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Four Days in the Mountains with Our Teenage Daughters
Vålådalen, Blanktjärn and Renfjället – four days of hiking, fishing and memories to last a lifetime.
Featuring: Dad Jonas & daughter Isa Dad Daniel & daughter Enya
Can teenagers still enjoy an adventure without screens?
During the winter, my 17-year-old daughter Isa started watching the TV show Alone. After a few episodes, she said something that made me raise my eyebrows: "I'd love to try that for real." As the CEO of Beyond Nordic, a company that designs clothing and gear for exactly those kinds of adventures, it was about the best thing I could have heard. The planning began immediately. Isa's best friend Enya wanted to come along, and since her dad Daniel is a good friend of mine, the setup was obvious: two dads, two teenage daughters, and four days in the mountains of Jämtland. The goal was simple. To live as close to nature as possible.
A Backpack, a Tent, and the Hope of Catching Fish
We chose the middle of June. Perhaps not the easiest time if you want to live off nature's pantry, but it was when everyone was available. After the end of the school year, we headed toward Åre. We packed tents, sleeping bags, and only the essentials. When it came to food, we brought just oatmeal, rice, and a few spices. Everything else we hoped to get through fishing. The weather forecast looked decent. Nighttime temperatures of four to five degrees, around fifteen during the day, and only limited rain. But as anyone who knows the mountains will tell you, they rarely read the weather forecast.
Day 1: Heading for Nulltjärn
On the morning we set off, the rain started falling just as we got into the car and drove towards the trailhead outside Vålådalen. The girls were excited, but I think reality was beginning to catch up with them. Four days without any comforts is very different from watching adventures from the sofa at home.
Luckily, the rain stopped as soon as we started hiking. The day's walk was around 15 kilometres, following the Vålån River towards Nulltjärn. Our backpacks were heavily loaded with tents and equipment. Our BN507 backpacks were packed to the limit, and we dads quickly realised this was going to be tough. Isa and Enya carried BN506 backpacks, the smaller model, since they had less gear to carry. About five kilometres before camp, we just managed to reach a mountain shelter before the heavens opened. The rain came pouring down. Twenty minutes later, the sun was out again. Classic mountain weather.
Dinner Caught Fresh
By the time we reached Nulltjärn, the fatigue was starting to set in. But the view made everyone forget about their sore feet. Our campsite was set beside an almost mirror-like mountain lake, surrounded by complete silence. Looking back on the trip, this was perhaps the most beautiful place where we spent the night.
Once the tents were up, we assembled our fishing rods. We needed food. Fortunately, the trout were biting. After a few hours of fishing, we had caught four beautiful trout of a size worth keeping. The rest were released back into the water. Dinner was trout cooked over an open fire in foil packets, served with curry-seasoned rice. It was one of those meals that only tastes that good after a long day in the mountains. No one left the campfire hungry that evening.
A Cold Night
The night brought temperatures only a few degrees above freezing. Daniel quickly discovered that his summer sleeping bag wasn't made for June nights in the mountains of Jämtland. Enya was also using a summer sleeping bag and spent the whole night feeling cold. While the rest of us managed a little sleep, Daniel lay awake for most of the night before giving up and heading out to fish at sunrise. It turned out to be a wise decision. A few fine trout later, lunch was sorted. After coffee and bowls of porridge—which the girls weren't particularly enthusiastic about—we packed up camp and continued to the next stage. We headed towards the Vålån River, where we planned to spend our second night after a hike of around 5–6 kilometres.
Day 2: The Turquoise Waters of Blanktjärn
After pitching camp by the Vålån River, we continued our walk towards Blanktjärn. It's hard to describe the colours unless you've seen them for yourself. In the middle of the mountains lies this small tarn with almost unreal turquoise water—so clear it could easily be mistaken for something in the Alps. We stopped for a while to enjoy the sunshine before completing the circular walk back to camp.
The lake's remarkable colours are created by lime-rich groundwater that seeps to the surface and forms a pale limestone bed. The water is extremely sensitive, and to protect this unique environment, the County Administrative Board has introduced protected zones and restricted access around parts of the shoreline.
When the Fish Didn't Bite
The evening proved to be much tougher. The water level in the Vålån River was low, making fishing difficult. We kept trying for quite some time, but without success. Dinner ended up being a rather modest portion of rice. It was also the last of our rice. We went to bed hungry. Yet, strangely enough, we were also rather content.
Day 3: The Secret Emergency Ration
The following morning, it was clear that our energy levels were beginning to fade. We still had just over 10 kilometres to walk back to the car, followed by a drive of around 30 kilometres to our next starting point. After several days of hiking, limited food and cold nights, motivation wasn't quite as high as it had been on day one. Halfway through the day's walk, I revealed my secret backup plan—four freeze-dried meals. Fish soup. Stew. Spaghetti Bolognese. Chicken soup. No one else knew they were there. The reaction was as if someone had opened the doors to a five-star restaurant.
