Ambassador Field Notes: An Archipelago Adventure With Henry & Wally
Ruffwear Ambassadors Frida and Leo are outdoor enthusiasts and love to take their dogs Henry and Wally with them everywhere they go. A new adventure is always around the corner. Whether it’s traveling around Europe in their Land Rover Defender, a long misty hike at home, or camping in the middle of nowhere, they’re always looking for somewhere a little wilder.
A dog’s sense of smell is between 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than a human’s — but what about their sense of adventure? Our two Cocker-Spaniels, Henry and Wally, come with us on all of our adventures, and all it takes is us mentioning the word “hike” and the tails are wagging faster than ever. Once they see us packing our bags and grabbing their packs and camp-bowls, they’re raring to go and can’t wait to hit the trails.
We’ve been lucky enough to hike with Henry and Wally across the Alps, the Scottish Highlands, and the Pyrenees, and our latest trip to Norway meant we’d have the chance to add another incredible place to the list of destinations stamped on the dog’s passports.
Packing & Preparation
We didn’t have a set itinerary planned for our trip to Lofoten, other than to go hiking and camp out under the midnight sun. We’d been running regularly with the dogs before the trip in the hills and Munros around our home in Scotland, so we knew they’d have more than enough stamina for multiple hiking trips up and over the mountains and down to the sea. This meant all we had to do was pick out a spot on the map and find the trail to get there.
As usual, we carry the tent, cooker, sleeping bags, beds, food for ourselves, and Henry and Wally carry their dinner in their packs. We knew the trails would have some scrambling sections, so opted for the Switchbak™ Harness with pockets so that we could use the handle on the back to give the boys an extra hand up taller obstacles. Despite it being the height of summer, Norway’s blessed by plenty of rainwater and streams, which means it’s easy to fill up our bottles and their Trail Runner™ Soft Flasks while on the trails. With the pouches topped up and stored in their packs, Henry and Wally’s total pack weight was still well under the recommended guideline of ¼ of their bodyweight.
Exploring Lofoten
Rather than find ourselves following the crowds on some of the more popular trails in Lofoten, we decided to explore some of the other peaks and beaches that are often overlooked, despite the incredible views you find around every corner. Without a doubt, our favourite hike was to Horseid Beach, hidden away between almost-vertical cliffs sticking straight out of the sea. We had the choice of two routes, the shorter route, which involved a ferry trip through the fjord, and the other option, which was double the distance and included several hundred metres of elevation gain before descending down to the beach. We knew the boys would be up for it, so we chose the longer route and we’re so glad we did.
Instead of just spending one night, we decided to pack for two nights so we’d have the opportunity to spend a day dedicated to nothing other than reading in the sunshine, and the boys could tire themselves out digging holes in the sand and swimming in the sea. This meant our bags would be a bit heavier than the previous hikes we’d done on the Lofoten Islands. As this area is part of the Lofotodden National Park, the dogs had to be kept on leads. This wasn’t an issue, as we brought along our Hitch Hiker™ leads, which would let us keep the dogs connected to us and make sure we had enough length to scramble up and down the steeper section without getting in each other’s way.
As usual, we also brought along the BackTrak™ Evacuation Kit, though thankfully it stayed packed away in the bottom of our packs. It’s the kind of kit we always have with us for those just-in-case moments, but luckily have never needed to use. Before we’d left for the trip to Norway, Henry had caught a nail in a staircase and had a slight limp for a few days. We’d eased off the walks and he was back to his usual self quickly, but when we’re out hiking in remote areas, having the BackTrak™ with us gives us the extra confidence and reassurance that if one of the dogs did get injured, we’d be able to get them back to the car as safely as possible.
After three days on the trails and the beach, we got back to the car and the boys were ready for their dinner and a well deserved nap on their Mt. EverRest™ Cot. By the next morning, they were full of energy and ready for more. Despite our tired legs, we couldn’t say no to their puppy-dog eyes and filled up their packs with some treats and water for the day and grabbed ours, before heading back out on our last hike of the trip.
Sticking with our aim to avoid the crowds, we found a rocky peak that would give us 360 degree views of the Lofoten range, just under the shadow of one of Lofoten’s highest mountains. We scrambled up rocks and jumped over boggy mud, filled our flasks in crystal clear streams and eventually made it to the summit in time for a jaw-dropping sunset and some dinner. We had the peak to ourselves, and as the temperature dropped, the boys were happy to curl up in a blanket and let their eyes rest for a few moments, recharging their batteries for the long walk down.
As we left Lofoten behind in the rear-view mirror, we looked back on some of the peaks we’d climbed, beaches we slept on, and the cold waters we’d swam in. After walking 80 kilometres in just over two weeks, Henry and Wally, our little adventure companions, were there each step of the way and loved every minute of it. Even if they couldn’t say it out loud, the wag in their tails and looks on their faces was enough to tell us they would do it all over again in a heartbeat. We know we have many more adventures waiting for us when we get back home to Scotland.
