Border Patrol

Down south in Denmark there is a trail known as the Gendarmstien which is a trail that was used by the Danish police to watch out for unexpected visitors from the south. It seemed appropriate to visit this area in the southernmost point in Denmark between Christmas and New Year as hopefully it would be a warm and sunny tour. Alas, with recent snowfalls and below freezing temperatures, the sunscreen will be staying at home and all possible warm clothing is being packed.

So for the past few days I have been trying to decide the gear to use given expected temperature ranges of -10 C to -5 C.

My almost final list is as follows.


Rucksack
Aarn Featherlite Freedom

Shelter
Golite SL 1 with inner net (warmth and condensation protection) I have been interested in looking more closely at this shelter and have been able to borrow one from Outlandia for this trip.
4 Sno Pegs
4 Clamcleats
2 Easton 8” stakes

Sleeping

Exped Downmat 7 Short
Therma Rest Ridge Rest
Nunatak Arc Alpinist Epic cover
Katabatic Bivy

Cooking

Primus Express Spider
BPL 1300 + lid
Lightmyfire
Folda Spoon
Kupilka
Nalgene 1.5l

Clothing Carried

BPL Vapr Thrm Mitts
Possum Fur Fingerless Gloves
Possum Fur Socks (Sleeping)
Balaclava
BPL Cocoon Pants
Rab Xenon (maybe warn if needed)
Wester Mountaineering Flash Hoody (around camp and sleeping)

Clothing Worn
Ibex Hoody
Macpac fleece
Paramo Vista
Paramo Adventure Light Pants
Merino Buff
Icebreaker Merino Legless
Darntough Socks
RBH Vapr Thrm Liner Socks
Blue OR GTX cap
Ibex Liner Gloves
Inov 8 390
REI Komperdell Trekking Poles

Other items include
Mobile phone, PrincetonTec Head Torch with Battery, Kahtoola Micro SPikes, First Aid and repair, GPS
Washkit, Pentax W60 with case.

A report will follow.

Glædelig Jul - Merry Christmas

Frilandsmuseet

Todays walk was to the Frilandsmuseet (Open air Museum in Copenhagen) which can be reached from the Copenhagen Main station after a short walk from Sorgenfri Station. As its name suggest it is an open air museum and consists of many buildings associated with the 1800's as well as other outdoor displays. For two weekends at christmas time it is open.



The displays are diverse with old thatched roof buildings and horse drawn vehicles.



Along with fascinating uses of birch bark on roofs.



There is many different cobblestone pavements within the housing areas.





Within each building there is many examples of the furniture used in days gone by.






We left as the sun was setting.



Perhaps more importantly access to the whole area is free, as it is for many other National Museum locations.

A local walk in the snow

With all the snow we have had recently I decided it was time to take a walk and see how the snow had transformed the surrounds. Loading up my day pack and putting on my trusty Innov8 390 boots, I walked out of the house into the winter wonderland. My wanderings took me through the forests before arriving at Søndersø meeting a couple of nordic skiers along the way as well as the occasional inquisitive deer.



At the western end of the lake in an area I had never visited before I came across an old water tower built in 1911, there was picnic area nearby and it is adjacent to the old military barracks associated with the former Værløse airforce base.







There was still plenty of snow hanging around and with the local weather bureau predicting more below zero temperatures and snow it could well be a white christmas.



A pleasant days outing, in the eerie silence of a snow covered land.