Blogs

What do we call people who climb mountains? The term “mountain climber” is commonly used, but it doesn’t encompass the many styles of mountaineering. Each style has its own challenges, risks, allure, and community. Some devote their entire lives to mastering one style. Below, I introduce the various styles of mountain climbing: Hiking / Hiker Often involves walking on rugged terrain where basic route finding is helpful. Typically, there are established trails, and technically difficult sections are rare. It’s the most popular style, with routes like the main route of Ben Nevis, Grues Grind, and Plain of Six Glaciers being popular. Many people reach summits using this method. Trekking Trekking […]

Do you prefer traveling alone or with someone else? Alone… for much the same reasons as many others have given to this question. Yes, alone — but always open to the offers of joining others for a day or two. Many things would have remained unseen and unexperienced otherwise. Although (when I was still wandering here and there) I was already among the older members of the backpacking tribe, age did not seem to be a barrier. If you carried a backpack, you automatically belonged to their “brotherhood” (… almost invariably a nice, relaxed, very international group). When the younger folks were heading somewhere, whether it was for a beer […]

If it is true that God is only good and also omnipotent, why then do we have evil in the world? Why does evil exist in the world? I wrote the following to answer this question in a way that makes sense to me. Fresh out of university, I took a job in the outback of Australia. It was a difficult adjustment, and my eighteen months there raised more questions than answers. Two years ago, I returned for the first time, seeking answers. What follows is from my journal. It attempts to tackle the difficult question of why evil exists in the world. The picture at the end is of […]

My father used to say… To understand who a true friend is, you must throw a party. Host a magnificent gathering with fine beers and wines. Prepare delicious food and set the background music just right, welcoming to all. Let the music play, but not too loudly. Don’t force anyone to stay, don’t persuade, never prolong the party. Parties have origins older than us; they know when to end. Invite many friends, and when the party’s over, let each take their preferred path. Then, observe. Notice who willingly stays to help you, who aids in washing dishes, who assists in tidying up. These will be your true friends. They’ll stand […]

Why is it that abroad, it seems so much easier to be oneself and talk to strangers? Especially when traveling alone. In my experience, even just traveling with one other person (let alone in a group) tends to form a kind of “closed circle”. Within that circle, locals, whether in city streets or mountain villages, usually hesitate to let you in. As a result, interacting with them isn’t easy unless you actively “break the ice”. On the other hand, when you’re walking alone with a backpack (looking relaxed and open), it often feels like they’re waiting for their turn to talk—you end up having tea together several times a day, […]

Why must I have the will to live? I understand that I am neither intellectually gifted nor valuable in various aspects. It seems unlikely that these qualities will help me or aid in achieving a meaningful life goal. The beginning of this might not be very encouraging, but I must tell you a true story: When I was eighteen, I lived with my parents. One day, as I was about to take a shower, I noticed an ant near the drain. Without much thought, I picked up the ant and released it into the grass in our garden, then went back inside to take my shower. Four years later, at […]

I have no desire whatsoever to visit Tahiti or any other sun-drenched locales. Is this normal? Upon receiving tickets, one might assume everyone would immediately yearn to go. I felt the same way. Why? Because I’ve already traveled extensively across Europe, America, Asia, and Africa—Oceania was the only continent left unexplored. From May to June last year, I spent precisely 28 days in French Polynesia, not just in Tahiti. I harbored prejudices: that it would be flashy and garish. Yet, it proved otherwise! Having lived in Saint-Tropez for eight years, I know it differs greatly… The landscapes are breathtaking, the sea’s clarity akin to a vast pool, abundant vegetation, Polynesian […]

What’s it like to live in four seasons? For someone like me from Northern Europe, living with four seasons is just the norm. We expect ongoing change in nature, temperature, and precipitation patterns, with short periods of stability. But we always know what’s coming next because we’ve seen it all before. Right now, for instance, here in northern Sweden, spring is on its way. It’s mid-April, and there’s still snow around, which is normal, but it’s retreating, revealing brown grass underneath. We know the grass will turn green as soon as the temperatures hit double digits. You can watch it happen. Yesterday afternoon, I sat on my veranda with a […]

Where is the island farthest from any mainland? It is said that the most isolated island, the one that requires the longest journey from any other landmass, is Bouvet Island, a Norwegian territory located in the southern hemisphere. Bouvet Island – Wikipedia. Excluding a small rocky outcrop near the coast, Lars Island, the nearest land to Bouvet Island is Queen Maud Land in Antarctica, 1,700 km to the south. To the north, the British territory of Gough Island is 1,600 km away. To reach a populated area, one must either sail 2,200 km northeast to the Cape of Agulhas in South Africa or 2,000 km to Tristan da Cunha. Tristan […]

(A photo of the aforementioned spot, taken on the way back. The wind was fierce up there.) What is your greatest experience that no one else knows about? Last weekend, I returned to the glacier I had photographed the previous year. I had heard whispers of an ice cave, unknown to me until now, and felt compelled to seek it out. The conditions were perfect. The temperature had plummeted well below freezing, and it hadn’t snowed for some time. The path across the glacier to the cave was clear, and the avalanche risk was relatively low. With snowshoes on my feet and a heavy backpack on my shoulders, I trudged […]