When you need to resupply in Grövelsjön, there is this family run store/shop called Fjällbua. It’s run by Pelle och Haydie Andersson. We just got news that they store camping gas if you need to buy that.
Fjällbua!
New Year! 2022 is starting great…
There are many showing interest in hiking Via Suecia, both as a thru-hike and in sections. Thats awesome! We are thrilled to be your best support ever on your journey.
The first beta-test of our coming app is done. We’ll look into the feedback and keep on making it even better. Launch date could be late March/early May.
The first out hiking Via Suecia is starting January 14th. Posting will be on Facebook.
Remember – we are a non-profit member driven organisation. For hikers by hikers.
See you all on the trail!
How to Increase Sleeping Bag Warmth – Tips and Tricks
Please share!
The Via Suecia App
We are happy to announce that the work on our hiking app is so far that we asked some of our friends to beta test it right now. It will be a smartphone application much in the spirit of the Guthook Guides. We work to include a set of tools needed for thru-hiking—a map, guidebook (eventually) and water reports. It will function off-line and crowdsource updated information about trail conditions, trail angels and campsites when online. We hope to have it ready in early 2022.
Swish, IBAN & BIC!
We are happy to announce that finally we have got a bank account. Paying your membership, support or merchandise is now easy-peasy!
Our Swish numer is 123 135 88 60.
Our IBAN is SE88 8000 0819 1901 4132 8625 and the BIC is SWEDSESS.
Thank you for your support.
The 50/50 Challenge – only 600 SEK/year!
For only 600 SEK/year we will give you the best support ever in Swedish hiking! Because we want you to succeed. We will be by your side every step with advice on Trail Angels, food, gas and whatever you might need. By choosing a non-profit, member driven organization instead of a private company you also support a good cause. Facebook!
Christmas Gifts in the Shop
Soon Christmas is here! Thinking about a gift for that special person in your life? Why not give something from our Trail Shop? That way you’ll not only bring joy but also support our cause! Here’s the link to our shop! https://www.viasuecia.com/shop/
She thru hiked the length of Greenland
Ruth Aaqqii just thru hiked the length of her home country Greenland and became the second person to finish the whole of Via Suecia.
Nobody has better described the epic 117 days on Via Suecia and the subsequent end in Smygehuk November 14 than Ruth Aaqqii herself in an Instagram post that same day:
“This hike has been both an outer and inner journey.
The outer – physically – journey with it’s variable challenges has been incredible enjoyable.
It was also easier than I had expected.
I wouldn’t call it a walk in the park, 😄 but, still, perfectly doable for anyone with reasonable health and enough motivation to keep going!
I never wanted to quit.
I felt safe and at home, first in the mountains and later on in the woods.
Every day felt like a precious gift. 😇
Nature has been kind and welcoming, embracing me in many different ways.
People I’ve met have hugely enriched my life, and will, I’m sure, continue to do do. 🙏
My true challenge from the very beginning, therefore, has been the inner journey.
I felt quite miserable and also depressed last winter and spring, before I started my hike.
Worn down by loss and grief, I was unable to take steps towards re-building my life – apart from planning this thru-hike.
I coudn’t feel much joy or enthusiasm for anything in a long time.
❤️
I came to Sweden to heal my wounds.
To make peace with what happened in the past.
To take responsibility for my own happiness – under all circumstances.
While the outer journey – this thru-hike – has come to an end, it feels as if my inner work has only just started.
Only time will tell, where it will lead me.
One thing I want to continue to do – I want to say “yes” to life.
Birth and death, I’ve come to understand, are part of life’s natural circle.
To resist them is to fight life itself.
I want to learn to flow with life instead of resisting it, no matter how painful that might feel, at times.
❤️
I want to live life to the fullest – wild and free – until the day of my last breath.
Wild 🔥
Free 💚
Now ✨”
And so the hike is over and Ruth Aaqqii is back to the everyday world where everyday people go about their everyday life. A lot of people who have done long distance hiking feel a sense of loss of purpose and alienation when they get off trail.
So far Ruth Aaqqii has felt none of that.
“Maybe it’s because I’m still traveling, visiting friends and my parents in Germany,” she says.
Advice from other thru hikers is to look forward and plan new adventures to avoid possible “post trail depression”.
“I will try to follow that advice. I guess when I return to Greenland in December I will have plenty of time during the dark winter to plan ahead for some new challenge.”
Ruth Aaqqiis body is still on trail time and she wakes up five’o’clock every morning and gets tired and want to go to bed around eight at night. She has also put on some weight now when the “machine” has stopped doing 20-30 km days.
“I feel fine, but I’m kind of tired and need to lay down and rest when I have been out walking in town. I guess it’s my body taking its down-time.”
A friend in her home village Ittoqqortoormiit, on the East Coast of Greenland, pointed out that she has hiked almost the full length of Greenland (the length of Greenland north–south is about 2650 km).
The last two weeks of her hike was cold, wet and dark. But fiends stopped by and kept her company on the trail:
“When I arrived at Smygehuk, just a few meters from the finish, someone approached me from behind, waving a Danish flagg – it was Malene from Denmark, who had hiked with me on Bergslagsleden.
“She and her boyfriend had travelled to Smygehuk to be there when I finished! Taking a mini-vacation in the area.”
“It was such a surprise!”
Also, fellow thru hiker Peter Bergström caught up with Ruth Aaqqii by car twice during the last 8 kilometers, serving coffee and kanelbullar from his car in a village 4,5 kilometers before the end, just as he did for Kim Norberg, who finished her hike October 30th.
“He’s been incredible supportive to both of us, a fantastic Trail Angel!” says Ruth Aaqqii.
“I’ve met so many kind and inspiring people, both hikers and non-hikers, here in Sweden. A true gift of the trail!”
TEXT: JONAS HALLEN and RUTH AAQQII
PICTURES: RUTH AAQQII
Ruth Aaqqii finished The Via Suecia
We are proud to announce that Ruth Aaqqii arrived at approx. 12:15 pm on Sunday November 14th in Smygehuk. She started at 9:30 pm July 21st at Treriksröset. According to her notes she finished on day 117 and walked a total of 2.636 km. Ruth is the second official women to hike The Via Suecia as a thru-hike.
Congratulations Ruth! Well done!
Winter is coming
The 50/50 Challenge is for you who would like to divide your Swedish Hike into two halves in 3 years. We have made some minor changes to it, basically mowing your mid-starting point to Sälen. This is especially good because Sälen has many facilities and it’s also easier to reach. You start your SOBO/NOBO where the Southern Kungsleden starts. Just across the road is where the buss stops, and there are several places to sleep if you need to. In the Mountain Lodge Högfällshotellet there is shower, restaurant, and an ICA shop if you want to re- or supply. From the start there is a short way to the first cabin, Östfjällsstugan, if you NOBO. We are also introducing our winterlogo! Happy trails!
https://www.viasuecia.com/50-50-challenge/
