From idea to reality – how I ended up on a dog sled above the Arctic Circle. Stories from my 2018 journey.
I never thought I’d end up here. Standing in the middle of a frozen landscape with a sled full of gear, surrounded by barking huskies and snow stretching to the horizon with the northern lights dancing above my head. But that’s exactly where Fjällräven Polar took me. This blog post is all about what it took to get there. The application, the prep, the nerves, and the crazy mix of excitement and fear before setting off into the Arctic.
As the new cohort are about to leave on their Polar expedition I thought it was time to remember and reconnect with one of the best experiences in my life – The Fjällräven Polar.
The Application Process
It all started with a video application. I poured my heart into a short clip that showcased who I was, an adventure that took me around the world to collect different postcards that all stuck together to show the final Fjallraven Polar route. It showcased my love of adventure, of travel and my creative filmmaking side (as now that is what I do as a job).
Then came the voting stage. Friends, family, and strangers all rallying around to support. I knew this would be hard and I didn’t have enough time to really push voting, so i had all my hopes that I would be chosen by the jury. I waited for weeks with no answer. This was my second attempt at joining this adventure. Something inside of me made me nervous but I knew that I had worked so hard on my mini film. More weeks passed and they announced the participants…I wasn’t one of them. My hopes we dashed so maybe i would start planning again now and try next year.
It wasn’t until a few weeks later when I was in work that an email popped up with a name that was familiar to me. I opened it up and to my surprise it was Fjallraven. They were giving me the chance to join them on the Polar! Yes I got this because someone else had to pull out (thankfully she has made it back on since then!) but they said that it was a hard descision and really appreciated my creativity and effort. I sat there in shock, very quiet. My boss looked over and said “Are you ok Dani?” Ofcourse I was! And the best thing is that my boss was super supportive of me going away (as it was only in 3 weeks!) – Thanks Mandy.
A few weeks later …
Meeting the Team
One of the coolest parts of this whole experience? Being part of a group of people from all over the world. Some had outdoor experience, some didn’t. We were a mix of tech people, filmmakers, influencers (ofcourse!), adventurers – all chosen because we shared something in common: a love for nature and a desire to challenge ourselves. Before meeting we all digitally got to know each other and decided the best thing to do was to meet a few days early before our adventure began. So, I hopped on a plane to Stockholm, Sweden. Honestly this few days I felt like a teenager again. Full of energy, laughs and just enjoying getting to know people and connect with people from all over the world. And it was so lovely because everyone brought gifts from around the world to share with each other.
Gearing Up
Finally it was time for all of us to get on a plane to Northern Sweden (Kiruna the Sami Capital) and start the adventure. Mega respect to the Fjallraven team who organised all of the logistics because getting so many people in one place from across the globe take some skill.
The day we all felt was like Christmas – getting the gear! As we all patiently waited outside, the door opened and the buzz of energy was something I haven’t felt since. It was pure joy, excitement, happiness. As we all walk in each person has their own area setup, greeted by the beautiful blues and oranges of the clothing. And there I see it, my Fjällräven jacket with my name and my countries flag – a moment that i will forever be proud and grateful for. I will keep that jacket forever and i hope to pass it down to future generations.
Fjällräven, Hanwag and Hestra provided all the Arctic-grade gear we needed: jackets, boots, base layers, gloves – the works. But this wasn’t just a free clothing haul. We were taught how to layer properly, how to care for ourselves in sub-zero temperatures, and what it actually takes to survive (and thrive) in the wild. This was such an exciting moment for all of us.
As you can see from our very happy faces, this was a great day (Man I feel so old now when I look back at these beautiful memories)
We we welcomed with open arms and settled into our accommodation for a good nights rest because the next day was going to be intense. As I lay in bed the buzz of excitement started to wear off and the nerves kicked in. Would I freeze? Would I hold up physically? Would I connect with the dogs? But also – how incredible was this going to be?
What I didn’t know then was that nothing – no video, no gear list, no training could really prepare me for what was coming.
Nomadic dani 
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