Prospectus
This page gives some more information about Mountain Environment and general information about the courses and guided trips that I offer. However, don’t hesitate to contact me for more specific information about any of the courses or trips you see – or if you need a bespoke itinerary. I can answer any questions you may have and share more detailed information such as advice about prior experience, equipment and clothing, or how challenging a course or trip will be.
Why Travel with Mountain Environment?
This is a good question as there are many providers of outdoor activities and holidays. However, in my opinion there are several good reasons to choose Mountain Environment. I focus on a personal and tailor-made experience were every moment of the trip or course counts – from shopping in a local village, to making a packed lunch, through the days’ activities, to relaxing in the evening, to s good night’s sleep – all elements form part of the holiday. Of course your safety is of utmost importance and clients can rely on good judgement backed by a lot of experience and knowledge of the areas we travel in. Finally, if you enquire with questions or have any wishes, then it is me you write to or talk to first hand and it is me that will be guiding you on the trip or leading a course.
Trips & Courses in Small Groups
All activities are only offered for small groups so that we can enjoy a location at it’s best. This means a maximum of eight clients for mountain walking, trekking and snowshoeing, up to six on photography masterclasses with two instructors, and down to a maximum of three clients for skills courses and specialized activities. Occasionally, if a group has a larger size which may be the case for tailor-made trips, then an additional qualified leader will assist me.
Accommodation
From a nice hotel room to a rustic log cabin, to sleeping under canvas or under an open sky, there are many possibilities. Accommodation on your trip or course depends on my experience and choice, often combined with your wishes, together with what is practicably available at the destination. In cases where activities are based from a single location, then the quality of accommodation can be chosen to suit the wishes of the group. In all cases, the accommodation is clearly specified beforehand and is typically hotels, AirB&B, bed and breakfast, log cabins, mountains refuges or camping.
Above, a group on a glacier skills course on Bøverbreen in Jotunheimen with Hurrungane behind.
Food & Hygiene
For western trips, most of our food needs are often met with self catering and it is part of the experience for the clients to join in with meal preparation, be it in a self-service cabin with a modern kitchen or over a gas stove by the tents. We will also visit cafés, pubs and restaurants for local cuisine and therefore it is easy to satisfy our nutritional requirements and meet a high standard of hygiene. For trips in developing countries, food will be bought at respectable lodges or prepared by an experienced cook team who accompany us on the trek. Clients will always be informed about good hygiene practice. You will need to make any food allergies or dietary requirements known.
A Pre-planned Trip or Tailor Made Itinerary?
I regularly update the website with upcoming trips and courses were the destination, skill level and itinerary is for the most part determined beforehand. At the end of the day however, the actual content will always reflect the abilities and experience of the clients. If you, alone, or with a group of friends or colleagues have other destinations and objectives in mind, or would like a unique holiday planned for you, then don’t hesitate to get in touch. I specialise particularly in Europe, Scandinavia, Greenland, Iceland and the Arctic, but have experience from around the world.
Travel Insurance
Personal travel and accident insurance is mandatory on all trips and courses. Your policy must cover the activities and the altitude to which we will be travelling together with lost baggage cover and rescue and repatriation cover. It is necessary for clients to submit their insurance details before travel including company name, policy number and emergency contact telephone number. I can be of assistance in recommending suitable insurance cover.
Pricing
Mountain Environment is a small company that is run without undue costs and overheads and therefore the guided trips and courses are very reasonably priced when the destinations and standard of the accommodation, the food and the services of an experienced guide on hand throughout the trip or course are considered. Many of the trips offered are all- inclusive and full board. This means that from a certain meeting point, all expenses are covered including, for example, in-course travel, accommodation, meals and non-alcoholic beverages and cable car tickets. Furthermore, I allow clients to buy airline tickets themselves so it is possible to shop around for the most convenient airport, flight times and reasonable fare or most appropriate fare. This is also because clients often come from various home towns and countries and because many destinations appeal to visitors to come early or stay on for sightseeing in the place of arrival or departure. Also, I do not make last minute price reductions, so there is no reason not to book early and secure a place.
Above, on a moraine ridge looking out over the Kviárjökull glacier with the summit of Hvannadalshnukur in Iceland.
