Just a few days back, I was gliding across glassy waters under brilliant sunshine on Lake Ånnsjön. Today offered the stark opposite. Yet far from a negative, it felt strangely fitting for this lake, framed by the immense Ottsjöberget and its untamed landscape. Pushing through the wind made for much harder paddling, but the magnificent scenery and moody atmosphere made it entirely worthwhile.

Last night, I woke up with a wave of anxiety about the upcoming race. I started running for the health, the adventure, and the love of nature, but now I was suddenly expected to deliver a performance and see my name on a results list.

Today marked our final day in Åre for this trip. We've completed most of the trails around the area, but one still remained—Hållfjället! So, we packed a picnic, grabbed our gear, and drove out to Ottsjö to explore the final trail on our list.

The autumn break in Åre continues. Today, we hiked the Norra Ridvadsrundan (Trail 262) to Ottsjön. It's a shorter trail that's perfect for this time of year. The path had plenty of boardwalks and was dry and in great condition.