Anne Moen
Where in the world are you?
In the mountains in Tromsø
How would you describe yourself?
I’m a team player like no other, I hate to lose and demand a lot from myself. This is probably rooted in the fact I am a former athlete and played handball for 23 years (holy shit, that’s a long time!). On a trip, I like to think I am inclusive and want everyone to have a good experience, but as soon as I am alone, the competitive instinct kicks in and it’s all about going the fastest and farthest. Otherwise I like to think I have good humour and mood.
However, there is a good description of how my mood can be when I get tired… (https://www.instagram.com/p/CI8QRLFp1rP/).
How would your friends describe you?
Written by someone who has known me for many years and who I consider my best friend;
‘Anne is one of the most stubborn people I know, and always has plans to cross some plain or climb some mountain.
She likes new challenges but can get tempermental if she doesn’t get it right on the first attempt. She expects a lot from herself and is fearless. At the same time, she knows when it is unwise to continue.
In addition to this, she has a lot of humour and a good mood. She is smart and very reflective. It is often Anne I call when I have something on my mind or am in a tight spot where I need help and advice.’
Who is your role model?
I have many role models, amongst them are Lars Monsen, Børge Ousland, Helge Ingstad and Cecilie Skog.
Your soundtrack?
Many of us probably say a song from Vassendgutane or Alan Jackson, but I think I would say Savage Daughter describes me well.
What activities do you enjoy?
When it comes to outdoor life, I like to do something different, but if I had to name what I do the most it would be summiting mountains (on skis and on foot), mountain skiing expeditions and hunting/fishing.
Summer or winter?
Yes please to both!
Where can we find you right now?
In a 12-man tent, together with 8 others on Fritjofbreen on Svalbard. We are skiing and filming here.
Where do you wish you were right now?
There are many places I wish I could be: Jan Mayen, The Himalayas, Pakistan, Argentina, the Arctic, Antartica, Alaska, and Greenland.
What are your best qualities on a trip...?
The best characteristics I would say is my endurance and stamina, especially on trips I think I am familiar with, such as longer ski trips with sleds.
...and the worst?
I can quickly get irritated when I don’t feel I’m making forward progress, such as walking on steep terrain. An area I’m working on is dealing with constructive criticism; especially comments on, for example, how I traverse with backcountry skis or whether the pace could be more even.
Are there any trips you remember fondly?
Yes, I do. Several actually. I really like to remember the first trips the northern Norway where I got to experience really steep mountains for the first time. It gave me a taste and made me gradually move northwards. I also remember the long trips on Hardangervidda, with a tent and preferably a dog, completely alone.
Do you have a favourite destination?
It must probably be Hardangervidda and Svalbard/Jan Mayen. I like to refer to Hardangervidda as my expanse. I have taken many trips there and enjoy the fact you have more mountainous areas in the west and wide-open landscapes in the east. It is mostly good fishing and it’s fantastic to experience how the
weather can change from extremely good to absolutely terrible in a very short time. Svalbard, where I am at the time of writing, is actually the first time I have visited and it has exceeded all expectations. l am looking forward to exploring the area more and experiencing the island(s) at other times of the
year. I visited Jan Mayen in 2019 and dream every day of going back to climb Beerenberg.
Do you have a funny story from a trip, or are they mostly pain-free?
Haha. It isn’t always painless, no. I remember camping in Lofoten alone with my former Alaskan Malamute, Manfred. It was really nice when I was lying down: midnight sun, guitar playing and light food. I went to bed relatively late, but when I woke up I had a nightmare!
Because of the nice weather the day before, I didn’t bother to put the outer fabric on the tent – therefore the tent walls were mesh where you can see outside. It’s great to have such a tent when you are in nice surroundings, but not when the tent is surrounded by, without exaggeration, 300 goats.
