Joakim Vatnaland, 29 years old, born and raised in Bergen. Ever since he was 14 years old and participated in his first DNT-trip, nature has been a big part of his upbringing and life. In high school he studied one year in Alaska, which gave a whole new meaning to the word Wilderness. He was also introduced to canoeing and backcountry skiing. In recent years his trips have been everything from hiking in the mountains around Bergen, to going on longer trips both in Norway and abroad.

What is your best outdoor memory - we ask? “After years of traveling to places like Alaska, Canada, Japan, Nepal and most of Europe, I have started to appreciate more and more the nature I got here at home. One of the trips that stays strongest with me is when a good group of friends went to Hjørundfjorden to go on a week long trip. After hiking on Kolåstinden and Slogen in beautiful autumn weather, the trip was interrupted by some really bad weather.

When we reached the summit after 5 hours and 1800 meters of climbing, the clouds cleared and revealed the most beautiful starry night I have ever seen. As we watched the sky snugged in our down jackets and blankets, the northern light also appeared brightly. The next day when we got up, there was a thick fog far down in the valley, giving the impression that we were above the clouds, making the walk down again memorable in itself.”