Where Norrland's youth should wander - 12 tips from 1889

Fredrik Svenonius (1852-1928), a Swedish geologist who was also involved in the formation of Swedish Tourist Association 1885, shared in the STF Yearbook 1889 the following advice on places he thought a young person should have seen of the nature of his home village.

Why start in your home town? Perhaps he had heard the saying that you should start by digging where you stand. "So before you go out into foreign districts, get to know your own," as he writes. Or as the stanza from Kalevala that he highlights:

From time to time, strange discussions flare up in the media and commentary fields about whether we Swedes have any history and culture of our own, or even whether our ethnic group exists at all. I know, I've been drawn into them myself over the years (hint: ignore such nonsense). If Fredrik is to be believed, this was already in the 19th century a characteristic behaviour not only of us as Swedes but also of us as peasants, repenters, Gypsies, Ingots, etc. An unfortunate behaviour, according to Fredrik, which he thought could be remedied by buying hiking boots for the youth and sending them out into the home countryside.

The Swede is often reproached for his weakness in admiring everything foreign, and neglecting his own. This is true even in a narrower sense, in that the home village is referred to in comparison with foreign landscapes. By the above-mentioned principle, this mismatch, which is so detrimental to us, is to be counteracted. The youth or man who begins his studies of the fatherland according to the above-mentioned principle can hardly become a superficial cosmopolitan or an egoist with the language of choice: "Ubi lene ibi patriah" (Wherever I feel good is my fatherland.)

Fredrik Svenonius (1852-1928)

Quite apart from that discussion, I would say that it is never wrong to send youth on a hike!

Fredrik had his heart set on the north, and so here are hiking tips city by city, from Haparanda in the north to Gävle in the south. He considered the first point suitable for a young person in the 4-5th grade, the second point for a high school student and the last point for a young student. However, he makes it clear that young people should only be rewarded with a walking tour if they finish the school term with good grades!

Hiking guide for the people of Norrland

Haparanda

• Up for Torneelf at least to the glorious surroundings of the Swan;
• To Pajala and Vittangi or Muonioniska (magnificent rapids);
• Torneträsk and Ofoten or Kilpisjärvi and Altenfjord.

Luleå

• Edefors and Storbacken (within the Lapland border)
• Harsprånget, possibly also large Lake Valley or Gellivara
• Kvikkjokk and Sulitelmatrakten to Saltenfjord (Saltströmmen!)

Piteå

• Elfsbyn and Fällforsen
• Hornavan (midnight golf mountain Galtispuoda!)
• Hornavaleden and through Junkerdalen, to Saltdalen and Bodö (i).

Skellefteå

• Burträsk, Norsjö, Jörn
• Hornavan (midnight golf mountain Galtispuoda!)
• Hornavaleden and through Junkerdalen, to Saltdalen and Bodö (i).

Umeå

• Fällforsen, Bjurholm, (detour up to Örträsk and Storforsen) (!)
• Öreelfven, Nordmaling in Öreelf and Hörnefors;
• Via Stor-Uman and Tärna to Öfver-Uman and Ranenfjord.

Örnsköldsvik

• Skuluberget, Ullånger and Ulföarne
• Åsele
• Vilhelmina, Kultsjön and Riksgränsen, possibly down to Vefsenfjord.

Härnösand

• Viksjö, Villola, Vestanå, Fjäl and Häggdånger
• Nora, Skog, Nordingrå to Skuluberget
• Sollefteå, Ramsele, Tåsjön, Liden, and Resele (or also: a trip up through the Ströms water valley in Jämtland, where one must not forget the cave area north of Blåsjön.

Sundsvall

• After the track to Ånge
• Indalseifven and the main line to the Sollefteå region
• Sollefteå, Ramsele, Tåsjön, Liden, and Resele (or also: a trip up through the Ströms water valley in Jämtland, where one must not forget the cave area north of Blåsjön.

Hudiksvall

• Dellarne and Blacksås
• Up the Svågaelfven to Hennan and the main line through Helsingland to Bollnäs
• Through Herjedalen to Röras.

Söderhamn

• The area around Bergviken
• Voxna, Hamra, or also Siljan, and up the Dalelfven to Städjan.

Gävle

• Elfkarleby
• Voxna, Hamra, or also Siljan, and up the Dalelfven to Städjan.
• Falun, Siljan, Städjan and Njupaskär waterfall.

Östersund

• Offerdal, Alsen
• Åreskutan or Oviksfjällen
• Either the cave area in Frostviken (north of Lake Blås) or the Karl Johan road to Sticklastad and Levanger, or finally Storlien to Trondhjem.

So you youth who are bursting with life, get out and walk! And remember the words of Fredrik Svenonius:

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