Sportlov: Part 3 - Abisko

 

In planning our Artic Circle trip, Abisko National Park was on the top of the list.  We heard it was an amazing place to go if you love the outdoors, and bonus, it's the best place to see the Northern Lights in all of Sweden.  The park is a valley where all the clouds drop their snow as they pass over the mountains, leaving the skies in Abisko crystal clear (well, most of the time...).

Here are just a few images of the beautiful park.  It for sure makes us want to see it in the summer time!

We stayed in the STF Turiststation hostel.  Not cheap, but a really nice hostel that we shared with all kinds of, well, tourists, from other European countries.  Our room and the common eating area had amazing views of Lake Torneträsk that, as you can see, Scott and Sam could not keep their eyes off of.  Ha!

Because it had been a disappointing winter in terms of snow and not being able to cross-country ski, Scott and I decided that this year would be about "different" kinds of skiing than what we can do back home.  After mountain skiing in Åre, it was time to give off-piste skiing a try!  These two went with a ski patrol guide who taught them how to "read the mountain," so they would not accidentally go into avalanche prone areas.  Those are avalanche packs they are wearing!

They both agreed it was tougher and more technical than they anticipated, but good fun overall.

Look at that guy's fancy style.  

 

  And, how can I not share a photo of our teenager taking a picture of herself?

While those two were off skiing, me and my problem shoulder joined a snowshoe hike.  It was sweet, I met some lovely women from Wales, and it made me realize that I am more of a winter outdoors person than I thought.  Of course, I can be in better shape, but I'm not too bad for an old lady.  I think I needed this reminder after being so down about my shoulder.  

After our separate snow adventures, Scott suggested I use Sam's lift ticket to go with him up to the Sky Station at the top of the mountain.  It was a mini-date where we got some fika with a view.  It was pretty damn spectacular, and a reminder that we've had some great adventures in our life together.

Yep.  We also got to see the Northern Lights.  Abisko lived up to the hype!