The Stockholm Archipelago

In my last update at the start of August, I intimated that I would shortly be attempting to get back into running. Ultimately, that proved successful albeit by building up very slowly on the treadmill. Even then, only to a few miles of consistent running. Still, after over four months, that is wat better than where I have been.

In the same update, I also reported that I did have a trip on the near horizon and that it would be something a little different. If you read my recent post, The not so Great Outdoors , I wrote about my thoughts about what I might turn to as and when my running days are over. The thought process was of course triggered in the main by the long period of injury at that time. However, I ruled out a number of alternative pursuits including cycling and hillwalking. That remains the case, but it is also problematic as I really enjoy the outdoors and physical activity.

I have had an inflatable kayak for a number of years but have rarely used it as it is bulky and cumbersome to carry about. However, I did enjoy it on the occasions when I did use it. To cut a long story short, I took the plunge back in early July and purchased a packraft. I deliberately acquired one that is longer and narrower than most, with a more central seating position. More akin to a kayak really than most packrafts.

I wanted one that would paddle more efficiently, could carry a reasonable amount of gear and that could be used for slow-flowing rivers, lakes/lochs and calmer open water. I have no interest in any of that whitewater nonsense.

Around the same time as I started acquiring the requisite gear, I started to plan this current trip. I needed something that would allow me to do some running, but at lesser distance and more at leisure than my normal running trips. The location I chose was not new as I had considered it previously as a potential fastpacking trip. I ruled it out back then as the logistical elements of the trip would have detracted too much from the running. However, this current trip is a combined packrafting and running trip.

The Stockholm Archipelago is an expansive chain of around 30,000 islands, islets and rocks in the Baltic Sea, extending east from central Stockholm which is itself comprised of a series of connected islands. The archipelago is a favourite summer retreat for many Swedes, some of whom keep holiday homes in the islands or who tour in sailing yachts etc. The Swedish summer holidays end in mid-August, hence the timing of my own trip to follow shortly thereafter. Summer weather conditions are conducive, winds tend to be light, and the Baltic is largely free from currents and tides.

The Stockholm Archipelago Trail is a hiking trail completed in recent years. It winds its way for nearly 300km across the island chain, requiring constant ferry hopping to fully complete.

Essentially, my plan over about eight or nine days would be to packraft around a central section of the archipelago, running several sections of the Archipelago Trail as I go.

This would allow me to build on my return to running without the pressure of longer distances or back-to-back running days to worry about. I would be self-sufficient, camping or bivying each night. The only thing that I could not bring on the plane from the UK would be camping gas but I had a plan for that.

This blog will remain a running blog, but the packrafting aspect on this occasion brings a whole different dimension to the overall trip. Whilst I will try and focus on the running, I will throw in some reporting on the wider trip for context.