X-mas, but my friend had to spend
it with his family, so I write it like this to give him a hard time.

In fact I have loads of friends, too many to have time for, but none
of them could get away like this, totally off season...

 

[Imagedude]

Here I sank down to my nipples in snow.

That's not something you hear everyday!

 

[Ivanhoe]

Well, I wasn't nude at that time, but after some beers and a sauna you'll never know...

 

[shaggystu]

superb photo's mate, thanks for sharing

 

[HillBill]

Great pics those, looks like a lovely part of the world.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Beorn]

Holy s***! Makes wanna leave NOW! I'll have to get my friends from Sweden to go on holiday with me.

 

[Chris the Cat]

Great stuff!
Cheers for that Ivanhoe!.
Chris.

 

[Dreadhead]

wow stunning place! one of my dream destinations thanks for sharing

 

[Pandabean]

Stunning photos and an amazing place. Makes me want the snow even more now.
Thanks for sharing.