Every summer when I head up to Åre, I try to discover something new. It could be summiting a new peak, exploring new bike trails, or, like this year, bringing my kayak along to paddle the local lakes. I’ve been meaning to bring the kayak up for a long time, and this summer was the perfect opportunity.

It was time for autumn break in Åre. A few days before Vera and I were set to leave, I started seeing ice skating photos from Åre popping up everywhere on social media. Had the ice already formed up there? It certainly seemed like it. And what a day we ended up with!