It's remarkable how good a simple freeze-dried meal can taste when your body genuinely needs it. After lunch, everyone's spirits returned. The final kilometres back to the car felt much easier.
It's easy to imagine that a mountain hike is made up entirely of spectacular views, laughter and a feeling of freedom from morning until evening. The reality is often a little different.
After a couple of days of cold nights, wet boots, limited food and many kilometres on the trail, there are almost always moments when morale starts to dip. Someone is tired. Someone is cold. Someone begins to wonder why they came in the first place. We had moments like that on this trip too. Sometimes you don't need to fix the problem immediately. Sometimes you simply need to keep walking. Take the next step. Eat something. Rest for a while. Accept that you're not at your best right now.
One of the wonderful things about nature is that it teaches exactly that. Feelings come and go, just like the weather in the mountains. An hour later, the sun may appear, your energy returns and everything feels much easier again.
Perhaps those are the moments when we grow the most. Not when everything feels easy, but when we learn to deal with the days when it doesn't.
An Evening by the Campfire
From Vålådalen, we drove to Edsåsdalen for the final part of our adventure. Our destination was Renfjället. We set up camp near the Henån River and spent the evening by a simple shelter with a crackling campfire in front of us. We were still fairly full from lunch, so there was no dinner. Fishing in the Henån proved just as difficult as it had been in the Vålån, and we had already run out of rice. It's remarkable how conversations change when the phones disappear. You talk more. You listen more. And you have time to truly be together. As a parent, moments like these are priceless.
Day 4: The Summit of Renfjället
Our final morning started early. We ate the last of our oatmeal, packed up camp, and began the climb toward the summit of Renfjället. The higher we climbed, the more expansive the views became. We passed two reindeer along the trail, and when we finally reached the summit, the mountain landscape opened up in every direction. 986 meters above sea level. Wind in our faces. And a view that made every step worthwhile.
A Burger That Tasted Better Than Ever
A few hours later, we were sitting at Broken in Åre with burgers and chips in front of us. The table was completely silent. Everyone was eating. Nobody was talking. That really says it all.
Four Days We'll Never Forget
We hiked through rain and sunshine. We were cold. We fished. We enjoyed incredible meals—and some not-so-incredible ones. But above all, we created memories together. Looking back on these four days, it really wasn't about the hiking, the fishing, or the summits. It was about the time. Time together without distractions. Time to talk, laugh, and truly experience something together. It's easy to think that great adventures require months of planning or expeditions to the other side of the world. Sometimes, four days in the mountains are enough. And the willingness to leave your phone in your pocket.
Gear for 4 Days in Jämtland in June
Here's what our packing list looked like for four days and three nights in the mountains of Jämtland:
Kategori |
Utrustning |
| Backpack | BN507 Adventure Backpack 60L incl. rain cover |
| Backpack | BN506 Adventure Backpack 40L incl. rain cover |
| Backpack | Waterproof dry bags |
| Sleep | 2-person tent |
| Sleep | Sleeping bag |
| Sleep | Sleeping pad |
| Sleep | Pillow / clothes in dry bag |
| Clothing | BN216 Light Merino T-shirt x2 |
| Clothing | BN004 Hiking Pants |
| Clothing | BN105 Merino Half Zip |
| Clothing | Base layer bottoms |
| Clothing | BN106 Tech Fleece |
| Clothing | BN301-V2 Shell Jacket |
| Clothing | Shell pants |
| Clothing | Underwear |
| Clothing | BN208 Compression Socks |
| Clothing | Beanie / Buff BN203 |
| Clothing | Light gloves |
| Footwear | Hiking boots / trail shoes BN601 |
| Food & Kitchen | Camping stove / gas stove |
| Food & Kitchen | Gas canister |
| Food & Kitchen | Lighter |
| Food & Kitchen | Cup / mug |
| Food & Kitchen | Plate |
| Food & Kitchen | Cutlery set |
| Food & Kitchen | Water bottle 1–1.5 L |
| Food & Kitchen | Foil |
| Safety | Map / offline map |
| Safety | Compass |
| Safety | First aid kit |
| Safety | Blister plasters |
| Safety | Sunscreen |
| Safety | Mosquito repellent |
| Hygiene | Toothbrush |
| Hygiene | Small toothpaste |
| Hygiene | Toilet paper |
| Other | Sunglasses BN411 |
| Cooking | Salt, pepper and curry |
| Cooking | Cooking oil in a small bottle |
| Cooking | Aluminium foil |
| Tools | Fixed blade knife |
| Tools | Multi-tool |
| Tools | Small axe |
| Fishing | Fishing rod |
| Fishing | Lures / spinners / flies |
| Fishing | Fishing permit |
| Fire | Lighter |
| Fire | Fire starter |
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