Three years ago, I had never even heard of Kebnekaise.
After moving to Sweden, I hiked in Lapland and remember looking towards Sweden’s highest mountain thinking:
”One day, I’d love to stand on that summit.”
This August, thanks to the Topo Adventure Scholarship, that dream is finally becoming reality.
But the truth is… I’m not really training for Kebnekaise.
I’m training for life.
I want to stay healthy, strong and curious enough to keep exploring mountains for decades to come. I want to be the person who can still carry a backpack, climb a mountain and discover new places when I’m old.
Kebnekaise is simply one milestone along that journey.
I’m not an athlete
I’m 45.
I’m slow.
I’m an introvert who genuinely enjoys spending a day on the couch.
But I’ve learned that you don’t need to be naturally athletic to achieve big goals.
You just need consistency.
For me, challenges create momentum. They give me a reason to keep moving, even on the days when motivation is nowhere to be found.
Every new goal pushes me a little further outside my comfort zone and reminds me that I’m capable of more than I thought.
Building a training routine
To prepare for Kebnekaise, I wanted to become stronger rather than simply fitter.
I created a weekly plan that included hiking, strength training, uphill sessions and running. Looking back, it was probably more ambitious than necessary, but it helped me build good habits.
Not every week went according to plan.
Some weeks were great.
Other weeks life got in the way.
Work, holidays, family, tiredness…
Eventually I simplified everything and returned to the habit that has helped me the most over the years: walking.
Because consistency beats perfection every time.
Hiking became my foundation
For years I’ve gone for evening walks to reduce stress and anxiety.
Five years ago I turned those walks into a personal challenge.
Every kilometre I walk moves me along a famous hiking trail somewhere in the world. Right now I’m ”walking” New Zealand’s Te Araroa, a 3,177 km trail.
It’s a simple idea, but it keeps me moving almost every day.
To prepare for Kebnekaise I also added longer hikes with increasing backpack weight, different terrain and every kind of weather imaginable—from snowy winter days to the hottest days of summer.
Learning to love uphill
Living in Stockholm means there aren’t many mountains nearby.
So Hammarbybacken became my mountain.
Week after week I climbed it carrying an increasingly heavy backpack.
The biggest test came during Topo Hiking Club’s ”Keb at Hammarbybacken” challenge.
The goal?
Climb the hill 25 times – the equivalent elevation gain of Kebnekaise.
Last year I managed 16 laps.
This year I wanted all 25.
It was hard.
At times my body wanted to stop.
But thanks to the encouragement from the guides and everyone taking part, I kept going.
Twenty-five laps later, Kebnekaise suddenly felt much more achievable.
Strength matters
Once a week I joined CrossFit.
Not to become stronger for the gym, but to become stronger for the mountains.
Legs.
Core.
Back.
Shoulders.
Everything you use when carrying a backpack for long days.
There were plenty of squats, lunges and heavy lifts that made me question my life choices.
But little by little I noticed the difference.
The unexpected challenge
One thing I never expected was to run a half marathon.
I’m definitely a hiker – not a runner.
But one challenge led to another.
Following a run-walk program for several months completely transformed my cardio fitness.
The training wasn’t always enjoyable.
Winter runs in darkness and below freezing temperatures tested my motivation more than my fitness.
Crossing the finish line after 21 kilometres wasn’t just a running achievement.
It proved that consistency really works.
Am I ready?
Honestly?
I don’t know.
The last month hasn’t gone exactly according to plan.
I’ve done fewer training sessions than I hoped.
But I’ve also learned something important.
Months and years of regular movement don’t disappear after a few quieter weeks.
I trust my preparation.
I trust my body.
And most of all, I trust my determination.
Whether I reach the summit or not, this journey has already been worth it.
Because it was never really about Kebnekaise.
It was about becoming the kind of person who keeps saying yes to new adventures.
And that journey has only just begun.
/ Stephanie @Labelettequivoyage
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