)
)
Sara Wänseth
Sara's journey through the Swedish mountains
9 weeks on skis along the Swedish mountain range
Starting on February 11 and continuing for approximately 9 weeks—if all goes according to plan—Sara Wänseth will complete her White Band journey. From Grövelsjön to Treriksröset on skis. Through short updates, we’ll be able to follow her journey—an incredible adventure through a majestic mountain landscape, filled with both physical and mental challenges.
)
Expectations a few days before the adventure begins
“About 1,300 kilometers along the Swedish mountain range—from Grövelsjön to Treriksröset—lie ahead of me. An incredible adventure and such a privilege to spend so much time in our majestic mountain landscape. Alone. For me, that means happiness, freedom, and of course a great challenge.
I’m convinced it will be physically demanding, of course. Some days will feel incredibly tough, while others will feel completely joyful and easy. I’m also aware that the journey will be a mental challenge—being alone for so long, possibly feeling bored during long stretches of skiing, and having to solve every problem on my own. To handle both small and big setbacks without giving up. I’m certain there will be both tears and a fair amount of swearing along the way.
I’ve made a plan A, but the only thing I know is that it will change. I’ll start from Grövelsjön on February 11, and I picture myself placing my hand on the yellow concrete marker at Treriksröset nine weeks later, on Good Friday. But of course—that’s just plan A… Weather, wind, injuries, and alternative route choices may mean I’ll be out longer.
I plan to ski an average of 25 km per day, with a few scheduled rest days where I’ll also pick up food depots or resupply for the next stage. But since I’ll be traveling alone, I’ll keep a larger margin and prefer to stay in the tent or a cabin and take an extra rest day if the weather becomes too challenging. And those planned 25 kilometers will sometimes be much fewer—on days when the snow conditions cause heavy drag on the skis, when I have to push through deep snow, or when I face days with 800 meters of elevation gain.
I’m incredibly excited!”
500 km on skis – an update from Sara’s adventure
“I’m sitting in Klimpfjäll, having just passed 500 kilometers northward on my skis, with my pulk as a faithful companion. In a week, I’ll be halfway. I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet.
Day after day of skiing has passed, and it’s all gone by so quickly. Through Dalarna, Härjedalen, and Jämtland—and now I’ve just crossed into Lapland. My feeling right now is that it has been surprisingly easy, despite long days on skis and uphill stretches that never seem to end. It almost feels like I’m waiting for the real challenges to hit.
But maybe everything amazing I’ve experienced has pushed the tougher moments into the background. Every day I’ve been in awe of the white, sparkling snow, and each day the landscape has changed—mountains and valleys replacing one another. I’ve stopped, breathed, and enjoyed the silence. But I’ve also, with gratitude and curiosity, met interesting and kind people along the way. Like the woman in the isolated house in Bottnen who called me in, offered coffee, a semla, and freshly baked pastries—which gave me enough energy for another 20 kilometers. Or the brothers at Vålåstugorna who arrived late and shared both mulled wine and renewed energy. Other White Band hikers have also brightened my journey. A heated cabin and good company when I stumbled in through the wind after a long day with too many elevation meters. And all the tips and encouragement from others on the same journey—it feels like we know each other.
When I think about it, of course it has been tough, demanding, and cold. And sometimes a bit lonely. But maybe that just makes me appreciate the small things even more—when the warmth returns to my fingers, when I crest a hill and get to enjoy the descent, or when I find the most delicious piece of chocolate at the bottom of my pack. When the skis glide forward and I move rhythmically. Almost meditative.
Now I’m looking forward to new mountains and new encounters on my journey north. New experiences and insights. Tomorrow I plan to pass Västra and Östra Fjällfjället, and I’m looking forward to pitching my tent again.”
)
About Fjällfararnas Vita & Gröna band
Our Scandinavian mountain range, stretching over more than 1,300 kilometers, offers much of what many would call true wilderness. To travel its entire length under your own power has become a classic challenge. Completing it is proof of a wide range of knowledge and experience in spending extended periods in the mountains—but also of qualities such as judgment, endurance, and companionship.
The idea behind the bands is that you travel under your own power from Grövelsjön in the south to Treriksröset in the north, or vice versa. The journey must be carried out as one continuous trip without long breaks and without external support (such as food deliveries by snowmobile to the traveler). The trek can be completed year-round. The color of the band indicates the season in which the journey was undertaken. Consideration for the environment, nature, and cultural heritage should be both a guiding principle and a given.
)
)
)