Adventures
Reading Time 5 Minutes
Reunion on The King’s Trail
When you have a good and true friend, you can pick up the relationship no matter where in life (or, the world) you are. Follow outdoor expert Sofia Johansson as she treks The King’s Trail with her long-time friend Jenny Pettersson. Along the way, they gain an even deeper appreciation for nature, and their friendship.
Pals, besties, chums, mates, pals, amigos…whatever you call them, friends are a gift. And true friendships are ones that pick up exactly where they left off. No matter the test of time and distance.
Just ask outdoor expert Sofia Johansson and her long-time friend Jenny Pettersson. Though life has taken them to different cities, and they have not seen each other in five years, when they met up on The King’s Trail in August 2021, it felt like it was yesterday. Nothing changed.
Originally, Sofia and Jenny met in the first year of university, and became very close very quickly when Jenny moved into Sofia’s tiny apartment after a breakup. Both are nature enthusiasts and have spoken many times about doing a trek together. Eventually, the ideal opportunity presented itself: Fjällräven Classic Sweden.
The original Classic, it takes participants on a portion of The King’s Trail – from Nikkaluokta to Abisko – in one of Europe’s last true wildernesses. Sofia has explored the area many times, but says that, “Every time is special and different because the weather is always different, and the nature is definitely always different.”
In 2020, Sofia did Classic Sweden by herself and it was streamed live to people around the world. But in 2021, with things starting to get back to “normal,” doing the Classic with a good friend felt like a great way to experience the event in a new way. Jenny did not need to be asked twice: “I was so excited when Sofia asked me to come with her on this little adventure. I didn’t need to know much more. I said ‘Yes!’ immediately.”
Meeting at the train station at Kiruna, anticipation was running high. Sofia kept thinking, “Is she there? Is she there? Is she there?” Finally, the train stopped, and Jenny WAS there, “And it was such a nice feeling.” After a few hours of catching up and comparing gear, the two set off to the first checkpoint of the Classic: Kebnekaise.
Sophia describes how their journey unfolded:
“The first day you are into your own things. You think about what gear you have and what you didn’t bring. But then after two days, three days, you start to hear correctly. You start to see differently. That’s when you really start to notice the beauty around the nature, the animals. And I think that is when it starts to get really interesting.”
Though Sweden is the longest Classic, at 110 kilometres, the two women found the experience to be just the right balance of approachability and challenge. As Jenny says, “It’s about doing something at your own pace. You decide how fast and how far you want to go.” The terrain varies between green valleys and rocky passes, and you can enjoy the different views from above and below the treeline. Sweden’s mountain landscape is beautiful and different from anything else out there, but also relatively accommodating. According to Jenny, “The mountains are so dramatic, and you walk in the valleys, so you feel really small. But at the same time, you’re in this safe place somehow.”
The greatest “challenge” for Sofia and Jenny was taking breathers at the right time. Like Sofia says, “The most difficult time to take a break is when you’re feeling good because you don’t think you need it. But probably it is when you need it the most”. During these breaks, Sofia and Jenny made sure to rest and refuel with water and food. Breaks also gave them opportunities to check-in on their gear, like the Abisko Trekking Tights Pro W they were kitted out in. Designed by an all-women team at Fjällräven, the tights ensured the friends were comfortable throughout the entire trek.
Unencumbered by concerns for their clothing and equipment, Sofia and Jenny had headspace to consider the unique experiences women have on the trail. They agree that nature is often shown through the male perspective, reducing the opportunity for women to gain knowledge especially valuable to them. This can impact everything from knowing how to manage a period on a long trek to finding the appropriate gear. Though Sofia and Jenny felt comfortable and confident in their ability to handle life in the outdoors, they know for others there is a lot of room for improvement. As Sofia says, the solution is as simple as giving women more opportunities to share their experiences:
“I think there are so many good and inspiring stories about all kinds of different women out there. The stories just haven’t been told. That is the problem. I think improving this starts with just asking more women about their passion for nature. I want to hear the stories; I want to be inspired by them and I want to learn about more ways to enjoy the nature!”
The best part of Classic Sweden for Sofia and Jenny was unlocking a new level of friendship. On a multi-day trek, it is unavoidable that fun things will happen. Like sharing a tent, which brings back childhood memories of sleepovers and chatting late into the night until you can no longer see straight. Or knowing that your friend has carried treats they know you like to share together on a break. Sofia describes trekking with a friend as a simpler way of life, with less distraction and more joy:
“During the Classic week, we put words to what has been left unsaid in the past. Things we probably knew about each other, but never really talked about. Also, things we didn’t really know about ourselves back then.
I think this week marked a new phase in our friendship. I like that it is still a friendship with space and integrity, but now with added depth and understanding. Our new friendship superpower is to be in the present and nowhere else.”
Experiencing nature with friends is not over for Sofia either. She plans to continue to bring at least one friend every year into the mountains: “It’s just a tiny thing to do, but if I can just awaken the interest for one single person, that would be great.”
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