Pee time. Not easy in -22 degrees C (-7.5 Fahrenheit). And not a joy. But needed. I heard the same sounds as Hannah, looked at my watch. 00.02. It was fireworks from somewhere. But far away. The I realized. It was New Year celebrations for 2025.

“Happy New Year my love!” I said to Hannah.

I went back to sleep immediately. I woke up at 5 a.m. We had slept 9.5 hours. 8.5 hours the previous night. I always get great sleep outside in the tent. Why? Fresh air makes a difference. Most of the time I am tired in body and mind. This time, Hannah and me -her wish- wanted to add on another night in the tent, compared to the previous year, so we could climb the highest peak in my state, Dalarna, the 1204 meters high Storvätteshågna (Gealta in Sami language). I thought it was a good idea, but after 32 days on the Greenland Icecap 3½ months back in time, it wasn´t my first choice when it came to how we spent this short time together. But immediately when we started the climb up from STF Grövelsjöns parking, offering great views onto the Norwegian side, I felt very happy and privileged. And seeing Hannah feeling the same, adds on to the happiness feeling. And when it started to get dark, around 14.00, the tent was up, the stove was at full throttle and the sky above us was very clear and full of blinking stars. No people except us around. I had the same feeling as on the Icecap, a genuine sense of being free. A feeling I believe, can only be found in the great outdoors of empty spaces. It is a feeling hard to live without. But it always takes hard work to find it.

Hannah woke up feeling sick. She threw up as quick as she tried to eat or drink something. We tried small sips of water, crackers, the usual possibilities, but it didn´t help. I figured it was probably dehydration. Maybe a light hypothermia. Or side effects of jetlag? She hadn´t been drinking and eating much, and even though we had brought salmon and moose sausage for food, she had one meal at 15.00 when we came back from the climb and then went inside the sleeping bag. It was dark outside. The sleeping bag is a great place. But you need to eat and drink. At least 3-4 liters a day. The dry cold takes a lot of energy, even if the gear is really good.

We decided that I would take down the camp, pack it all up in the sled, a rucksack and a pullpac from Jemtlander. And she would just get herself all the way back to the parking, a couple of hours back and meet me there. It was great visibility, and easy route to follow and off she went. I was sure I would easily pick her up on route and that it would take a full day to get back. Not so. She was fast. And waited for me, rehydrating a couple of hours later. She recovered quickly and an hour later we stopped for the traditional big pizza in Idre.

Small dramas like this, when it is important you work together 100% has a tendency to be good or bad for your relation. In our case, very good!

Great start of the New Year!