The location is one our guides use most Winters to undertake various Arctic skills courses. It’s high, it’s remote, it’s wild and it’s subject to the full force of what Winter in these latitudes can throw at us. This is partly why we train here, not in the valley! The base camp is tucked into a sheltered hollow in a broad treeless valley. Our camp consists of several large Arctic-specific dome tents that we can heat. They are comfortable and secure for communal/group meetings, eating and relaxing as well as various teaching activities. We have an additional heated tent for drying and for sleeping in extreme circumstances. Accommodations are in smaller, individual tents, all well dug into the snow pack.

It is very safe. We use this location each Winter and know this mountain, region and terrain very well. It is possible we can be tent bound in extreme storm here, but the location is sheltered & secure. We have our access trails well marked; wanded and have snowmobile support in the valley as well as onsite. In extreme circumstances, there is a well-maintained cabin a few kilometres away that serves as an emergency backup should we need it.

Exactly the same. Our goal is to create a course that immerses you in the very environment & conditions you will find all along the Kungsledden Trail & the Arctic Spine. If anything, this base camp location is at the extreme end of what you will encounter but we feel if we make you comfortable and confident functioning here, you will adapt to the Arctic Spine much more easily. We have a comprehensive evacuation &a emergency plan for this location and
possible scenarios.

We will send you a full gear list on sign up. We encourage you to bring as much of your own kit as possible but we can also supplement with some specialist rental kit should you need it. Generally at this time of year, you will do fine with a similar kit setup you`d use in the Scottish mountains in Winter. Once you sign up, we will take time to individually assess what you already have and its suitability before you arrive and help you select a suitable solution package.

We will arrange a suitable ski rental package here for you. This will be a basic back country ski touring set, suitable for this course. It may now be what you`ll eventually use on the Arctic Spine, but it will allow you to develop your skiing skills and we will help you navigate all the various options on ski/boots etc that you have to choose from before the race.

Of course it is optional to bring your own skis (these are also include in your baggage allowance on flights to here )

Yes you do. Our goal is to help you be efficient and self sufficient in this Arctic environment, that includes cooking & nutrition. We will work with you pre course to develop a menu and one based on what we know you can procure locally here in Sweden and also when you prepare for the eventual race.

We factor in a shopping stop after we meet you at the airport (keep in mind that Hemavan is a tiny Arctic Sweden ski town with one small supermarket) and we will help you purchase a week’s worth of supplies (we will also if need be have the ability for one basic resupply from the valley during the week for any forgotten essentials)

For cooking, you will need a basic cook kit (this will all be clearly listed for you on booking) and if you have a suitable stove, bring that, or we can lend you one. We use a variety of stoves & fuels depending on our needs here. You will have the opportunity to try several different types as well as fuel types.

You are going to be a week in a high, Arctic/Polar environment. Even those at this time of year we are experiencing long days, generally blue skies, warm days and clear cold nights. In a week, you could expect some warm, bright days with average temps below freezing but with intense Sun (yes, you will need high factor sunscreen) but cold nights that can easily be -20c or less (we have mid March experienced –42c at this location and temps to –30c frequently at night through April. Snowstorm, blizzards and high winds are also common here, expect one high wind event in a week here.

No, nor does it have cell signal. You can climb to a ridge top above the camp and get a direct line of sight with a coms tower though !

We have a sat phone onsite for emergency use as well as several other coms devises such as Inreach & SPOT onsite and during all activities.

Limited. We do have some substantial solar powered battery banks. Priority of available power is given to our essential coms gear & various navigation devices but there is usually enough surplus for some non essential items. We suggest you bring your own small battery bank and a small solar charger/panel (even in poor weather, at this time of year there is enough solar radiation to charge most small items such as phones)

On booking, you will receive a comprehensive preparatory info pack from Arctic Alive / Arctic Spine that will detail everything for essential gear, what you need to provide, what we provide and all other pertinent info on how to get the best out of this course. We are here to help you, guide you and teach you new skills or further develop existing ones.

We look forward to welcoming you to Lapland, introducing you to our wonderful Arctic environment and helping you develop a solid foundation for safe, fun and efficient Arctic travel.