Gröna Bandet FKT Project 2025

In the spring of 2024, the idea suddenly came up to tackle the Gröna Bandet route in the border region of the Scandinavian Mountains between Sweden and Norway as a trail runner. The plan was to split it over three summers, 450 kilometers each, as the Gröna Bandet committee is currently testing. But things turned out differently…

I took the idea with me on a long run in the forest. But what left the forest was no longer about spicing up three summer vacations in Sweden with 8–10 days of trail running each, but about covering the entire distance in one go and, if possible, breaking the existing record of 21 days, 7 hours, and 33 minutes—set by Swede Simon Österlin La Mont in 2021. He is an exceptional trail runner who fought his way through the wilderness with great skill and is still one of the very few trail runners who have undertaken the reindeer tracks with ultralight gear.

In any case, only a few dozen trekkers attempt the route each year with a backpack and tent, aiming to complete it in about two months while adhering to the rules of the Gröna Bandet. Only a portion of them will ultimately receive the coveted engraved plaque at the STF mountain lodge in Grövelsjön as recognition for this achievement. But everyone takes home something that no one can ever take away: incredible memories! Whether those memories are entirely positive is another matter, because even in summer, anything can happen this far north.

Solo Venture or Gröna Bandet Team Project?

Alone or not alone—that is the big question. To answer it, I first had to assess how high the potential risks of this project were. The answer was quickly clear: very high! Aside from the fact that on this nearly 1,700-kilometer mountain range, the weather in summer can vary from frost and snow to relentless rain and scorching heat, it’s also the countless streams and rivers that pose challenges. Unlike back home, they often don’t have bridges built to any safety standard, and sometimes there are no bridges at all. A tiny stream can quickly become a serious obstacle after rain. I had already experienced this in the 1990s during a solo mountain bike expedition in Iceland.

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What Other Uncertainties Lurk on a Solo Trip?

Animals? Moose and reindeer don’t scare me. Wolves and wolverines exist, as well as bears, but in recent decades, there have hardly been any serious encounters made public.

It’s really the sheer distance that causes headaches. After about three days in the wilderness, what sets in is pure, unfiltered exhaustion under minimal supplies—at worst, compounded by bad weather.

It’s also more fun to share the moments, especially when you train alone almost all year. I don’t mind solo training, but on a hardcore FKT, having company is definitely nicer.

So who fits with me and my mindset, shares the same love for Sweden and adventure, and is an experienced ultra-trail runner? My first thought was probably a Swede with local knowledge. I am a fan of Markus Kjellberg from Gothenburg, who runs and films countless UTMB World Series ultras each year, and who also inspired me to run the Kullamannen 100K. Registration for the 100-mile winter event next year is already open. Thanks, Markus—you inspired and infected me, and I love your films!

So I asked Markus if he would tackle the mountains with me in summer. Markus liked the idea but declined because his year was already fully planned. Three weeks plus travel time, plus training aligned to that schedule, isn’t something you just slot into your season.

So who then? On Facebook, I checked my trail-running contacts, and it immediately became clear who was crazy enough to take on such an event, would likely harmonize with me, and—most importantly—has the fitness to avoid returning completely wrecked: Lord Jens Kramer! The South Tyrolean trail-running icon, known across Italy like a colorful character, “the Running Jesus” of the Marathon des Sables, conqueror of the Everest Trail Race, and multiple-time podium finisher of the Transalpine Run. Athletically beyond my level, but this isn’t about speed—it’s about mindset and consistency. One email and a phone call were enough to ignite Jens’s enthusiasm, exactly what I had hoped for. I couldn’t wish for a better running partner!

Current Status

Route Planning: Planning the route took several weeks. Multiple online services with different map layers were used, along with a lot of information from the Swedish STF and Norwegian DNT, which run most of the mountain huts in the region and can serve as alternatives to tents. Two books from experienced wilderness trekkers and Lapland experts were studied to minimize learning on the go. The effort involved in route and stage planning, and finding the right trails even beyond marked paths, is enormous. I massively underestimated it, but luckily started in summer to avoid as many mistakes as possible.

Sponsors: With the project paper completed—including all information about the Gröna Bandet FKT—during the Christmas week, it’s now time to approach sponsors who are not yet on board. Main items include clothing, tents, electronics (emergency transmitters, smartwatches, power banks, solar panels), stoves, and coaching/training planning.

Fortunately, some fantastic brands are already supporting material and travel costs: Joe Nimble, Klymit, Trek’n Eat, Komperdell, Squeezy Sports Nutrition, and NUTRISCOUTS.

Potential sponsors are welcome to get in touch.

Training: It’s going well—as always. Jens has registered for several races in 2025 and will run the Dynafit Transalpine Run two weeks after the end of the Gröna Bandet FKT. A joint start in a spring/early summer ultra as a test for our project is planned but not yet scheduled. For me, after the Gröna Bandet FKT at the end of October, I’ll head back to Sweden for the Kullamannen by UTMB 100M. If I can carry the summer form into the fall, the first hundred-mile race won’t worry me at all.

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