Packing for Lapland: McHale Packs

I expect when hiking for 10 days in Lapland that my pack weight including food and water may be as high as 16 kg and as a consequence I need to choose wisely with my rucksack and how it is packed. For this reason I have chosen to stick with a trusted friend who has already seen me through many days of hiking on 3 continents, it is my McHale Pack. This pack may not be the lightest pack, but its flexibility in design and carrying capacity along with “always feeling right” when I put it on has ensured its position as my pack of choice when hiking. The customizability of the pack has enabled me to adjust it to the requirements of the trip. The modular aspect of the pack includes a roll top or removable lid with a pocket, different hipbelt pockets depending on the trip, water bottle pockets, or not. As well I have found that the lid can be removed and made into a simple day pack with sufficient capacity to carry wet weather gear, a litre of water along with food for a day walk from a base camp.

So how does everything go inside? The volume is not a problem but I normally pack everything inside a large plastic bag and to help with decreasing volume Dave Wood (Red Yeti) has suggested that the use of Sea to Summit liners can be used to compress sleeping bags (and tents) into flat “pancake” shapes which use space more efficiently within a pack than the traditional stuff sacks, I have also found this to be true and well worth the few extra grams over the spinn sacks I have used in the past. The remainder of my gear is either packed in spinn sacks or packed loose to fill every nook and cranny of the pack.

Done in a day: Glimåkra to Osby

I had some time so I decided to take a walk from Glimåkra to Osby, which required that I catch a train from Copenhagen to Hässleholm and then bus to Glimåkra. So after about 2.5 hours of travelling I had my pack on my back and was walking towards Trollabackarna shelter (located in the hills of the Trolls). Passing by the Trollabadet which I had visited in November 2008 I then climbed the hill towards the shelter. The climb is a gentle one, but was made more difficult by the ice on the trail, however, after a short while I was at the Trollabackarna shelter, home for the night.
Adjacent to the shelter there is a rock platform which provides commanding views to the West and the South with a clear night it was possible to see the lights of the nearby towns. I assume that this was where the Trolls threw stones towards the church at Glimåkra.
Friday February 27 – Glimåkra to Osby
It was a cool frosty start to the day with sun rise visible from the shelter. After breakfast the icy path down the steps from the shelter, soon tested the grip on my shoes. Yes, the first step was also the first slide. Having recovered from landing on my back side I continued along the trail passing through forest as well as crossing a number of roads both minor and major.
Of interest was the small hydro electric plant near Rumperöd nearby two deer were grazing they quickly disappeared into the forest as I approached.

Further along the trail I was surprised to come to one of the many historical signs in the area which indicated that the family of Tuve Johansson had moved to many parts of the world including Australia, it made me wonder where their descendants are now.



Having crossed the Helge å for the second time I entered the historical area of Domånres with its wonderful water wheel crossing route 23 led me to Osbysjön and Klinten Shelter.






Upon arriving at Klinten Shelter I met a representative of Friluftsfrämjandet who not only look after the shelter but maintain the trail and conduct a number of activities including canoe tours, saunas on the lake etc. They are well worth investigating in my view. From the shelter it was a short walk to the station and then home to Copenhagen, a wonderful days walk through the forest, small villages and country lanes at a time when the weather was pleasant and the birds were singing.