On our “Ansättenfjäll Tour,” each guest exclusively rides with 10–12 huskies to go up into the mountains with them. From our Taikuri Farm in the picturesque mountain village of Bakvattnet, we drive through the spruce forest, blanketed in deep snow, for just a few kilometres to reach the breathtaking Ansättenfjäll. As early as the first bend in the trail, we can see Lake Stor Bakvattnet lying far below us. Our path takes us further up, past gnarled, old, stunted birches, until we reach the wide plateau of the Ansättenfjäll, beyond the tree line.
When visibility is good, we can see from here far into the Norwegian mountains, while the Ansätten rises majestically right in front of us.
The fell shows us different faces on different days. Sometimes, birches and spruces bend under the heavy weight of snow, forming idiosyncratic sculptures; sometimes, everything seems to be covered with hoarfrost like icing; and on other days, it is windy, and the fine snow sweeping across the snowpack gives you the feeling of being in a completely unreal world—no two tours are the same. On the way back from our tour, which is about 15–20 km long, down through the winter forest to Stor Bakvattnet, we are amazed by a completely new perspective: an imposing Ansätten towers far above the village. It is hard to believe that we had just travelled along its foot. Back at Taikuri Farm, the dogs are the first to get a well-deserved snack and are sent off to their runs with plenty of petting before we enjoy a Swedish fika with coffee/tea and pastries by the fire.