Sweden, New Year 2026
New Year. Looking for snow for skiing, but not forgetting about skates.
The black, blue, green, red, fuchsia, brown and purple lines show our track to the hut on 29 December and back, a walk in Kammen Park and along the rapids of the Vindelålven on 30 December, on skis and on skates on 31 December, and skiing on 2 January. Shift-click a track link to open it in nakarte.me.
Lake Missutjärn
In search of fresh snow we headed west, deeper into Sweden.
On the evening of 29 December we reached a small hut, where we spent the night. There was even less snow here than in Skellefteå, but there was nowhere else to go. For supper we had risotto. It was quite cold, and during the night we took turns keeping watch over the stove: every hour and a half each of us got up in turn to add firewood.
This is what the hut looks like in the sunlight. It is very clean and there is enough space for 6-8 people to stay overnight. It stands on a steep lakeshore in a pine forest. But there was very little snow, and no fresh snow at all. We did not enjoy skiing on the icy crust, so we decided to return to Skellefteå and to have a short walk on the way.
We stopped at the Kammen nature park and crossed over the ice to an island. There was no snow left at all on the southern slope.
A long narrow ridge stretches along the entire lake. Water on the left and water on the right.
And at the very end of the ridge there is a boat tied up, so that you can cross to the shore and continue on your way.
On the way we came across a herd of reindeer.
In the forest we often came across moose tracks, but to see one so close, and in daylight as well - that had never happened before.
On the way back we stopped at the waterfalls on the River Vindelålven. The water here does not freeze even in severe frost.
First time skiing in daylight
Usually we skied in the evenings, with head torches, but here we went out onto Lake Vestre Lillträsket in daylight. Someone had cleared a skating rink on the lake.
For the second session we went to the sea, to the bay near the village of Ursviken. It was very cold outside.
The expanses here are enormous, the ice thick and smooth.
Perhaps these supports once held some sort of bridge. The structure is made of stones and clad with planks.
On the way back we stopped to test the ice in Skelleftehamn. It turned out to be a little too thin for skating.
In the distance open water was steaming.
Skiing near Boliden, 2 January 2026
Over the past couple of days a little snow had fallen, and we went skiing near Boliden. There are many prepared ski tracks here, but there was very little fresh snow.
Our skis are slightly wider than cross-country skis, so we fitted into the tracks with difficulty.
Clear-cuts and new plantings.
The ski track runs along forest roads.
A birch grove.
