“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” M. Theresa
Boooo! That’s long time, no see! But once in a while we throw a log onto the blog fire. We welcomed our son Bosse into the family in the summer of 2018. Whoop whoop!
Family adventure in Nuuksio National Park. Southern Finland. October 2018
Today we flashback you into Lotta’s adventure she took in july/august of 2016. At 9 months old she was big and strong enough a baby to sit up straight in a Thule Sapling. We backpacked between Kvikkjokk and Abisko, in, around, up, above the Kungsleden for about 280kms, including all side trips and side explorations into Sarek NP. Most of the time we made a bivaouc in the sturdy, spacious and light Nigor WickiUp4 tipi, other nights we stayed over at the comfortable STF huts, where we could resupply and wash up. We had organised a poste restante with diapers and extra food at SALTOLUOKTA fjallstation.
As explained before, we layered the baby up during the night with as many merino wool layers as necessary and a merino wool sleeping bag, as we did in Patagonia.
We are happy with the merino wool products from Danish Joha and German Reiff.
The baby did not sleep on an inflated sleeping mattres, because of suffocation danger. Her sleeping mat was the Thermarest Z-lite Sol closed-cell mattress. We buttoned a hooded hat to keep her head and body warm during the night. Breast feeding kept her nourished and healthy.
We choosed to use washable diapers with a biodisposable inlay like the G diaper system. It worked very well because on a maximum of 3-4 days in between, we crossed into an STF hut with pit toilets in which we could dump the used inlays and wash the outer protection panties.
We leave you with a video impression and some snapshots:
How to pack a 10 month old baby, a tent, diapers and food for 5 days in a backpack. Swedish Lapland.
A bivaouc spot in the woods near Abiskojaure. Abisko National Park. Swedish Lapland.
Another bivaouc spot in the Abisko National Park. Swedish Lapland.
Investigating a reindeer antler on an exploration high above the Torneträsk lake. Abisko. Swedish Lapland.
Minutes before the thunder storm came in. Kungsleden. Alesjaure. Swedish Lapland.
A hot day in the north. Kungsleden. Alesjaure. Swedish Lapland.
After a good night’s sleep. Kungsleden. Alesjaure. Swedish Lapland.
Backpacking through the Vistasvagge. Kebnekaise. Swedish Lapland.
Enjoying baby supper, high above the Stuor Reaiddavaggi dalen. Swedish Lapland.
Enjoying baby supper, but from a higher view angle. Notice our Nigor WickiUp4 tipi high above the Stuor Reaiddavaggi dalen? Swedish Lapland.
We just left the
Nallostugan and Lotta is already on a nap. Kebnekaise. Swedish Lapland.
Dusk at
Nallostugan . Kebnekaisefjell. Swedish Lapland.
Food fight at
Nallostugan . Kebnekaisefjell. Swedish Lapland.
Windy at Singi! Kebnekaisefjell. Swedish Lapland.
Somewhere on the Kungsleden south of Singi! Kebnekaisefjell. Swedish Lapland.
Crossing a high plateau. Stora Sjöfallet National Park. Swedish Lapland.
Oral hygiene. Check! Stora Sjöfallet National Park. Swedish Lapland.
Da! Da! Daaaaaa! (transl. Gimme that camera now)! Stora Sjöfallet National Park. Swedish Lapland.
No words. Stora Sjöfallet National Park. Swedish Lapland.
Watch the weather change. Dusk at Sitojaure. Swedish Lapland.
While you we’re sleeping. Kungsleden through Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
Breast feeding is the healthy baby snack. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
Early morningunder the canvas. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
Laitaure lake with Skierfe towering above. Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
I hate sunscreen. Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
A girl and her balloon. Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
In Rapavalley there is a mountain called Nammásj. Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
It’s not the beach, but hey, it’s sunny and the view is nice! Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
It’s quite quiet, so let’s shout! Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
Keekaboo! Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
Rainy smiles! Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
This is what they call a washed out trail! Sarek NP. Laponia. Swedish Lapland.
patagonian dreams 
This brings me so much joy! Congrats on number 2 as well! X
Thanks for sharing your family adventures. They are really inspiring. I get out as much as possible with my own family; though nothing more than 5 days at a time.
Here’s one of the backpacking trips we did in summer 2018 http://explorington.com/2018/08/mount-phillips-backpacking-trip/
hi Matthew, thanks for your feedback! I’ve been reading your blog as well! Wonderfull where you live! The next time we come back to Canada, we might come over for a visit! In the summer of 2017 we were 6 weeks in the Canadian Rockies (updates on that will come later). Cheers and have a nice flip of the year with your familiy!
A visit would be lovely! Vancouver Island has the potential for some truly wild/rugged experiences; if you’re willing to work for it. But there are many more accessible multiday adventures that can be found with far less investment in transportation and travel inconveniences. Mostly, your decision will be driven by your interest in contending with others. If you want to alone with the family, you’ll have to work harder, but if you don’t mind sharing a trail then the options are probably endless. Let me know if you head out this way, I’ll make time to connect with you… and if your family is up to it a trip of some sort could be planned.
Your family is incredible!! I’d love to see a detailed packing list if you’re ever willing to share or post, thanks!!