I started with something I have thought about for a long time, [...]]]> The preparations for the Mongolian expedition are closing up! I have spent way more money than I planned, but I think most of it are well spent money – I even plan to earn back some of the money spent on my new business!

I started with something I have thought about for a long time, a new camera set:

Nikon D300, with two zooms (16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, and 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR), battery pack, remote controller, tripod (Velbon Sherpa 630 with a ball head), flash (Speedlight SB-800), UV-filters, polarization filter, and lastly a backup pocket camera (Olympus Mju 1030SW). To this must be added battery chargers, rechargable batteries en masse, solar panel… With the new camera the need for a new computer with larger screen (22″) and a pen tablet (Wacom Intuos3 A4-size) should perhaps not have surprised me, but I didn’t expect it that soon. I do get some angst over buying so much high-tech stuff…

…and I must admit it is much more fun to buy the out door equipment!

My old rucksack, a 110L The North Face Chamelion (everything but their new Chameleon!) that has served me well the last 18 or so years, is too heavy to bring to Mongolia, so I bought a lighter (but less sturdy) Bergans Rondane 85L with a flight bag. I also had to buy a pair of boots (Meindl Island PRO MFS) and (recommended by Manuela) some Smartwool socks. I also bought a sleeping bag, a Western Mountaineering Apache SMF, my first down filled (850+) bag. The rucksack and the sleeping bag was bought at Säck, the boots at Kängspecialisten, and the socks and some other minor stuff like the sunglasses (Julbo Race) and the BUFF (Visor buff Evo 2 Uphill) from Addnature (and no, I’m not sponsored – if you want to sponsor me, please just send me an e-mail and I’m sure we can work something out! :p)

(With a nodd to Manuela, who gave me the idea for this list on her blogg.)

I will join a small French caving expedition to Mongolia, from July 21 to August 19. We will be a team of five persons in [...]]]> I am going to Mongolia! It was with a lot of anxiety that I bought the tickets two days ago, but now I have the tickets! In paper even!

I will join a small French caving expedition to Mongolia, from July 21 to August 19. We will be a team of five persons in total, with diverse interests but the focus on caves. Caves in Mongolia? Well, honestly there are not many known caves there, but the very few earlier caving expeditions there have found some caves up to ca 300m in length, so there is at least some potential. It will be very exiting to take part in some of the first explorations in this nearly unknown land! And who knows, the reason only a few caves are known might be that only very few people have looked for them…!

…Now I will have to live on blodpudding and falukorv for the rest of the month. And I need a new camera…