Here’s a dilemma: It’s a beautiful winter day with sunshine. The full moon will rise in the afternoon. You have big blisters on your feet and can’t wear ski boots. Options: Snowshoe hike up to Funäsdalsberget for 360 degree views of the mountains. Problem: The moonrise isn’t until the afternoon so it will be a long wait on the mountain. And then you’d be hiking down when it’s getting dark, anyway. The second option: Snowshoe hike to Mittåkläppen, then drive to Ånnfjället and with a little luck, get the moon above the mountain for a nice photo. Problem: How long is the hike going to take, and are you sure that the moon will really appear behind the mountain (as opposed to next to it)? What are you going to do?

Drive to Ramundberget. To be honest, I’m not quite sure why I decided on this. I could’ve picked some other hikes, such that I hadn’t already done. But the lure of Skarsfjället and Mittåkläppen in the sunshine was too strong… so I opted for this one. Even if it meant hiking uphill for 2-3 km with blisters on my feet. But the winter boots are big enough to allow space for my feet, so the heels actually weren’t chafing. Only problem is that the extra space meant that my feet were moving inside the boots and I was developing blisters in my toes instead. Unbelievable. Once again, I was determined not to let this stop me, so I hiked on. And I got my mountains and snow and blue skies pictures but to be honest, I think the ones with a little bit of cloud and mist are more exciting. Nevermind.

When I came back to the slope leading to Ramund, I decided to try without the snowshoes. The extra weight was bogging me down and my legs were feeling the strain. But then I discovered to my surprise that it didn’t actually hurt as much walking without the snowshoes than it did with them, even if I’m still wearing the same boots. Go figure. Anyway, that was a pleasant surprise and I was able to rush down the hill in order to make it to Ånnfjället in time – the moon wasn’t going to wait for me.

When I got to the car, it felt like walking on needles. I can’t believe my feet have been hurting for three days now and I’ve been out and about regardless. Persistence or stupidity – or sisu? Pick one. Hmm… I think I just had an epiphany. I think sisu is persistence and stupidity.

I got to Ånnfjället well in time and I had to wait in the freezing cold for a good half an hour, and when I finally saw the moon, it was the worst case scenario – it was rising too far left from the mountain to make any image. I consoled myself by thinking that maybe my Plan A wouldn’t have been much better. Even if I had had a great view from Funäsdalsberget, the moonrise was an hour before sunset so it would’ve been a pale moon, lacking the oomph we normally associate with it. Even now at Ånnfjället, even if it was half an hour after moonrise until the moon was visible, the sky was still very bright.

I made a last effort and drove to the next viewpoint. I got a few shots of the moon, but nowhere near the images I had envisioned when I deliberately booked my holiday to coincide with the full moon. Once again, I had gambled and I had lost. Story of my life…

When I got past Ånnfjället again, I noticed that the mountains were not lit anymore. It has been a cloudless day but would you believe it, at sunset there was a small bank of clouds… in the west.