Snowshoeing in Wolverine Country
Duration: 4 days
Dates/Period: By arrangement for groups of min. 4 persons between February and April
Price: from £491/person
Accommodation: High quality Hilleberg tents
Required: General good level of fitness. Used to outdoor life and camping in summertime. Minimum age 16.
Photos: Annica and Torkel Ideström
Dog Sledding Across Jämtland (1 hour by public transport)
Mushing in the Mountains (1 hour by public transport)
Siberian Husky Dogsled Adventure (1 hour by public transport)
Also known as the Skunk Bear, Devil Bear, Carcajou, and Glutton, the Wolverine is, for its size, probably one of the most powerful top-of-the-food-chain predators. The Wolverine is powerfully built and well adapted for winter survival and walks on the soles of its feet as do bears and humans. This is called a plantigrade posture and allows the animal to move much more easily through soft, deep snow.
Despite being protected in Sweden since 1969, the wolverine remains one of Sweden's most threatened mammals.
"Strap on a pair of snowshos and go walkabout into the wintry beyond...you may spot the tracks of lynx and wolverine, or hear the distant barking of an Arctic fox high above the tree line in the Syl Massif." Recommended by Richard Hammond from The Green Traveller in Rough Guides "Clean Breaks - 500 New Ways To See The World"
Explore the forests and mountains with nothing to disturb the silence but the crunch of your snowshoes in the snow. Snowshoeing is an ideal way to explore the winter landscape, moving quietly across snow-carpeted frozen lakes and through magical pathless forests of birch and pine. Enjoy real coffee made on warming fires, sleep well in high-quality Hilleberg tents and experience the real sound of silence. Along the way you will see dozens of tracks left by the animals which inhabit the region, with luck including those of wolverine and lynx, two of Sweden's rarest animals, which have a stronghold in this area. A real close-to-nature tour led by an experienced expedition guide which is ideal for those seeking a challenging yet very accessible get-away-from-it-all experience.
Photo: Torkel Ideström
Your adventure starts at Vålådalen mountain station with breakfast. Your guide will assist you in packing your equipment and ensure everything is in order before you head off. Around lunchtime you will head out into the exciting and beautiful wilderness of the Vålådalen Nature Reserve, away from trails and cabins. Over the next four days you will be snowshoeing through and experiencing the fantastic wilderness you find here. You will learn about the nature and cultural heritage of the area and also mountaincraft and winter camping skills.
The tour has no fixed itinerary and will be tailored as far as possible to the participants' wishes and level of experience. The distance covered per day depends on the amount of snow and the weather, but it will be anything from a few kilometers to 15km per day. On your final day you arrive back at the mountain station, where you will have a well-deserved sauna and hearty farewell dinner in the mountain station restaurant, renowned for its fine cuisine. In the evening it is possible to arrange a transfer to the night train or to stay on and continue your stay in the magical mountains of Vålådalen.
No previous snowshoeing experience is necessary - you may be surprised how easily snowshoes allow you to move through the snow! You should have a general good level of fitness and be used to hiking and in summertime with a backpack. If you wish, it is also possible to borrow a "pulk", or sled, to pull behind you when snowshoeing as an alternative to a backpack.
See photos of snowshoeing in Sweden taken on the Snowshoeing in Wolverine Country tour in February 2008.
Read an account of the tour from February 2008.
Read our blog article about snowshoeing.
See also: Winter Mountaincraft in Jämtland
Discover the beauty of the western archipelago on a self-guided sea kayaking tour.
A self-guided walking tour combining wild camping with comfortable guest house accommodation.
An extended dog sledding expedition inside the Arctic Circle with your own team of Siberian Huskies.
A dog sledding holiday using Siberian Huskies with accommodation in Husky Lodge and mountain cabins.
A winter log cabin holiday for romantic getaways or family winter adventure.
A wilderness dog sledding adventure along the King's Trail in the Lapland mountains.
For the latest news and discussions on outdoor experiences in Sweden visit our blog at www.wildsweden.co.uk
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Comments on Snowshoeing in Wolverine Country:
"It was a fabulous break, definitely recommended - I've gone on about it so much I already have several other friends thinking about it for next year." Bryony, March 2008
"I class this holiday as one of the great ones that I have taken. Thanks again for all your help and best wishes for the future." Liz, March 2008
"Many thanks for all your invaluable assistance for our trip last week. The whole experience was fantastic...the guide was fabulous." Oriel, March 2008