Långfärdskridskor

Incredible ice. I have been very lucky with ice in my life, as in ice skating! From small Minnesota lakes (most notably dear Eagle Lake) to the BWCA to a frozen Lake Superior. It may be the ephemeral nature of good ice, but it ranks as one of life's finest things...to float across a frozen lake is true pleasure. Now I can add the sea to my list of ice experiences. I skated on the sea ice south of Göteborg (Kungsbackafjörd)...a bit of a dream come true...endless ice, skating around islands, in and out of small bays...complete with the sensation of rollers (waves under the ice)...amazing.

Då genomströmmas hela ens varelse af ett välbehag som med intet annat kan jämföras: blodet pulserar friskare genom ådrorna, vinterluften förlorar sin bitande kyla, och förvandls till ett behagligt smekande kring panna och kinder…Viktor Balck, 1888.

Translation: Then the whole being is filled with a feeling of joy that cannot be compared: the blood pulsing strongly through the arteries, the winter air losing its’ biting chill and transforming to a delightful caress on the forehead and cheeks…A quote from 1888 in reference to prolonged winter ice-skating on a frozen lake. (Tordsson, Isberg & Myren, 1984, p.126)

Långfärdskridskor...'backcountry ice skates'...grab a rope, ice spikes (for climbing out of the water if one falls in), a long spike for testing the ice, an extra pair of clothes, a thermos of something warm and fika in the pack...recipe for a great day.