My name is Edith Danzer – a journalist, outdoor photographer, and adventure addict from Austria’s Pinzgau region. Most of the time, you’ll find me somewhere in the Alps, in a forest, on a mountain, at a lake - or somewhere far up north in Scandinavia. Always by my side: my four-pawed expedition partner Ylvi. She is half Siberian half Alaskan Husky and thinks snow is the best invention since raw meat.
In March 2023, I set out for one of the coldest and most unforgettable adventures of my life – a very special birthday gift to myself as I turned fifty. While others might celebrate such a milestone with champagne and cake, I chose frozen eyelashes, squeaking snow at –35 °C, and the company of my husky Ylvi. For me, nothing felt more fitting than marking half a century on this planet by testing my limits in the vast silence of Swedish Lapland.
Originally, I had signed up for a guided tour on the legendary Kungsleden, so I did not really bother to get too deep into preparation. But when this tour was suddenly cancelled three weeks before the start, I had a choice: back out – or just go. I decided to go.
With little time for preparation, I borrowed what my friends could spare. An old military pulka, a tent that had seen better days, and bits and pieces of outdoor gear thrown together in a hurry became my lifeline. I spent nights studying maps, teaching myself navigation basics, and scrolling through endless YouTube trip reports. Then, without much more than courage, skis, and Ylvi at my side, I took off.
That’s how I found this baby elephant in the Arctic wilderness. It was my overloaded pulka, I nicknamed „my baby elephant“. Every step felt like dragging a stubborn moose across the tundra. It carried my gear, yes, but it also carried the weight of inexperience. Every climb turned into a test of willpower, every descent into a balancing act. And yet – those days shaped me. I returned home exhausted, frozen to the bone, but with a heart full of adventure. I even published a whole magazine about that journey – but trust me, between the pictures of wild landscapes you’ll find quite a lot of sweat and swearing.
After two years of pulka-abstinence, last winter I suddenly felt that irresistible longing again – to return to the wide, wild silence of the North. This time, with a whole year of preparation ahead, I know I can and will do things better. Step one was sending the baby elephant into retirement and, after devouring countless trip reports and reviews, turning to the crown jewel of sleds: Fjellpulken.
Fast forward to today: I feel like I’ve found the Holy Grail of sleds. Enter the Fjellpulken Touring 125. When I first tested it, I had to turn around several times to check if it was still behind me – because suddenly there was no weight. It glided so smoothly that it honestly felt like tailwind was pushing me forward.
That’s when I realized: gear makes a huge difference. A pulka can be a burden – or it can be freedom. And freedom is exactly what I’m chasing on snow, together with Ylvi.
The next chapters of my story will be written with Fjellpulken. And I’m more than excited to share them here. I will head out again in spring 2026 – of course with Ylvi, my little shadow, right by my side. And this time, I’ve got the best follower possible: the Touring 125 pulka from Fjellpulken. Whether the 125 will be big enough for my ambitious plans, or whether I’ll have to upgrade, is still an open question. I’ve decided that this time I might even camp out in the wild instead of relying on huts – and how all this preparation unfolds over the next winter months will be part of the adventure itself.
About the Author:
Edith Danzer is a journalist, outdoor photographer, and storyteller from Zell am See in Austria’s Pinzgau region. Whether on skis, in a kayak, or behind the camera, she is always chasing wild places and authentic moments – usually with her four-pawed companion Ylvi at her side. Her stories have been published in print and online magazines, books, and on stage, where she shares her passion for adventures big and small.
