Jokkmokk - Sub Zero Trip - February 2013

[RonW]

The Vasa is indeed awesome!
And if you happen to have a little extra time on hand make sure you check out the cityhall (has an amazing central hall!) and the old town (gamla stan).
All in all you could easily spend a long weekend in Stockholm and still have things to go see a next time....

[udamiano]

Ok sorted, I've been given the green light for a weekend trip in Late July early August

[Wayland]

Reconnaissance...

[udamiano]

THats what I was thinking, officially its a nice quiet romantic weekend trip

[Viking]

Why not contact Kevin who is an Englishman living in the area and working with the locals and tourism and is or has at least been a member here. He can probably set you up with everything you need (housing, equipment, transports, food) he will probably give you a good deal. Remember market week is the most busiest week of the year up there and prices go up and it´s not easy finding a place to stay during that week.

You can contact keving through his website http://naturallore.com

[udamiano]

Thanks for the link and the info Viking, will look into it

[Wayland]

Thanks for that Johan, looks like a useful contact.

Will you be anywhere in the area around then?

[Viking]

Thanks for that Johan, looks like a useful contact.

Will you be anywhere in the area around then?

Not this time, family has takn prioroty at the moment. have been up ther in the summer when hiking isn Sarek and it´s really nice. dont know if it´s still there but I had the best burger of my life in Jokkmokk =)

[Wayland]

That sounds like something to check out...

[udamiano]

Thanks again Viking have e-mailed Kevin, and awaiting a reply

[udamiano]

Ok folks, In order to progress any further in gathering prices, schedules, time, flights, etc. I am going to need some information from those that have expressed an interest.

Having been in contact wit the local campsites, tourist office, and locals. The main bit of information Im going to need is

1) What are peoples thoughts on accommodation, Im quite happy to go tenting, at either one of the formal campsites, or off somewhere near.

the main options are :

Campsite in a cabin, these are available in 2,4,6 person
Campsite in a tent
Local Hotel
Off in the wilds.

Now before the idea of spending time in the woods living the wild life becomes too strong to resist, Im oblidged to point out that in my discussions with a very nice local lady in Jokkmokk, the tempreture for the period that we are thinking of attending went as low as -40 degress Celcius, and during the market week hovered about the -30 d C mark, with quite a costant level of snow fall throughout the two weeks ( about 2 metres).

Because the Market week is the major event in that part of Sweden, Sites, cabins, and Hotels get booked many months in advance. I would sugest that we would need to make actual preperations no later than July, with things like booking, to get a chance of these places.
Initial prices on flights are about £156 return including taxes, to Stockholm from Manchester, although I'm sure i will be able to better than that.
A 6 bearth carriage on the night train is about £500, although Im awaiting actual confirmation of this from the rail company.

What are peoples thoughts ?

and any questions

[Imagedude]

I'd happily stay in a snowhole, staying in heated accomodation, for me anyway, defeats the reason for going.

[forestwalker]

I would stay in the woods, no porpoises in it for me to stay in a cabin. Heated tent will be sewn before then. But remember that -40 C is a whole different ballgame than the -10 or so that this years course got. Much, much smaller margin of error.

[Wayland]

I'm up for tenting it but would understand if people wanted a cabin to retreat to if needed.

If we are tenting we need to think about fuel for stoves and or camp fires.

Are camp fires allowed at the camp sites and if so where do we get wood from?

[udamiano]

I'm up for tenting it but would understand if people wanted a cabin to retreat to if needed.

If we are tenting we need to think about fuel for stoves and or camp fires.

Are camp fires allowed at the camp sites and if so where do we get wood from?

I've emailed both sites to ask those question, and are awaiting answers from both

[udamiano]

Sorry in addition i would just like to mention, that Sweden, has a very good access to the countryside policy, even to foreigners, However, there are some very good and sensible rules and regulations attached to this, which are in place to safeguard the wilderness, as long as we abide by these (I am sure all coming would) we are fine to collect wood for fires and shelter, as long, As we cause no Damage and are respectful of the area. You may be asked to demonstrate your understanding of this while you are there. As always a 'leave no trace' policy is in place

[forestwalker]

Sorry in addition i would just like to mention, that Sweden, has a very good access to the countryside policy, even to foreigners, However, there are some very good and sensible rules and regulations attached to this, which are in place to safeguard the wilderness, as long as we abide by these (I am sure all coming would) we are fine to collect wood for fires and shelter, as long, As we cause no Damage and are respectful of the area. You may be asked to demonstrate your understanding of this while you are there. As always a 'leave no trace' policy is in place

The Department of Natural Resources has a page on the right to roam in English.