Environmental Impact
Many of the areas we travel in are fragile with endemic species of flora and fauna and it is imperative that these natural environments be protected for the future. It is my policy to protect the environment and try not even to leave footprints, to support local initiatives and businesses, especially in remote areas, and give back a little more than we take away. In most Arctic areas, such as on Svalbard, there is strict local legislation that we naturally adhere to and respect. Clients will get to experience and learn about the current impacts of climate change in the mountain areas we visit. I also strive to use public transport where possible and lower climate-impact foods.
CircumTrek
The thought of circumnavigating the world has been of interest for explorers for hundreds of years and a maritime circumnavigation was completed in 1522 by Elcano. Circumnavigating islands by various means including kayak is nowadays popular. By introducing the name CircumTrek, I intend to market treks where the goal is to circumnavigate mountains or mountain regions and thus travelling with clients though some of the most magnificent mountain scenery the world has to offer, while never retracing one steps, and returning to where we started. Often other ‘circuits’ are never actually full-circle routes. However, some very popular circular routes do already exist such as The Tour of Mont Blanc. Nowadays, I completely avoid the honey-pot routes such as the TMB but instead introduce clients to new and interesting circular treks away from the crowds and hopefully routes that have never been completed before. I currently have a number of circular treks in Scandinavia, on Iceland and routes around majors peaks through some of the most impressive scenery in the world.
Consultancy
With considerable experience in the mountains and with climbing activities, I am happy to make my knowledge available in order to aid your project or event. A consultant roll can be from a combination of telephone or Zoom meetings, via e-mail and meetings in the flesh. However, consultancy is often hands-on in the field. Get in touch for more information. The areas in which I consult can be summarised as follows:
Inspirational and technical advice when designing indoor climbing facilities
Instructional material for climbing courses and training of new instructors
Buying outdoor and climbing equipment and advice on maintenance and when to retire it
Translation of technical mountaineering material (English to Danish and visa versa)
Expedition journey planning and equipment requirements
Medical issues with altitude and acclimatisation planning
Mountain access and safety for photography and film
Training and coaching of potential leaders
Mountain travel safety including arctic travel
Mountain Safety for Schools & Expeditions
With full time teaching experience of 13-16 years olds’, I am happy to get involved in your coming school expedition or trip into the mountains or remote destination to ensure member safety and a successful time had for all participants. Ideally, my involvement should be from an early planning stage, but it is never too late to get professional advice when a mountain trip or expedition involves young people.
Above, on the summit of Galdhøpiggen in Norway, the highest peak in Scandinavia.
How Demanding are the Courses & Trips?
I use the following scale to illustrate how much effort a trip or course requires. The higher up the scale, the more demanding the trip or course will be.
Accessible
This level is suitable for people with little or no previous experience but have reasonable health and fitness. The trips or courses are over straight-forward terrain, such as good paths, at low altitude and are of a nature that allows for relaxation because of shorter days or lower intensity. We do not carry a heavy rucksack. Indoor courses will be in this category.
Moderate
This level is suitable for people with some previous experience and who are in good health and have reasonable fitness. The trips or courses cover straight-forward to moderate terrain though with some rough passages at low or medium altitude but were issues of altitude are not a problem.
Demanding
This level is suitable for people with previous experience and who are in good health and have good fitness suitable for consecutive long days on the hill and in poor weather should conditions dictate this. The trips or courses are often over rough terrain over many hours and can be at low to middle altitude (approximately 1000-3500m) were issues of altitude may become apparent at the higher refuges and summits.
Strenuous
This level is suitable for people with previous experience and who are in good health and are fit and can handle consecutive long days on the hill and in poor weather, and/or for extended periods of primitive travel such as camping. The trips cover rough terrain and can be at middle to high altitude (approximately 2000-7000m) were issues of altitude are expected and acclimatisation is an integral part of the itinerary when necessary. On many of these trips the psychology of a lengthy duration of the trip and travel in primitive conditions is also an aspect for clients to be prepared for and become accustomed.
Above, Northern Lights, Orion and The Pleiades from near Qasigiannguit in Greenland.