SHE WILL CLIMB THE HIGHEST PEAKS

Emma Svensson is the fashion photographer who has an impressive number of climbed mountain peaks around the world on her track record. She inspires many with her rather new-found love for high altitudes, open spaces and great challenges. This year she welcomes a new adventure - 82 alpine peaks.

"We're going to climb all the mountains in the Alps that are higher than 4000 meters. After the project was delayed due to the pandemic, it's finally time."

Emma does not set a deadline for this extensive project. She will give it time.

"To do this as safely as possible, we need the right conditions and the weather cannot be planned. The temperature has been higher than normal in recent years, which makes climbing down more risky. The season for mountain climbing is only a few months long. A realistic plan is to climb all 82 peaks over three years. We want to have time to enjoy it too."

IMPORTANT PREPARATION

When Emma talks about mountain climbing, she describes magnificent experiences. Not only physically but also mentally.

"I'm extremely focused when I climb, which is so far from my mental state in the big city. I grow as a person when I climb. I love it. And as a photographer, I can't complain about the view."

Emma believes that many people miss what is required during the descent when preparing physically for big rock climbing adventures.

"We usually focus on being well prepared for the uphill challenge. But we also need to train the muscles we use when going down the mountain. Using poles helps. Poles are good tools for keeping our balance on technical trails, or if we need to wade across a water course, or if the ground is rocky. I always use poles, both when I'm hiking or when I'm going to climb mountains."

She spends a lot of time in her van but also in her apartment in Stockholm. Stockholm is at the same level as the sea, but despite that she finds conditions for good training with a lot of altitude in Hammarbybacken and on the treadmill. Low-intensity cardio, running, skiing, cycling, strength training and a bit of climbing are Emma's recipes for preparing for high-altitude adventures.

"Out on the mountain, the days can be 10-12 hours long, so my training sessions also need to be long."

Emma has a big adventure ahead of her and in addition to the training preparations, she also brings with her a lot of experience from previous expeditions.

"I climbed Ama Dablam in Nepal when I was just a beginner a few years ago. It made a big impression on me. The fact that I was a beginner then makes me extra proud now."

HERE ARE EMMA'S 3 BEST TIPS:

1. Plan your adventure in the calendar, then you have a real goal to train for! I always have my next adventure planned, it helps me stay motivated in my training.

2. Make sure you have the right knowledge for your own safety. There are courses in climbing in an alpine environment, so sign up today!

3. Remember what I said about working out the muscles for all the hours on the way down from the mountain top. Allow yourself enough time for training and preparation.