[Wayland]

That's very useful FW.

Looks like fuel will have to be thought about very carefully.

[tedw]

A snowhole or northern lean-to would be my first choice, followed by a tent - but it looks like cutting trees for shelter construction is out and picking up firewood is clearly going to be a problem in the well-used area around the Jokkmokk. Hmmm?!

[forestwalker]

A snowhole or northern lean-to would be my first choice, followed by a tent - but it looks like cutting trees for shelter construction is out and picking up firewood is clearly going to be a problem in the well-used area around the Jokkmokk. Hmmm?!

Snowhole is possible, best version would be to build an igloo (compact snow, allow to harden, cut blocks), but is not trivial. An open lean-to in -40C would take quite a bit of firewood. The best option is a tent with a woodstove (or somthing like the HeatPal that burns meths, about 1-2 litre/day IIRC). One could either purchase firewood (somewhat pricy firewood, but still) and transport it to the campsite, or manage the more modest demands of the wodstove from legally gathered firewood. And materials for the lean-to is a separate issue: you would need the land-owners permission for that. If we had local contacts we could get permission to cut some wood for bedding and firewood, but I know no one up around there.

[udamiano]

Im in contact with Kevin, who lives in the area and is a local Guide and translator for the Tourist Office.

Reference Vikings post 35 on this thread, So can ask.

[udamiano]

The nearest National Park to Jokkmokk is Muddus. which is a good 10-12miles as the crow flys

The local regulations for this park are here

[forestwalker]

Im in contact with Kevin, who lives in the area and is a local Guide and translator for the Tourist Office. Reference Vikings post 35 on this thread, So can ask.

I follow his blog -- unless I misstake the identity -- and he sounds like a good guy. Ideal would be 1. Permission to camp for the duration (right to roam says one night...) 2. Firewood delivered, or permission to take standing deadwood Access to a cabin would be a nice safety blanket, but not totally essential of there is heated tents available.

[Wayland]

From my point of view, the availability of a cabin would offer the possibility of charging camera batteries too.

[RonW]

Uhmmm maybe I'm kicking in open doors, here, but might it be wise to try and think of some headlines, goals or requirements for the meetup first, so you can taylor the needs accordingly?

[udamiano]

I was going to book a cabin in one of the campsites anyway, for a number of reasons its always a good idea to have a 'plan-B', and also it would be a dry warm place to store and dry kit, or as Wayland noted for the storage and recharging of Camera Batteries.
I asked the question about wood and such to Kevin, and are awaiting his reply (He is quite busy this time of year, so might be a day or two). Yes forest walker, it's the same Kevin, and he is providing some really good links and contacts, and generally being a real standup kind of guy, I think if the lad enjoys a bottle of something, it would be a nice gesture from us to bring him something descent over.

Ron, thats an excellent idea. We are going to be in the area for a week prior to the Market, in one of Sweden's most outstanding areas, so lets make the use of our time. So suggestions please folks.

[tedw]

Perhaps we could share the hire of a cabin as a fixed base, then do 1 or 2 day overnight journeys out to, say, the National Park, to explore and enjoy the boreal forest/Arctic experience.

[RonW]

What I meant was, what are we trying to do, while we're up there?
If we, for instance, were to meet up, meet each other, use a fixed point/cabin as a base and explore the surrounding area, than stuff like large tents, axes, sleds, portable stocks of food etc. would seem less of an issue than if we were to travel as a group from location to location and overnight under the stars. An emergency like a broken leg, because of a simple skiingerror or a slip up with an axe, for instance, would have a less profound impact when basecamping than with trekking.
It would also make a difference if you had a highly experienced group with lots of arctic knowledge or if there were numerous participants, who at any point had some cold weather- or arcticexperience, but lack the true knowledge, if you know what I mean.
So determining a scenario from which to work might solve/eradicate problems and issues beforhand.

[udamiano]

The problem is, until we have any fixed idea on numbers actually coming any serious planning for group activities would be a futile undertaking. As it may turn out to be just me and Wayland, so you can see to answer you question, I can only with another question, which is 'How many, and who?' And as we all know there is a lot of time between now and then, for other thing to intrude on the plans of those who have currently expressed an interest.

[Wayland]

Well I've already ring fenced the time in my bookings diary so I'll be there come what may.