Many stomachs to feed

“During my trips, I have learned how I want to live my life, and that is outdoors. That's where I feel best,” says Lina when Primus meets her in the mountains. “My adventures began ten years ago, during a bike ride from Lofoten to Jämtland. I experienced such harmony there in the saddle. It was curiosity that drove me, what was behind the next turn?”

In recent years, her long adventures have consisted of winter dog sledding trips. When Primus meets her, she is on a 70-day trip in the mountains with the dogs Peak, Isbjörn, Ynk, Tofslan, Halvar and Libbie. In addition to the sled dogs, Lina has Bounty with her.

“Bounty's mother Yoda moved into my tent when I was climbing in El Chorro in Spain. Yoda came home to Sweden with me. She turned out to be pregnant and Bounty was born after a week,” says Lina, smiling at the memory.

Taking care of yourself during a multi-day mountain trip can be challenging. You get tired, wet, cold and hungry all at the same time. Lina has not only herself to take care of but six to nine other creatures that need food, water, rest and sleep. Food for both her and the dogs has been driven out and placed in depots along the intended route between Grövelsjön and Kvikkjokk.

“It is not possible to bring all the food from the start for so many days,” Lina explains.

Right now the mountain is calm and the sun is shining, but the daily rhythm out here looks pretty much the same regardless of the weather. Wake up, melt snow, fill your stomach, take down your tent, pack your sled, transport yourself a number of miles. Then set up your tent again, melt snow, fill your stomach and sleep. Lina has experienced temperatures between -35 and +5 celcius during the trip. The weather gods have offered warming sun, intense snowstorms and cold rain. Being able to warm herself and the dogs with hot food in challenging weather is crucial. Lina starts to pull out the kitchen and pots.

“Some of the dog food that I have with me in the sled is frozen. I melt snow and pour in hot water to thaw it and make it edible. I add dry food afterwards. Usually the dogs are fed first, then I prepare something for myself. Sometimes I have bought dry food, but most of the time I bring my own home-cooked food.”

Along for the ride are two OmniLite Store TI, Primus' lightest multi-fuel stove, designed for demanding situations and extreme environments. Lina uses gasoline exclusively, but the stove can also be powered by gas, kerosene, diesel and aviation fuel. The PrimeTech pots with integrated heat exchangers make snow melting fast and fuel consumption low. As many litres of water are required for all the dogs, Lina uses the largest 2.3-liter pots.

“I wouldn't last a day without the kitchen,” says Lina as she lights up with a Powerlighter. "I have to turn snow into water, and I have to get hot food and drinks. I use the kitchen morning and evening. While eating breakfast, I prepare my lunch, which I then store in a Primus lunch jug. It's important to turn the fuel bottle over and wait until it burns out and the pressure is gone. From time to time, I need to clean with the cleaning needle to remove soot.”

After a long day on the mountain, everyone crawls into the tent, both Lina and the dogs. At first it doesn't look like everyone will fit, but eventually they settle in. The sun sets behind the mountains and, as dusk falls, the night camp becomes calm. Another mountain day in the books for team Hallebratt.