Inside the Arctic Circle - Skiing the Kings Trail
Sweden, Ski Touring, 9 days - from $2,465 (land only)
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.
You must bring the following items:
Ski touring boots - see Ski Equipment
Lightweight shoes or slippers (for use in the huts)
Socks
Technical walking socks (2 pairs)
Spare laces
Trekking trousers/pants (for travel)
Ski or mountaineering trousers/pants or salopettes
Waterproof overtrousers / rainpants
Long johns (thermal underwear)
Thermal baselayer shirts (2 short sleeve, 2 long sleeve)
T-shirt or casual shirt to travel in
Fleece jacket
Warm jacket (synthetic or down filled)
Windproof/waterproof jacket with hood
Sunhat
Warm hat
Lightweight balaclava or facemask
Eyewear- ski goggles and glacier sunglasses (Category 4)
Lightweight thermal gloves
Windproof and waterproof over-mittens
Spare pair of warm mittens
Backpack (c 60 litres) with hip belt
Small bag (to pack travel clothes in)
Full-Length Karrimat/Foam Mat (for sitting on at lunch stops/emergency use – NB. NOT a self-inflating thermarest)
1 litre Thermos Flask/Bottle
Camping mug
Spoon
Water bottle 1 Litre
Lightweight sleeping bag (rated to 0°C for emergency use)
Headtorch/headlamp and spare batteries
Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite)
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Scarf/Neck Warmer
Sleeping bag liner or sheet sleeping bag
Pillow case
Washbag and toiletries
Small Towel
Antibacterial hand wash
Ski Equipment
Ski-touring skis* - see below
Ski-touring boots *
Ski poles*
Gaiters *
Skins*
Windshelter (provided) One for every 2 persons
Snow shovel (provided) One for every 2 persons
The following items are optional:
Binoculars
Camera, film, batteries
Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage)
Reading and music
Ski Equipment:
The ideal skis to use for this trip are 'no-wax' cross-country skis with scales, together with appropriate ski boots. Skis should have steel edges. If we encounter icy snow, crust or deep powder - the scales will not always provide sufficient traction and skins can be useful in such conditions. For inexperienced cross-country skiers, skins are also useful on long descents, slowing the rate of descent and providing a degree of control.
* Ski Hire Available:
Ski Touring Equipment, which includes skis (Asnes – Norwegian), boots (Crispi – Italian – leather, all sizes available), poles, climbing skins and gaiters can be hired through KE, from the Abisko Mountain Station, at a cost of GBP170. Please note that equipment should be reserved and paid for through the KE office with at least 5-weeks advance notice, along with your boot size (please specify European size) and your height.
Notes:
Before setting out from Abisko, your travel clothes will be packed into a small bag (which you should bring with you for the purpose). These will be transported around to Nikkaluokta to meet the group on the completion of the tour.
Everyone needs to carry certain back-up items - see above - including a lightweight sleeping bag.
At Abisko the group will be paired up and each couple will be asked to carry a snow shovel and emergency wind shelter, which will be provided.
A sleeping bag is not required in the huts, which provide bedding, but a sleeping bag liner or sheet sleeping bag is essential.
