What I Learned On A Trek Through The Swedish Arctic

Last summer I spent five days trekking more than 70 miles through the Swedish Arctic wilderness, participating in the Fjallraven Classic. I slept in a tent. There was no electricity, no cell service, and no indoor plumbing. I carried everything I needed in a 24-pound backpack. Once I started, the only way out (except via emergency helicopter) was through.

Physically, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. (Yes, much harder than a marathon!) But writing about the journey - why I decided to do it and how it changed me - was the hardest thing I’ve done professionally. There’s a side of me I don’t show social media, which I revealed in my latest story for Condé Nast Traveler, which you can read here.