Photo Stories

Funen: the Circumnavigation by Gustav Thuesen

430km is the distance around the island of Funen - that makes the navel of Denmark.

In the realm of two-wheeled wanderlust, where the heart beats to the rhythm of adventure, there exists an island in the middle of Denmark. It was here, amidst the gravel-strewn paths and enigmatic horizons, that @iversentroels and I embarked on a quest. Our mission: circumnavigate the enigmatic island of Funen, the second largest in Denmark, exploring its rugged terrain following the coastline as close as possible on bike. I wanted to document the trip in still images. One camera body. One 28 mm lens. Immersive simplicity.

Our journey was to span 430 kilometers in three days. We had a desire to unravel the essence of time itself. Abandoning the relentless pursuit of minutes and seconds, to set our own cadence, and let the adventure's whispers guide us.

As we set forth, we were cloaked in the luxury of taking it slow. No longer did the clock's ticking hand weigh heavy on our shoulders. We savored moments with unhurried bites - also at lunch.

Yet, time had a way of dancing to its own tune, orchestrating a narrative far beyond our initial script. The mixed surfaces beneath us beckoned us to chase the elusive horizon. It was on this winding path that our days melded together, and the expected boundaries blurred into the unknown.

In a twist of fate, we found ourselves traversing 250 kilometers, a confluence of what should have been day two and the following day compressed into one relentless 16-hour stretch. It was, by all accounts, a long and arduous day. But the beauty of it all lay in our steadfast commitment to one simple creed: 'No stress.'

In the crucible of this epic journey, we unearthed the true essence of adventure—the ability to traverse the unknown with unwavering composure, to embrace spontaneity, and to let the road, rather than the clock, dictate our fate. Time became an abstract concept, and instead of counting miles we counted views.

As we concluded our circumnavigation of Fun, we had, in a peculiar way, transcended time itself, leaving behind the constraints of a world governed by minutes and hours. In our short journey of only two days, we still had discovered the ultimate treasure—a taste of freedom, unburdened by the clock.

If you want to nerd out more on the route, have a look on the links below:
Day 1: Strava
Day 2: Strava

Cannondale: Finnish Gravel Roads by Gustav Thuesen

Cannondale reached out to me and asked if I wanted to come to Finland to shoot their gravel line-up with focus on the new Supersix Evo SE. EF Education pro rider Jimmy Whelan and Cannondale ambassador Apolline Guillemin was there to ride the bikes. The task was to shoot still images of the bikes in action, shoot a film of the new bike, shoot a film showcasing the difference between the two bikes and a film from the Nordic Gravel Series event taking places. The catch, we only had two half days to shoot in.

Here are a few of the still images (including a few of my non-bike favorites)

Here is the film focusing on the new bike:

Streets of Salzburg by Gustav Thuesen

Salzburg is known for its old beautiful buildings and conservative people but the city has more to offer than that. Here is what caught my camera. The classic and the quirky.

Hiking Gasteinertal, Austria by Gustav Thuesen

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The initial plan was to do an overnight trip where I would sleep in one of the many mountain huts. However, the hut I had planned to visit was fully booked and I had to make the most of the day. That meant staying up high until sunset and then sprint down and (hopefully) catch the last train in the valley.

 
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I spent most of the day just relaxing as I waited for the sun to get lower and bring in the golden light and hopefully shoot some beautiful photos.

 

The sun finally crawled towards the horizon as I reached the highest point of my planned hike. However, I could see that I would not be able to reach the train in the town I had first planned. I looked at my map. I made a quick decision to go down the other side of the mountain and catch the train in the town of Dorfgastein which would save me an hour or so of hiking. I had two hours until the train would depart. The sign said three and a half hour to Dorfgastein. Damn.

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I ran down the mountain in my stiff alpine boots. My feet were aching from being pounded with my body weight from each step.

 
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The light slowly disappeared as I made my way down the mountain. I glanced left as the trees cleared for a moment. I came to a halt although I knew I was behind schedule. I could not let what met my eyes go undocumented.

 
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Then I glanced right towards the sunset. Again I could not pass this opportunity and burned many valuable minutes shooting photos. In my head I could see the train buzzing through mountains towards the station. Almost like a Hollywood action movie where there would be quick cuts between me running and the train speeding through the landscape.

 

I made it down to a gravel road. It said two hours to Dorfgastein. But I only had one hour. It would be near impossible to reach the train. I took out my phone and called my girlfriend who was in the area with a friend. I was a bit embarrassed to explain the situation. The story ended with me getting picked up in pitch black darkness in a small mountain village.

 

Gallery

Untersberg Massif Travers by Gustav Thuesen

Untersberg is a mountain massif that creates a dramatic backdrop to the southwest when strolling through the historic streets of Salzburg. When I first arrived in Salzburg there were two nearby mountains that I immediately knew I had to climb. I can’t live without knowing how it looks like up there. The first one is Gaisberg scaling 1288 masl. which I hiked quickly after arriving in Salzburg on a road trip from Vienna to Salzburg. After being to Salzburg multiple times visiting my girlfriend Untersberg has been looming in the background every time with it’s 1972 masl. peak. Now summer has exchanged winter and the mountain has taken off its white coat. It was time to get up there and satisfy the curiosity. My girlfriend and I made a plan. We did not only want to reach the northern peak called Salzburger Hochthron which is visible from Salzburg - we wanted to continue across the mountain massif and cross into Germany and end in Berchtesgaden effectively traversing the entire Untersberg massif in one day. 25 km and 1700 m elev. gain.

Untersberg looming behind the old city in Salzburg.

Untersberg looming behind the old city in Salzburg.

