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Based in Stöllet in the
north of Värmland by
Klarälven Camping.
Offers one-, four- and
seven-day tours on
timber rafts on River
Klarälven.
Also offers canoeing
on rivers, in rapids
or lakes, and many
other activities.
Accommodation close
to nature. Wants to give
their guests unforget-
table experiences and an
outdoor adventure. Very
popular activity among
companies, groups,
schools and associations
who want to experience
challenges and the
outdoors together.
Do it like this, he
says, and automa-
tically does two
loops facing in the
right direction by
crossing his hands
and turning the
rope inside out.
Their instructor is Martin Pattenden from
Vildmark i Värmland.
– Do it like this, he says, and
automatically does two loops facing in the
right direction by crossing his hands and
turning the rope inside out. Now we need
to pull out the right logs. There are going
to be three layers. We’ll start with the
sturdiest logs and finish with the smaller
ones to make the floor.
Then a few hours of lively activity
follow on the beach north of Stöllet by
Klarälven Camping. It is from here and
down to the curve in Björkebo that the
daily log raft tours on the river run; a nine
kilometre stretch which takes roughly four
hours.
The air is filled with expectation.
– For our guests, the raft tour is always
a great adventure, says Martin. River
Klarälven and life along the riverside
always have something unexpected in
store. This area is unique, with the so-
called meandering curves of the river, you
never know what’s behind the next corner.
Exciting.
Martin and Mikael finish the construc-
tion by lashing together a few smaller logs
onto a frame which will be covered with
tarpaulin for shelter. Sometimes it is needed
for shelter from too much sun, other days it
protects against rain and wind. The family
are given a couple of wooden boxes packed
with gear. They have brought lunch and
snacks to last them all day.
River Klarälven moves
at its natural
pace, between two and three kilometres
per hour. The timber raft drifts at the
same pace. Travelling this way is not an
activity with a lot of speed involved, but
that does not mean that everyone can lie
down and rest. Around every corner you
have to make sure that the raft enters
correctly, does not get tangled in the
vegetation by the riverside or gets stuck
on one of the many sandbanks that keep
appearing. To help them, they get a few
paddles and a long pole that can reach
down to the bottom of the river most of
the time.
While Malin keeps an eye on the course
of direction, Arvid has a look at the big
laminated map. His finger moves along
the curves. Ingrid takes the opportunity to
snack on a muffin. Mikael gets the fishing
rod ready. Axel sits in the canoe that they
have brought in tow.
–There are a lot of ways to vary the
activities during the tour by going ashore
and making new discoveries, says Martin
and points towards the woods. We’re
about three kilometres from Brattfallet on
foot. There’s an adventure trail up there.
Vildmark i Värmland
is mostly known for
its raft building and tours on the river, but
the list of activities is a lot more extensive.
Those who visit this part of Värmland get
to experience most of what the outdoors
has to offer with forests, mountains, lakes
and rivers. The business is an example
of ecotourism and meets all the criteria
that the Swedish Ecotourism Society
and Visit Sweden have laid down for the
certification “Nature’s best”.
Just before it is time to finish the tour
on the beach in Björkebo, the children
decide to send a message in a bottle. Said
and done. Mikael finds an empty bottle
and together they write a message to the
unknown receiver who will find it one day.
First there’s building – then
rafting
Vildmark i
Värmland,
Stöllet
Vildmark i Värmland
38 | naturally
