On our “Ansättenfjäll Tour,” each guest rides exclusively with 10–12 huskies to ascend high into the mountains with them. From our Taikuri Farm in the picturesque mountain village of Bakvattnet, we drive through the deep-snow-covered spruce forest for just a few kilometers to reach the breathtaking Ansättenfjäll. At the very first bend in the road, we can see Lake Stor Bakvattnet lying far below us. Our trail continues to lead us upward, past gnarled, old, stunted birch trees, until we pass above the tree line and reach the vast plateau of Ansättenfjäll.
When visibility is good, from here we can see far into the Norwegian mountains, while Ansätten rises majestically right in front of us.
On different days, the fjäll reveals a wide variety of facets to us. Sometimes, birch and spruce trees bend under the weight of heavy snow, forming quirky sculptures; at other times, everything appears coated in a frost-like icing; and on yet other days, it’s windy, and the fine snow sweeping across the snowpack gives you the feeling of being in a completely otherworldly setting – no two tours are alike. On the way back from our approximately 15–20-kilometer (9–12-mile) tour, as we descend through the winter forest to Stor Bakvattnet, we are amazed by a completely new perspective: the imposing Ansätten rises far above the village, making it hard to believe that we had just passed by its base. Back at the Taikuri Farm, the first thing the dogs get is a well-deserved snack, and they are sent off to their runs with plenty of petting, before we enjoy a Swedish fika by the fire, with coffee/tea and pastries.