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.

Gear Reflection Tornby to Grenen

Some of the items used and my comments are listed below.

MLD Trailstar, a wonderfully roomy shelter that is easily pitched and when pitched tight will deflect winds from all directions.

Aarn Mountain Magic 55, a pack ideally suited for trips of 4 to 8 days in my view, carries well and the front pockets are a bonus. This trip I was very pleased to have the waterproof liners which kept everything dry in what was extended periods of heavy rain.

BPL 240 Quilt, this was the first trip for this quilt and I was pleased with it and at all times was I warm (a little too warm), temperatures were never below zero but I feel comfortable in taking this quilt as part of my sleep system into sub zero temperatures.

Katabatic Bristlecone Bivy, not really needed in the Trailstar however the bivy provides ideal protection from drafts in windy weather. I used the bivy on top of my Neo Air this time and was pleased with the minimal slip between the bivy and the mattress, I will experiment further with this approach.

Stoves, I took 2 stoves on this trip to compare fuel usage, the stoves were the Monatauk Gnat, and the Compact Caldera cone, both used with the Evernew 1 litre Past Pot. Both stoves performed well and were used, with care, inside the Trailstar. I only ever boil water and for a day I boil approximately 1.5 litres of water. The fuel consumption figures were interesting:

Monatauk Gnat: 22 gms of gas per 1 litre of water, reflecting similar figures when used in Vålådalen in May 2010.

Caldera Cone: 25 gms of alcohol per 1 litre of water.

In my view the conditions were the same for both stoves and a windshield was used with the gas stove.

Paramo Vista Jacket, for this trip I wore the new lighter weight Vista jacket, in XL it weighs 660 gms which is a 200 gram saving over the Third Element Jacket (which is to be discontinued). I was pleased with the jacket and partnered with a silkbody long sleeve shirt I never over heated and it repelled all the rain that it was subjected to.

To the Top End along the Nordsøstien

I attended a family christening (Barnedåb) before commencing my travels to Jutland. Interestingly Danish Railways (DSB) were offering a special on upgrades to first class and I decided to try it. Apart from an endless supply of coffee, fruit, biscuits and water, the peace allowed me to read Erin and Higs book The long trek home a wonderful book about the environment, conservation and the will to survive, a book I very much recommend. I alighted from the train at Tornby at 5:30 in the evening and with a 3 km walk to the campsite I quickly set off to make the most of the remaining daylight. Passing through the outskirts of Tornby I noted that there were several people out for a walk in the pleasant evening light. No doubt some of them wondered why there was a backpacker heading out of town at this hour of the evening. I soon entered the forest which was a mixture of pine and beech and arrived at the shelter place where I intended to camp, finding a nice spot in the lee of the trees I quickly set up my Trailstar and settled down to cook dinner and enjoy the moonlit evening. Soon I was in bed eagerly anticipating the coming days walk which would take me to the top of Jutland.



There was some rain during the night and the morning brought with it grey skies and with the prediction of rain late in the day I soon set off towards the coast and the Hirtshals.



The trail firstly took me towards the coast before heading inland through the forests of Tornby Klitplantage before returning to the coast at Tornby Strand. Following the trail along the coast I soon arrived at Hirtshals Fyr (lighthouse) which provides wonderful views of Hirtshals as well as bunkers from the second world war.



Descending into Hirtshals the rain began to fall as I passed by the port with its collection of fishing vessels as well as ferries bound for Norway.



I was happy to leave Hirtshals and continue my trek north through Lilleheden Klitplantage with its autumn colours and still waters.






The trail paid a brief return visit to the coast at Uggerby Strand with its broad firm sand providing easy walking along with access for motor vehicles.



I returned inland to follow the forested paths past the Uggerby Tårn (tower) before arriving at the campsite adjacent to Uggerby Å. The campsite consisted of space for 2 small tents a bench and a small fireplace, it was sheltered from the wind and it was soon evident that the trailstar would accumulate condensation. No sooner was camp set up, the rain started which persisted all night so the following morning after the rain had ceased I was left to pack a very wet shelter. It appeared that the weather may improve and the first views of Tannisby strand were further evidence of a good day.



With the sun only just rising the lighting on the sand dunes provided wonderful contrast of colours, light and shadows.



I was soon on the beaches and there were many different patterns brought about by the water such patterns endured ensuring that the walk was always interesting as every step brought a new perspective on the landscape.



Passing by the popular tourist spot of Tversted Sø where the ducks were eager to be fed I headed into Tversted Klitplantage, the oldest plantation in Northern Jutland. As I approached Østerklit Stokmølle (windmill) I entered a camping area and much to my surprise there was a Sauna, this was the first time I had found a sauna in Denmark, it provided ideal shelter as the rain poured down for the next hour while I ate lunch.



As the rain eased I set off to the windmill and was pleased to find that not only was it open but there was an audio display in 3 languages.



For a while the trail continued through the forest before finally returning to the beach, which would be followed for the next 8 km or so. It was a pleasant walk, with little wind, firm sand and I was entertained by all the variety that can be found on a beach, such as rainbows.


Windblown sand dunes.



Sand, sea and clouds.



As I departed the beach the sun was beginning to set and with one last look along the beach I climbed back into the forest and found a quiet corner to set up the trailstar.



The next morning it was to be a different story, having been awoken about 2 am by strong winds requiring a "tighter pitch" on the trailstar and before settling back to sleep, when I finally arose it was a gloomy grey and windy morning. I reached the beach near Højen and began the long trek north along the beach, but today was to be much harder as there was a headwind gusting to 40 km/hr, this was the only time I used 2 trekking poles for the whole trip helping me to propel forward.



As the beach curved towards Grenen the wind became more of a cross wind and thus a little more bearable, and with Grenen coming into view my spirits lifted.



Soon I was at the top of Denmark accompanied by many others, some who came by tractor and some who had walked a kilometre from the carpark into the same wind that I had. Here I just stood and enjoyed the moment having finally achieved a goal that I had set when I first moved to Denmark, it was a rewarding moment.

So as some left by tractor, I joined the others in walking back to the carpark area then for another 5 km to the Skagen railway station and home from what had been a memorable and rewarding trip.

Wet and windy West Coast

Just back from a wonderful trip along the west coast of Jylland to Grenen, the top of Denmark. With magnificent beaches, beautiful autumnal forests and large migrating sand dunes, it was a very enjoyable trip. A report will follow in the coming days.