This boy can move mountains

In July, Matthew, Steen and Steen's dad spent a "guy week" way up north.

I mean way up north. As in north where you could see the Northern Lights -- if it were dark.

But it wasn't dark. Because it's the land of the midnight sun. As in sun 24-hours a day. While they were there, at least.

This is far enough north for one to run into Sami reindeer herders and a herd of reindeer. I'm not kidding!

These men decided they wanted to spend their "guy week" trekking in the mountains of northern Sweden, as in "in the middle of nowhere". They flew to Kiruna...

...took an hour-long bus ride, got of the bus, and then had to walk 19 km, with their backpacks, to the mountain station where they stayed for the five days.

19 km.

On day 1.

Can you see why I didn't go on this trip?

While they were there, they spent their days hiking, talking, sleeping well, and generally enjoying the time together.

And on one day, Matthew and Steen decided to climb up Sweden's highest mountain. It's called Kebnekaise. The mountain is 2,104 meters high. It is covered with snow year-round at the top. It's a 12-km trip to the top (which requires the hiker to cover 12 km on his way back down, of course).

24 km in one day.

And my 11-year old climbed it. Here he is, standing just below the peak he has triumphed over. Doesn't he look terrific standing there with his dad?

On the way back, the men decided to take a helicopter. Here's the co-pilot.