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Lighting up my winter

19 comments

skiing
Skiing over a field.

Living in the North means cold winters. It is not the cold, though, that I sometimes find difficult, but the darkness. Days can seem very short and sleepy when the sun rises at around 9 am to set only six hours later (here in Stockholm, that is. Further up north, in Kiruna, the sun rises at 11 am and sets at 12.30 am today. Watch the wecam here).
This means we have to take advantage of the light that we actually have, especially if one has decided to avoid flying, which is my case. And for that purpose there is nothing like the light coming from a snowy landscape.

Back on the skis

The last few weeks most of Sweden has been covered in snow, reflecting the sun’s light in every direction. I am not particularly sporty, in fact it has been more than two years since I last stood on a pair of skis. But when we finally got some snow here in Stockholm you just have to take the opportunity. So I borrowed a pair of skis and took the bus to a nearby open-air recreation area together with some friends.

Frozen lakes 

Just 15 minutes away from the central city skiing tracks extend as smooth ribbons through forests, over fields and frozen lakes. The whispering sound from our skis against the snow is only interrupted by a few birds, and the light is flowing in through my eyes from all directions although it is a cloudy day.

Important breaks

But enough of nature poetry. To be honest, one of the best things about going skiing is actually the brakes. Sitting down in a snowdrift having a sandwich, a cup of hot chocolate or blueberry soup and an orange suddenly makes every bruise from falling in a slope or swearing trying to get up a steep hill (well, my skiing skills are still rather basic…) totally worthwhile.
And though my legs are stiffer than two flag poles today, I’m in a wonderful mood, and not nearly as sleepy anymore.  I hope this snow stays for a little bit longer.

break
And perhaps most important of all… the break.

Sara Jeswani - Sustainability

January 5, 2010

  • Pol (1)

    We don`t have often snow where i live, so most people were totally unprepared for it last month when it fell (from clothes to autogear, not to mention skies). However, there is something wonderfull in snow that automatically brings up the atmosphere and people closer together. I also noticed there is more light even at night as it reflect better and when the sun went out in clear skies, tiny snow crystalls where fantasticaly sparkling all around.

  • Pol (2)

    One bad thing was that quite a lot trees and branches fall down from snow weight and the snow was unusually “dry” (like sand), so you could not form throwing balls easily, which i think is a little strange and could be worth investigating. Other interesting phenomenon is that as links between other parts of the city, region and state becomes more difficult, you actually feel and live more localy defined (?!). … Whatch on that ice on lakes and happy snowing to you. :)

  • Monica

    I am from Washington State which is on the West Coast so we only get a little snow in the low lands, but when we do it seems to bring about a peaceful feeling. Everyone is close together and enjoying being with people. If that makes sense?

  • Sara

    I agree with both of you, snow seems to bring about a special and peaceful feeling. Sounds become softer and the whole landscape changes. Then of course snow also brings problems when it comes to transports for example. But maybe that is part of why people suddenly feel a bit closer feeling slightly more vulnerable, actually needing to help each other? (By the way: I think “dry” snow comes from the low temperatures, when it gets a little warmer it will be easier to form snow balls!)

  • Richard

    Snow certainly deadens the sound of traffic, though when there is snow the traffic also moves slower. In England just now we have had the heaviest snow fall for 30 years, which has caused lots of disruption to aiports trains and the roads. How does Sweden cope in heavy snowfalls?

  • Sara

    In the northern parts of the country, where heavy snowfalls are common during wintertime, people and city structures are used to taking care of it. In parts where we do not normally have as much snow, there are much more disruptions in traffic. The temperature also plays a big role: When everyone turns their heat up, the electricity network cannot cope and people have been without power for hours, see for example http://www.thelocal.se/24226/20100106/

  • Pol

    It seems this is a good case how important is for local communities to be more self suistainable. If carefully organised these could in fact strenghten societies, not weaken them. We surely rely to much on institutions and commercial activities to the point we seem helpless and paralised without them. Of course, this implies other refoms, also. For the rest we can hopefully rely on the nature and natural instinct to do its part, to try to be the best possible who we really are. …

  • http://www.jbourgeois.com Julien Bourgeois

    really happy that I could introduce you to his music! One of my goals with this blog!

  • Annesfood

    I can help with that. 1 decilitre equals 100 millilitres, or 0,4 cups. One cup is roughly 250 ml, or 2,5 dl.

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