Undoubtedly a great advantage of working so far North in Sweden, is the direct proximity to large areas of undisturbed countryside and forest and – a bit further North from Falun – to the Fjäll areas.
Not as steep as in neighboring Norway, these high alpine plateaus feature a tundra landscape which is otherwise only found North of the polar circle. Very forgiving for even inexperienced hikers – you can’t really fall down anywhere – these rolling hills were reminding me at times of the Brecon Beacons in Wales.
No wonder though that only a couple of hours driving away, you need to watch out for groups of reindeer occupying the roads….
Travelling to Fulufjället National Park and to Langfjället, both located near the Norwegian border, gave me once again the opportunity to spend a few nights in my tent or even in a mountain hut
– something I had not expected to be able to do for a long time earlier this year.
Even better having Mia with me, who thoroughly enjoyed the long hikes, but who was less impressed by the fast dropping temperatures at night, by the occasional rain and by the mosquitoes. I think that I have to face up to the fact that after all, she is not a husky …….
For the first time in my life I was also able to supplement the provisions in my back pack with fresh cloudberries, which this year can be found in abundance.
Highly priced, they can only be found in small quantities on the local markets or in form of exclusive jams. A large bowl was added to my breakfast cereal every morning…..
Another advantage of hiking in Scandinavia at this time of the year are the virtually never ending days. In June the sun is hardly dropping below the horizon at midnight and even at the beginning of August there is never complete darkness on the Northern horizon.
A long weekend in the Fjäll is the ideal way to recharge the batteries for more busy days at the clinic with my Nordic patients……
The Blue Vet Diary 