Join us for an immersion into the higher latitudes of the Swedish Boreal Forest during the depths of winter. Experience a landscape like no other, and learn the skills of traversing such extremes. Here the nights are long, at -30 degrees the cold has the ability to sap your life strength as you hear the distinctive crunch sound of the snow, mistakes are not an option.
Understanding this environment and your bodies interactions are key to survival, and so you are accompanied by our exceptionally skilled instructors, and in country partners, who have decades of experience within this climate between them. The winter zone does not allow for ego- it requires knowledge, wisdom, and skill to make yourself comfortable and safe, to feed yourself, and to maintain your core body systems. This knowledge is steadfastly passed on from our professional team.
You will learn how to acquire and maintain heat, how to secure water, stove and fire management, learn traditional crafts such as improvised snow shoe building, aswell as more modern skills including dog sledding.
You would probably question whether you are capable of experiencing such extremes, and this is exactly the correct attitude to take. At these temperatures nature has no care for the fragility of the human spirit, or human body. However, with the correct training from people you can trust to keep you safe, this winter boreal zone can soon become an incredible home. It is quite simply beautiful, and you will connect with her in a way that few get the opportunity to. This is why we want YOU to be guided with us.
Who knows, we may even see the sway of the aurora above the flickering flames of our fire.
Course Registration
When you book a place on this course you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to our registration form so you can complete your details. We must be in receipt of these details as soon as possible after you have booked your place. You will need an order no. to complete the form.
Join us for an immersion into the higher latitudes of the Swedish Boreal Forest during the depths of winter. Experience a landscape like no other, and learn the skills of traversing such extremes. Here the nights are long, at -30 degrees the cold has the ability to sap your life strength as you hear the distinctive crunch sound of the snow, mistakes are not an option.
Understanding this environment and your bodies interactions are key to survival, and so you are accompanied by our exceptionally skilled instructors, and in country partners, who have decades of experience within this climate between them. The winter zone does not allow for ego- it requires knowledge, wisdom, and skill to make yourself comfortable and safe, to feed yourself, and to maintain your core body systems. This knowledge is steadfastly passed on from our professional team.
You will learn how to acquire and maintain heat, how to secure water, stove and fire management, learn traditional crafts such as improvised snow shoe building, aswell as more modern skills including dog sledding.
You would probably question whether you are capable of experiencing such extremes, and this is exactly the correct attitude to take. At these temperatures nature has no care for the fragility of the human spirit, or human body. However, with the correct training from people you can trust to keep you safe, this winter boreal zone can soon become an incredible home. It is quite simply beautiful, and you will connect with her in a way that few get the opportunity to. This is why we want YOU to be guided with us.
Who knows, we may even see the sway of the aurora above the flickering flames of our fire.
Swedish Aurora Winter Survival Expedition
Swedish Aurora Winter Survival Expedition
Swedish Aurora Winter Survival Expedition
Swedish Aurora Winter Survival Expedition
Swedish Aurora Winter Survival Expedition
Swedish Aurora Winter Survival Expedition
Arrival
On arrival at the Airport you will met by our team, before being transported to our local lodge for the first night. Here a warm welcome, some hot food, and drink will await. Our instructors will fully brief you and begin preparations for the upcoming days.
During your time with us in the Boreal zone you will initially learn the basics of orientating yourself with the map and compass, snowshoe construction using materials from the forest, and safe approach to water and ice. Full ice drills, ice reading, winter condition understanding are also key parts of your initial acquisition of skills. Later in the course you will also be given the opportunity to take charge of your own dog sled team to traverse this stunning landscape.
Your journey
As we leave the warmth of our lodge you will get to grips with navigation and snow shoe skills, putting learning into practice as we hike to our traditional Sami Goathi (a traditional Sami Reindeer Herders shelter) on a set of improvised snowshoes that you have crafted yourself from the materials provided by the forest. We will also erect a heated tipi alongside in order for you to experience both sleeping options.
During this initial journey we will cross frozen lakes and so you will be provided with an introduction to ice skills. A reindeer carcass is provided for us to scavenge from for the remainder of the course. This carcass forms the basis of your meals, and the resources that the carcass can provide (bones for tools, sinew for cordage etc). Your first job will be to secure it from the predators in the area and then to load it onto our pulk to continue the journey.
After a long day's exploration we will settle in to camp and undertake all of the associated camp activities you would expect...acquiring water and cooking over the fire.
The following day we will dedicate a whole day making a snow hole/ quinzee and preparing the bedding for the following nights. You will make your own shelter that you can call home, knowing that the Goathi is also nearby should you wish to experience different options, including obviously the hot tent also. From this point onwards you will prepare your own meals and learn fire management to look after yourself.
Through the week we move onto more in depth ice interpretation and skills as we snow shoe down to a lake system. From here we will be picked up by snowmobile in order to traverse the lake and head to an ice hole that we have kept ice free all winter. Learning how to self rescue in case of ice collapse is an essential skill, and so if you wish you will plunge yourself into the water following the correct drills to rescue yourself, then strip, dress (dont worry, we will have a modesty area to allow this to happen) and make a fire using minimum tools. After that a warm sauna will be waiting for you on the spot. You safety is our paramount concern and so obviously we have full safety procedures in place.
Full Winter Immersion
As our reindeer supplies begin to dwindle, we will spend time understanding ice fishing and setting lines for the acquisition of food.
As we settle into a routine and you become more independent we will begin to delve deeper into the lore of the boreal zone, understanding what further resources are available to us during this frozen time. You will discover fire skills, how to bake a birch bark bread using ancient techniques over the fire. You will also process Leather or Amadou (a fire lighting resource).
The expedition culminates in an individual phase where, provided with some minimum essentials, and ice fishing skills you will feed yourself and keep yourself warm for 24 hours.
Dog Sledding
The final phase is to familiarise yourself with the traditional skills of dog sledding. As we learn how to select the correct dogs, how to harness them up and how to develop a relationship with your team. This is not a tourist trip, these dogs are going to be yours for the day, yours to feed, yours to look after, and yours to command. We will set off on a journey crossing frozen lakes, through forest and mountains ending up back at the warm hotel we begun the course in. With a cozy dinner in front of the fire.
All of our expeditions, whether blazing through the African Bush or a simple multi day expedition in Scotland conform to The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 where applicable, your funds are also secure in the event of business collapse. We align our processes to the British Safety Standard BS8848 for our overseas expeditions. When choosing any expedition, wether in the UK or overseas ask the right questions to ensure the provider fulfills their responsibilities as laid out by law. You can be confident with us we can answer your questions. An expedition into such an environment is not one to be taken lightly. We are long established, well recognised, and professional. We and our partners hold a high level of experience, and ensure we have safety protocols in place. Due to the very heavy costs associated with operating within Sweden to the correct legal and safety standards this expedition will require a minimum of 6 people for it to go ahead. As soon as you place a deposit the place is secured for you and we will alert you once the 6 minimum threshold has passed.
Bonus course
As an addition to this course we are also delighted to offer the opportunity to make some of your own equipment prior to the course commencing on our Winter Clothing Course. This is an optional extra but we feel will provide you with a much more traditional experience. Based from our cosy Barn in the UK join us for two weekends to make a traditional snow smock, winter gloves, and Moccassins which you can then use during this trip. Please use discount code WINTEREXPED to book this clothing course to get a 20% reduction in the cost.
