Backpacking

Grytetippen (885 m, 2903 ft) and Keipen (938 m, 3077 ft) belong to the highest and most majestic mountains on the northern side of the Norway’s Senja Island. From the top of Grytetippen you can see almost all of Senja's most famous mountains: dramatic Segla and on both sides Barden and Hesten above Fjordgård village, Senja's highest mountain Breitinden in the southwest and the popular Riven near the island of Husøy.

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Grytetippen and Keipen hike

  • Destination: Fjordgård / Mefjordbotn, Senja, Norway
  • Distance: 4,5 km (2.8 miles) one direction from Fylkesveien road
  • Difficulty: moderate challenging (marked as red)
  • Duration: 5-8 h
  • When to go: from June to September
  • Where to stay: camping in the mountains or next to the road, hotel accommodation at Fjordgård

Are down jackets good for hiking and backpacking? One of the most important equipment for outdoor adventures is clothing suitable for layering. The light down jacket is an insulating layer that has incredible warmth to weight ratio compared to other alternatives.

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Hetta-Pallas Hike: Autumn Colors and Northern Lights

The Hetta-Pallas hiking trail in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park is Finland's oldest hiking trail and one of the most popular long distance hiking trails in Finland. The Hetta-Pallas trail goes from the peaks of the fells down to the gorges and back to the peaks to incredibly beautiful rugged landscapes. The autumn time colors the Hetta-Pallas route with deep red tones.

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Hetta-Pallas Hiking Trail

  • Destination: Enontekiö and Muonio, Lapland, Finland
  • Distance: 50 km (31miles, one direction)
  • Difficulty: physically demanding but suitable for beginners
  • When to go: in September for backpacking in autumn 
  • Duration: 3-4 days
  • Where to stay: camping in tent, in reservation or open wilderness huts, some Lappish huts

Besseggen hike is one of the most popular mountain hikes in Norway, and the most beautiful trail in Jotunheimen National Park. Besseggen Ridge has been listed as one of the top 20 best hikes in the world by National Geographic. To hike the scenic Besseggen trail and see the panoramic view over the mountainous Norway, you just have to climb up to 1743 m.a.s.l. with 1,200 meters of elevation gain.

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Besseggen hike in Jotunheimen National Park

  • Destination: Jotunheimen National Park, Tessanden, Norway
  • Distance: 14 km (elevation gain 1,200 m)
  • Difficulty: demanding +, the Besseggen ridge is challenging
  • When to go: from June to September for a summer hike
  • Duration: a daytrip, 6-8 hours (or enjoy the whole day with lunch & taking pictures!)
  • Where to stay: camping free on the beach (can be crowded Fri-Sun), or at Gjendesheim Tourist Lodge, or in Memurubu

Choosing the right sleeping bag and sleeping pad for lightweight and ultralight backpacking may seem like a daunting task with all the various ratings and ever-increasing options. We are often advised to first think about what kind of backpacker you are: do you enjoy road trips and camping, or do you hike in a traditional style or do you want to shave as much weight as possible.

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Tarfala in Swedish Lapland - Hiking to the Glacier Valley

The mysterious Tarfala valley in Lapland Sweden is hidden in the armpit of several 2,000 m high mountain peaks. At the bottom of the valley glitters the turquoise Lake Tarfalajaure (Darfáljávri), the mountains are covered by some of the largest glaciers of Sweden. The rugged and barren Tarfala is one of the most beautiful valleys of the Kebnekaise mountain massif area.

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Tarfala valley hiking info

  • Destination: Norrbotten, Lapland, Sweden
  • Distance: 6 km, from Kebnekaise mountain station 8 km
  • Difficulty: physically demanding but quite easy
  • When to go: from June to August for a summer hike
  • Duration: a daytrip, or part of a multiday backpacking trip
  • Where to stay: camping with or without facilities, or at STF's mountain cabins

Fannaråken Hike in Jotunheimen National Park in Norway

The Fannaråken hike is one of the classic hikes in Norway's Jotunheimen National Park. Fannaråken (or Fannaråki) is a Scandinavian mountain, with a peak rising 2068 meters above sea level. From Fannaråki, stunning landscapes open up to western Jotunheimen.

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Fannaråken hike

  • Destination: Jotunheimen National Park, Luster, Norway
  • Route length: 15 km from Turtagrø (ascent approx. 1200 meters)
  • Difficulty: medium
  • Travel time: day trip 8 hours
  • When to go: July to August
  • Where to stay: in a tent without amenities, at Turtagrø Hotel with amenities (and then there's the back seat of the car for real adventurers :D)

Merino wool is a great natural material that is at its best in outdoor sports clothes. I have used different merino wool clothes mostly on hikes, in trail running I have preferred more technical materials. However, merino wool has superior properties compared to technical materials, so I have increasingly turned to merino wool on the running side as well.

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Sarek National Park is located in Swedish Lapland, in Jokkmokk Municipality. The ruggedly beautiful Sarek is the oldest national park in Europe, and it is often called the last great wilderness of the North. Six out of thirteen peaks over 2,000 m are located within the boundaries of the national park, and there are around 100 glaciers.

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Hiking in Sarek National Park

  • Destination: Jokkmokk Municipality, Lapland, Sweden
  • Distance: Around 72 km (From Suorva to Skierfe, without summits)
  • Difficulty: advanced / difficult (mountaineous wilderness), no marked trails, big river crossings, challenging weather 
  • When to go: from June to August for a summer hike  
  • Duration: multi-day adventure, a daytrip to Skierfe from Aktse
  • Where to stay: in a tent