Fjällräven Polar returns with an Arctic dogsled adventure

For spring 2012, Fjällräven announced a 330-kilometer adventure north of the Arctic Circle for people without previous experience. Over four days, Fjällräven Polar participants would drive their own dog teams through Arctic wilderness, from Signaldalen on Norway’s Arctic coast to the mountain forests around Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland. Nights would be spent outdoors with the dogs and the possibility of northern lights.

Applications were due to open on Fjällräven’s website on October 11, 2011, with participants selected through social-media voting. The group would be accompanied by Fjällräven product specialist and survival expert Johan Skullman and Kenth Fjellborg, one of Sweden’s most accomplished dogsled drivers.

“With the right equipment and knowledge, more people can experience Arctic environments,” said Fjällräven events manager Andreas Cederlund. “We want to inspire more people to venture out and discover the wilderness. That is also why we organize Fjällräven Classic in summer.”

The earlier Fjällräven Polar had run for ten years until 2006. Its April 2012 return would again give ordinary people a chance to experience a major winter adventure in one of Europe’s most distinctive environments. Teams of two would drive dogsleds across the far north on a journey of roughly 330 kilometers.

The event was aimed at curious, nature-loving people willing to take on a wilderness challenge in Lapland. Applicants were asked to submit a photograph and text or a film explaining why they should take part. Online voting would determine who reached the April start line. The previous edition had attracted more than 6,000 applications.

Fjällräven Polar 2012

• When: April 2012.
• Where: From Signaldalen in Norway to Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland.
• Applications: Opened in October 2011 at fjallraven.se/polar.