What started out as an easy hike through the forest became a challenging orienteering through suprisingly tough terrain.
Very rewarding to have done it and found all the markers.
Archive for September, 2008
There are many more photos in this blog than are shown in the actual blog posts.
They can all be found in the Photos section from the top menu.
Once there, you can click on the “View as slideshow” link to see them in a nice slideshow from flickr.
See screenshot:
Screenshot of how to view photos as a slideshow
Also note that they are organized in groups so the latest OAS is listed first and older ones below.
After the lunch we walked to the docks to catch some lobsters!
Yes, it’s lobster season here on the west coast of Sweden now. The first day of legal lobster fishing for the season was on monday Sept. 22nd.
We all split up into a couple of fishing boats and headed out. Some boats took it easy, some even stopped on an island to have a coffee break. Our boat went further out into the sea instead and the waves there were huge! (good we didn’t kayak there as planned) Oh, and the photos below are from the calm waters before we got further out.
We all had to grab whatever we could hold on to keep our balance as the boat rolled over the huge waves. This of course provided some welcome excitement to the lobster fishing and we had a lot of fun!
Unfortunately we only caught two lobsters… and six crabs.
One of the other groups caught as many as eleven.
For those who wanted relax in style before the dinner there were hot tubs out in the open prepared as we came ashore.
We finished off the evening at Kroons restaurant in Smögen where we had a great dinner with lobster as starter. Everybody got their OAS-diplomas. I held a slideshow of the photos I had taken so far plus some I had been given by others in the groups (thanks again! :))
All in all a great evening!
This day everybody split up again.
The press left early on a RIB boat. The tour operators had a workshop in Smögen.
The retailers split up into groups of different acitivities such as climbing and mountain biking. I joined a group for some kayaking.
The waters further out without the shelter of the islands were very tough so we stuck closer to shore and paddled through Sotekanal. We had a mix of single and double kayaks and I’m happy to say that nobody went into the water. I know at least a few people who will do a lot more kayaking from now on. 
It’s a bit tricky having a snack break with a groups of kayaks but we managed it well.
This is just one of the sights along the Sotekanal where we kayaked. Apparently a woman lived in this little hut in the 1950s with her six children.
Everybody then joined the tour operators in Smögen for a nice lunch buffé before the afternoons activities.
This day everybody split up into three groups:
- A. Kayaking with outdoor lunch and accommodation in tents (September 26-27)
- B. Kayaking in slow pace with outdoor lunch and accommodation in guest house or tent (September 26-27)
- C. Climbing (3+ to 7-),mountain biking, hiking with outdoor lunch.
Accommodation in Ramsvik Nature Reservoir Island in cabins or tents
I was in group C and our morning started with mountain biking. We got to use some great bikes and headed out with guides from Upplevelsebolaget who knew the area very well.
We biked on smooth rocks by the ocean, downhill on rocks and gravel, tarmac and on forest paths. It was a lot of fun and exciting.
We biked to Smögen and met up with the climbing group to cook an outdoor lunch.
The afternoon went on with climbing this approx. 11 meter tall cliff by the ocean. The weather was good and the view from the top was great
Everybody tried at least one of the climbing routes and most made it to the top.
Back in Ramsvik we met up for an outdoor dinner. We got the ingredients and a recipe for a traditional Bohus fish soup. It was a great group activitiy to make this soup and enjoy it together and we all had a great time.
On the 27th group C went out hiking and the other groups started to head back. The wind had picked up a lot so the slower kayaking group came back quickly and did some mountain biking instead because the ocean was getting too rough.
Since I wasn’t in the any of the two kayaking groups I can’t write about them but I have gotten some photos from some who were in those groups.
About Nordens Ark
Nordens Ark is working to save and preserve endangered animals. It is by breeding and raising and reintroduction whenever possible, research, training and information to create understanding of the need for action.
Of the 383 ha about 50 hectares is open to visitors. This ranch,Åby ranch, is of national interest and cultural buildings are marked.
In a separate part called Lunden is the quarantine of predators and birds and isolation farmed for ungulates. Most of the breeding work is carried out in this part.
We got a quick presentation of Nordens Ark when we arrived by the director. The retailer group now also met up with the other tour operators and press that had just arrived. Everybody split up into four groups with a guide in every group and we headed into the park.
My group had the pleasure of having the guide Tom Svensson, forman at Nordens Ark. He was very passionate about Nordens Ark and the animals therein. He was a great guide.
We got to see Siberian Tigers, Snow leopards, wolverines, woodpeckers, utters and wolves.
After a great guided tour, although of just a fraction of the park, we proceeded to the restaurant which overlooks the wolves area. We now got to get to know the other half of the group that arrived today over some good food.
There was also a special suprise!
The Nordens Ark crew put out food for the wolves and the whole pack came up right to the windows of the restaurant to get it. That was quite a show!
We then left Nordens Ark and hopped on a few boats that took us to Ramsvik with a late sunset over the landscape.
At Ramsvik Jennie Svärd from West Sweden Tourist Board presented a slideshow of outdoor activities in the region.
Then everybody got cabins but those who wanted could still sleep in Hel-Sport or Bergans tent nearby.
