The fire and the dream are still very strong. I have been doing this job for coming up to 39 years soon. Quite a long career. And it didn’t take more than 3 weeks after the exhausting but extraordinary crossing of the Greenland Icecap to start dreaming of the next Expedition again. It did surprise me because during the last few years I have felt, once you pass 60 years of age, it is time to leave the self-glorifying arena, become a monk and serve others. That was my plan when returning from Greenland. But two things changed that idea, first, the Explorer-In-residence meeting in London in October hosted by Jeff Willner and Kensington Tours. Meeting some of the most exceptional people and explorers living today, just makes it impossible not to want to continue to explore, travel, live to its fullest and stretch the limits of what is possible. No matter what age. Secondly, that fire within, a longing so strong it is uncontrollable, is just there.

So my old dream, which started in Pokhara Nepal back in the 1980`s, whilst reading Maurice Herzog´s book Annapurna, and overlooking the great mountain Machapuchare (The fish tail), of climbing mountains has returned. And returning eventually to the Himalayas. This is my self-centered dream that I am going to try to realize now. One among others.

As always, the physical preparations are extremely important. More than ever if you are over 60 years of age. As for the mental set up, I have been doing this for such a long time, so they are there. I know where the gears that are need are. Here´s my preparation set up I want to share.

I figured it would take me about 3 months to fully recover on all levels after Greenland. I am almost there, ten days to go. The food hunger is not there anymore and I have been able to slowly, slowly recover. With age you need more time. And this applies in training too. For the last two months I have gotten back in to the proper diet and I train on a schedule like 2 days training, 1 day rest, 3 days training, 2 days rest. Start all over. I will stay with this another 10 days. And then move into a 3 months training period, with 2 days training-1 day rest-3 days training-1 day rest-2 days training-2 days rest. Start all over.

Since we are talking mountaineering and high altitude I am adapting to this fact. Main focus this 3 month period is getting back in to the right weight and being able to easily do a half marathon on trails going up an down all the time. Once a week a hike with by each week a heavier backpack in the most mountainous terrain that exist in Skåne…quite a flat place but there are hilly areas. And then monthly do proper mountains near the crib in Lima. So trailrunning, rehab at gym, lots of flexibility training, but cardio, cardio, cardio.

The plan is reigniting my climbing dream in September. I hope I can assemble a group of wonderful friends. It is in the works. That means, after the 3 month period, the last 6 months I will add hours each week and the last two months, I will train every day. Just like before Greenland.

You can follow my training here https://www.strava.com/athletes/explorermikaelstrandberg