Meet Hanna Axén, a certified Swedish mountain leader and PhD student, currently guiding at Kebnekaise Mountain Station.
Meet Hanna Axén, a certified Swedish mountain leader and researcher, currently guiding at Kebnekaise Mountain Station.
"Today I am a certified Swedish mountain leader, currently guiding at Kebnekaise Mountain Station"
"Today I am a certified Swedish mountain leader, currently guiding at Kebnekaise Mountain Station"
I first got to know Klättermusen when I studied Arctic Climate and Glaciology on Svalbard, where the harsh conditions required durable and tough equipment. By that time, activities like ski touring and winter camping were all new to me. I still clearly remember the excitement when I discovered the world of adventures that a pair of climbing skins under my skis opened.
Almost as clearly, I remember my first night winter camping in a poorly built snow bivouac, temperatures around -25 degrees Celsius with neither clothes nor sleeping bag that were warm enough. When I finally got to sleep, I was woken up just a few hours later to take the next polar bear watch. Quite a few years have passed since and I have worked together with Klättermusen for over 5 years now.
When winter now approaches, a few favorites of mine will escape their summer hibernation. The Nifelheim alpine down jacket, for example - if I had only had it back on Svalbard! - is such a perfect piece for winter camping. It might be a bit bulky, but keep it easily accessible in the pulk and it will keep you warm during breaks and while pitching your tent. It’s so much easier to make good decisions when you avoid getting too cold.
There’s also the Draupner alpine shell jacket, which not only looks good, but is also tough and will not let you down, usually keeping me company both while top touring and on Nordic ski trips. Already now as summer turns into fall, winter conditions begin in the mountains, with sideways snowy rain and gusty winds – so I just pull up the hood on my Draupner and keep on going.
"This is what I appreciate about Klättermusen. The focus on long lifetime of the products, repairs and developing durable materials with lower environmental impact."
"This is what I appreciate about Klättermusen. The focus on long lifetime of the products, repairs and developing durable materials with lower environmental impact."
While spending time in the mountains, you learn to see beauty in the simple things. When you literally must carry all your things you quickly learn to pick only well-functioning essentials. Many of us long for that simplicity, where focus lies on the basics; move, eat, sleep. Somewhere along the way we might realize that also our everyday life gets easier without a heavy load of stuff. Certainly, our planet agrees.
This is what I appreciate about Klättermusen. The focus on long lifetime of the products, repairs and developing durable materials with lower environmental impact. Hopefully cheeky enough to keep on pushing the outdoor industry with new ideas regarding both technical innovation and business plan.