After an outdoor breakfast and a short hike back to base camp it was time for retailer workshops.
Everybody had the opportunity to talk to the companies of the Scandinavian Outdoor Group; Bergans, Hel-Sport, Didrikssons and Lundhags.
After the workshop everybody met up on some beatiful cliffs overlooking some nice water in the sun. We had a nice outdoor lunch and then packed our stuff and headed to Nordens ark. More on Nordens ark in the next post.
Here’s some video footage from our canoe trip on the 24th. Enjoy
After the canoeing and a quick break we started our orienteering in the woods.
We got maps and compasses and we were supposed to find four markers using our orienteering skills. Each group of four also got a guide just in case so nobody would get lost.
As you can see on the photo above the forerst didn’t look so bad. I thought this would be easy.
Wow was I wrong 
The forest got thicker and thicker and we had to climb some steep hills and down again.
The first two markers were easy to find but the third one was more difficult. It was on top of a high hill and the climb up and down again was very challenging. But we found it! And the last one.
The view from the hill was amazing and worth everything.
I spoke to some people during the evening dinner about the day and everyone seemed to have found all the markers and that the orienteering was tough but rewarding.
We had our dinner on the rocks at a small and beautiful quiet lake. The whole area is famous for it’s hills, valleys, rivers and lakes.
Peter from Germany is demonstrating the Optimus petrol stove
Bob from the UK found a bunch of chantarelle mushrooms. “The gold of the forest”, as it’s called here.
Martin quickly prepared them and invited everyone to try. They were delicious!
Some people found their way into a swamp during the orienteering and got wet feet. Here’s how you dry your socks
After the dinner there was a special treat waiting for us in the pitch black forest; a reflex course!
We all had night lamps on our heads to see in the dark. Reflexes had been put up on trees in the forest and by using the night lamps we could find our way. To really enjoy the experience I was adviced to do it alone so I did. I took a moment in the middle of the reflex course to just stand still. I turned off the lamp and found myself in complete darkness and perfect silence.
Then it was time to sleep another night in the Hel-Sport tent. (we even had frost on the tent the next morning. Chilly nights in late September.)
In a chilly morning with heavy mist we teamed up in groups by two and grabbed Ally canoes. We got some instructions on how to paddle effectively without getting too tired and also how to steer.
Todays canoeing would take us on a river which would later open up into a lake. We’d then have lunch and then cross the lake.
Everybody got in the canoes ok and we were off. The stillness of the nature and silent canoes was enhanced even further with the morning mist. As the sun started to penetrate the mist it became almost magical.
This wasn’t just a calm little canoe tour however. The river had lots of fallen trees blocking the way partly or completely and plenty of branches hanging low over the water. On one occasion we had to pick up the canoe and carry it past the fallen tree but other times it was possible to carefully navigate under the trees. This made for some excitement, planning and variation. It was a lot of fun!
Trying to pass underneath a bridge which only left 10 cm between canoe and bridge was especially interesting. I did my best to film it as we went under the bridge
The river eventually opened up into a lake which then provided a completely different canoe experience. Here there was no more current so we really had to paddle. The sun was high in the blue sky and the mist was completely gone and we had a very enjoyable time crossing the lake to our lunch site.
We pulled out our Optimus stoves and cooked some pasta. We had garlic, tomatoes and everything.
We then crossed the rest of the lake and went for a hike and orienteering. More on that in the next post.
The photo gallery is updated with a bunch of new photos from sept 24th canoeing and hiking.
Check them out if you can’t wait for the story I’ll write about it later.
After today’s breakfast and a short hike from last nights camp everybody went to a house to have workshop.
There were four stations: Lundhags, Bergans, Didriksons and Hel sport.
I couldn’t be there so I hope somebody took some photos so I can publish them here later.
Terje from Bergans shows us how to put an Ally Canoe together and how light weight it is.
After having spent a whole day in one myself I’m quite impressed with it.
I’ve heard the approximate price is 1600 euros, depending on model and size.
A “hop and a skip” (otherwise known as a plane ride or two and then a two hour bus ride) and we’re at our destination in Dalsland. The weather was amazing. Blue skies and warm. The weather forecast shows we should have this weather at least until the weekend.
The bus ride was very enjoyable with a sandwich, coffeebreak at Bohus slott and a great guide named Ingrid who kept us informed and entertained during the entire journey.
At one point we even saw elks!
Two elk cows were gallopping on a field on the right side of the road. The guide almost screamed into the microphone and everyone in the bus looked to the right to see the amazing sight. Unfortunately I wasn’t fast enough to take a photo. I doubt anyone was.
At the cabin it was time for some equipment pick up. Everybody got a big set of clothes and various equipment, sleeping bags, back packs and more. After some initial confusion and repacking we were set to go to the spot for our night camp.
It was just a short hike and then we could set up our tents and cook a nice dinner with reindeer meat, mushrooms, onions, mashed potatoes etc.
The night was a bit chilly but anticipation of the next days adventures kept me warm
As I’m writing this I’m still out on our canoe trip and hike so my battery is limited. I’ll have to upload more photos and the video later. So stay tuned!
Here’s a quick weather forecast for the region we’ll be in for this year’s OAS.
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