Since it was two years since my previous New Year's tour, I started thinking about a sixth iteration at the onset of winter, and liked the idea more and more as time went by. Since I was to be under no obligations this year, work-related or otherwise, and since the past summer did not pan out as expected/wished for with regard to fjeld visits, I thought I could just as well make the tour a longer one, stopping by all the open cottages in the Vålådalen area over the course of five days. Since I had spent the Eve in Lunndörren three times (2005, 2009, 2013) and in the Vålå cottages two times (2007, 2011) I thought it was Stensdalen's turn, now that the new cottage is fully functional, and my visit there the past summer had convinced me that it would work nicely for large groups.

Last year the celebration was fairly disastrous for those who were out and about at the time since all the snow rained away on the Eve, making return journeys arduous to say the least, so I was glad I stayed at home then and naturally hoped for better conditions this year. Unfortunately, as December went on a reprise seemed all the more likely, with positive temperatures, rain and ice holding sway despite a fairly good start to the winter. Around Yule things turned better again, and I followed reports on conditions in the fjelds closely, finally deciding that the trip looked doable after all.

My packing list was as follows:

Add to that a scant liter of hot water in the thermos, and a half-liter bottle of cold water I carried in the jacket's chest pocket.

At present the bus and train companies are doing their best to jointly sabotage travel to western Jämtland, a process already begun in the summer, which meant that the previously reliable travel routes to Vålådalen were now most unreliable. To wit, on New Year's Eve the morning connection bus from Undersåker to Vålådalen departed as usual, but there was no morning train to match it – and on the preceding days there were morning trains, but no connection bus until late in the afternoon. Insanity! As a consequence, I had to resort to a familial car ride from Östersund to make the trip practical this time, and I sincerely hope that the transporters will come to their senses as quickly as possible.

Here, then, is the full account of what transpired during the subsequent five days. Each section has a header consisting of a short overview of the stage in question, complete with a map showing the route travelled. A ring marks the starting point, a square the lunch break location, and a star the destination. Vertical distances have been calculated from the map and have an accuracy of 10 m. All breakfasts consisted of oatmeal porridge, tea and a sandwich, and all lunches of two cups of instant soup and a sandwich.