Our ski passes and ski rental are valid for another day, and we could have gotten another good four of five hours of skiing in. But the weather is getting worse rather than better – even windier, even wetter – and it really isn’t looking the least bit tempting, so we’re packing up and driving home instead.

Adrian’s snowboarding technique is improving steadily, and is now actually better than his skiing, I think. He is faster and more stable on the skis, but pretty much just snow ploughs straight down, whereas on a snowboard he gets pretty nice curves in now.

Anyway, he was feeling confident enough that he and Eric also got onto blue slopes. The longest slope here in Stöten, “Mormors störtlopp”, is green and gentle one, and very nice if you want an easy and relaxed ride – as a skier. But the topmost bit is a long, flat, narrow section that is not at all good for snowboarders. Ingrid and I have had plenty of time to explore the pistes, and found a blue run that we thought would fit the snowboarders’ needs as well. So we could all go down together, for the first time this trip. Which was nice – and gave me great photo opportunities.








The weather was no better today than before. Still windy and with low clouds and lousy visibility at the top. Around lunchtime we got some sleet, and while that stopped for a while, it later came back as almost-rain.



One thing we re-learned yesterday is that about 90% of all Swedes head for lunch just after noon. It’s almost like a law of nature. Water flows downhill, fire is hot, lunch is at twelve. Making use of that knowledge, we made sure to be out on the slopes between twelve and half past one, to make the most of the empty slopes and the almost non-existent lift queues. Skiing is best with no other people around.

The weather today was cloudy again, with such high winds and bad visibility at the top that the lifts to the top were shut down in the afternoon. Here’s the staff taking down the fencing around what, in the morning, was the queueing area for one of the two seated lifts.

Like yesterday, Eric and Adrian were snowboarding on the lower, gentler slopes, while Ingrid and I zig-zagged down the blue pistes. Ingrid kindly took some photos of me as well. I was also there.

Here we are, skiing and snowboarding in Stöten.

Adrian went straight to the snowboard option this year and managed it like a pro.

Ingrid wasn’t feeling a 100% so she took an easy day today and stuck to skis – and even went so far as to go down the blue pistes with me, instead of challenging herself on the red and black slopes.

Here’s Adrian gliding past our house in the background (and our car is also among the ones parked in the background). We could probably save money by living further away, but the convenience of being easy walking distance from the slopes is unbeatable. Someone feels tired and wants to go home early? Someone wants to sleep in and join us a bit later? No problem. No driving, no need to manage who’s where when.

Eric and Adrian stayed in the lower, broader, green slopes, while Ingrid and I took the big lift up to the top. This is her:

The weather conditions at the top were pretty bad, with low clouds and a fair bit of wind. At times it was difficult to see where the pistes even started. Aim between the neon orange sticks and assume that the piste will continue without any sudden changes, and hope for the best.


But there were beautiful views as well, and even the occasional moments of blue skies.


All knackered after hours of skiing:

Off for a half-week of skiing in Stöten. Today was mostly a day of driving, and then getting ourselves situated, picking up our skis, etc. I forgot to take a photo, so I’m borrowing this one from tomorrow morning. This is our small apartment in Stöten – a small kitchen/living room combo, and two small bedrooms with bunk beds. It’s OK, for a few days, but with last year’s stay in Kläppen fresh in our memories, this doesn’t really compare. The sofa in particular is uncomfortable no matter how we try to sit in it. But! We’re no more 50 metres from the nearest piste, which is worth quite a bit.


Nysse gets cat-quality tuna as “filler food” when he’s begging for more food even after he’s been served his three measures of kibble for the day, or between meals. If he’s hungry for real, he’ll eat the tuna. If he’s just feeling like having a snack, then he ignores it.

These cans are all of human-quality tuna, though. Ingrid eats them almost daily because it’s an easy and tasty way to get more protein in, for building muscle.


Ingrid will turn 18 this year, so she’s part of the cohort of young people who have to register with the Conscription Agency. There was a whole long online survey for her to fill out, with questions about everything from health and physical fitness to what her grades at school are like. And about her willingness to do military service, which was the hardest question of them all. She kept vacillating back and forth, and finally submitted a number in the middle of the range, I believe. Now there will be two months of waiting to see if she will be called to muster.

Christmas party with the extended Bergheden family.








More snow, and proper cold winter weather.

Ingrid wished and got a baking book for Christmas, about bread and buns and brunch. We’re all about to appreciate the results. She’s making mud cake buns – rolled buns with a mud cake filling.