Those who are familiar with polar dogs know they are fond of sheep and other animals in general. Before I could think a single thought, Manfred rushed against the wall of the tent. Fur and down feathers were flying around the tent, and the tent wall got a huge tear, and thus commenced the wrestling match with the dog!
Fortunately, I caught the dog before he made it out of the tent and was able to throw him in the car. The distance from the tent to the car was probably no more than 50-100m but it felt a lot longer when I tried to get a very eager male dog of 45kg past the 300 goats surrounding us. I tried to shush them away, but they stood there and looked at me stupidly.
Finally, I made my way through the crowd, while carrying Manny who wriggled like a fish. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as quiet as I thought. An acquaintance, who is probably my roommate now, was in a tent a few hundred metres away and heard a lot of screaming. He stuck his head out of the tent and suddenly 300 goats trotted by. A very special moment I will always remember.
Have you ever been afraid on a trip? What did you learn from it?
Yes, I’ve had a few moments that have been scary, especially since I’ve gone on so many trips alone. I was on a trip at the beginning of March where I had walked for too long and was very tired when I set up camp. I sat down for a bit first because I finally had phone coverage after a few days without it and updated everyone at home that things were great and everything was fine.
It didn’t take long before the weather changed completely. It went from a cold, starry evening with no wind, to a wind the likes of which I have never experienced. It was an arduous struggle to pitch the tent, but I couldn’t do it. I felt I had done everything by the book, but nothing worked. The powerlessness one felt in that situation was very overwhelming and I noticed I became more and more negative. That day I had skied 40km. It’s a long way with a heavy sled and I had a hard time taking breaks to replenish my energy. This, in addition to a wind I had never experienced before, was an extremely bad combination and something I learned a great deal from.
When you are alone, you have more responsibility. A responsibility for setting up camp, a responsibility for taking the dog with you and a responsibility for replenishing energy. You have to stop when the game is good and not when it starts to ebb.
How important is gallow humour for you?
It’s important! Especially when the situation is serious. It helps to lighten the mood and usually things go well in the end.
Who is the boss? You or nature?
Definitely nature. It’s important to be humble and respect nature.
What is best about being out in nature?
The silence, the mastery and the beauty of nature. I may be a bit of an introvert but going on a walk alone without others so you can only hear your own steps. Or sit down and just listen to the wind or watch the stream flowing. I don't think there is a better feeling. Or maybe… The feeling of mastery is quite good and as a former athlete, it is a feeling I strive to bring into my everyday life. Setting a goal and achieving it. It not only makes you feel good inside, but it also gives you self-confidence. Something that is particularly important for your own mental health.
For me, nature is a free space where I recharge my batteries. Whether it's getting more energy for schoolwork, work or generally interacting with others.
Do you think about the environment when you're in nature?
Yes. I think it is important to leave the area as you came to it and if you see something that does not belong there, to the best of your ability, take it with you. In the last two years, this has also been very much in focus, and that's pretty much what I've been doing all these years.
What's your motto?
I like Harald Rønneberg’s motto: It’s limited how bad it can be. I feel it hits a lot of scenarios.
What are your ambitions for the coming years?
Now it is a bit uncertain how much time I will get in the mountains. I have to undergo a shoulder operation in the next few weeks, which means that activity will be limited. However, I hope that training will go quickly and that I will be ready for winter again. If that's the case, I'm aiming high. Without revealing too much.
We have to ask: why did you choose ALFA?
I don't have much experience with ALFA's products personally, but I have worked for many years in a sports shop and hear many
people brag about the product. I look forward to testing the product a lot during the coming year.
Mountain shoes are something I wear almost every day. It should be mentioned that I have used the Drift Advanced shoes (light jogging shoes with Gore-Tex) a lot. Not just in the mountains, but also when clearing forests. Very durable and comfortable shoes, which I still use, 4 years after they were bought.
What is your favourite ALFA shoe?
So far, of the ones I’ve tested, I have to say Walk Queen or Drift Advance.