 
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We took the bus a few kilometers out of the city towards the foot of the massif. When we jumped off the bus this was the view that met us.

 

We started hiking up through the dense jungle like forest in the morning sun which was quickly gaining purchase. It was going to be a hot day.

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It was a steep climb - especially when not having done any mountain hiking since I crossed the Alps last summer. When leaving the dense forest behind the view opened up - and it was spectacular.

 
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The locals advice not to do the hike in bad weather (rain) as the rock becomes slippery and once you get higher there is a bit of exposure - there were a few memorial plaques on that stretch. On average one person die each year on the mountain. Furthermore 40 people are gone missing and never found on the mountain as well - bring equipment so you are prepared for anything and wear proper footwear. I had my Scarpa Ribelle Lite (maybe a little overkill) on and my girlfriend the Salomon Speedcross 5 (maybe a little underkill).

 

After the initial climb the landscape flattened - but the terrain was still very rugged. It was not an easy hike from there.

 

There are three mountain huts along the way where you can get food and drinks at fair prices. Two close to Salzburger Hochthron (northern peak) and one near Berchtesgadener Hochthron (southern peak). Sit down and enjoy the view while enjoying an Apfelschorle (apple juice with sparkling water). It is also possible to stay in the huts overnight.

 

After Berchtesgadener Hochthron it is mostly downhill towards Berchtesgaden. Once you reach Berchtesgaden there are plenty of places to grab a cold beer or radler (beer with lemonade) to celebrate. There is an hourly bus or train service that can take you back to Salzburg if you need to.

Click on the image to see the activity on Strava.

Click on the image to see the activity on Strava.

Once back in the city it is a very satisfying feeling to look back up on the mountain knowing you were there a handful of hours ago - and went there under the power of your own body.

 

Gallery

Shot on a mix of iPhone and Sony A6500.

Corona Chronicles by Gustav Thuesen

It was a friday evening in Salzburg. It was still winter even though the calendar said early March. The corona virus was now officially a pandemic but panic had not hit Austria yet - there was still toilet paper in the super markets at least. I had spent most of January and February in Austria: Skiing in Bad Gastein with my girlfriend, shooting the Danish Freeride Championships in Fieberbrunn, and shooting a short film with Danish pro-skier Josefine Lützau in St. Anton. The Covid-19 pandemic was spreading in people’s bodies and minds throughout Europe quickly. My girlfriend and I were sitting in her apartment in Salzburg watching another press conference with the Danish prime minister while eating dinner. However, we didn’t eat much as it was announced that the Danish borders would close the following day at noon. 24 hours later we showed our passports at the Danish border.

Three months have passed now. There hasn’t been any big adventures, naturally. But a lot of small ones. Small everyday adventures that stimulated the curiosity. It has been a time for walks around a weirdly quiet city and a lot of bike rides escaping the city to fulfill the need for exploration. It has also been a time where winter became summer. A lot have changed during those three months - dramatic changes in society and then the yearly, but always surprising, change of season.

(Click to enlarge)

All shot on my iPhone.

Danish Freeride Championship 2020 by Gustav Thuesen

Spent a week in Fieberbrunn, Austria with some of the best Danish freeriders. I consider myself as a fairly proficient skier but these guys and gals were next level.

 

The first couple of days were spent searching for fresh powder and getting to know the area.

 

A storm rolled in with fresh snow but also strong winds which created difficult conditions for the riders, so the face was inspected carefully.

 
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On competition day everyone went all in. Some maybe a bit too much “in” - but everyone came out injury free. It was a great event, the “hygge” level was as high as the level of the skiing.

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In Season: Bad Gastein by Gustav Thuesen

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Back in October I was in Bad Gastein, a small town in the Austrian Alps. At that time the town was hibernating, waiting for winter to arrive (click here to see the photo story). Now winter has arrived and so has a lot of skiers.

 
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The weather was incredible. The first four days was without a cloud in the sky. “Kaiserwetter” as the Austrians call it.

 
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On saturday the local kids were out for ski practice. These kids were better skiers than 99% of people on the slopes (me included).

 
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After seven days of skiing the legs were tired and a snowstorm was in the forecast, so the day was spent without skis just exploring the area.

 
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Nockstein in Winter by Gustav Thuesen

Nockstein is a small “notch” or “nock” on a bigger mountain just outside Salzburg, Austria. Down in the city it was raining but higher up winter was in full swing!

MINI-Adventure: Sweden by Gustav Thuesen

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A small escape to the other side of the sound that separates Denmark from Sweden.

Compared to Denmark, Sweden feels like one big wilderness. Denmark is one of the countries in the world with the least wild nature as most of the land has been turned into farmland (the hypocrisy is big when we accuse developing countries for cutting down old forest for agricultural development).

 
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But Sweden is bigger and the nature is wilder. In January it is clear that nature is the dominating force. Windy, rainy, and cold. We did not encounter any other campers - and we took shelter from the elements in a tiny Airbnb for two nights after a night in the tent.

 
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We arrived in the middle of “semlor-season” which is a seasonal traditional roll with whipped cream and marcipan filling. Goes perfectly with a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day.

 
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After a few days exploring the Swedish wilderness and enjoying the local specialities we crossed the bridge back to the Danish monoculture landscape. Until next time, Sweden!

 

Gallery

(Mostly shot analogue, and not yet developed film, on this trip so gallery is a bit limited)

Across the Alps in 18 Days by Gustav Thuesen

The idea to cross the Alps came back in 2017 after I had cycled 1700 km from the southernmost point of Sweden to the westernmost point of Norway in 15 days. I figured that if I could cycle very far I need to see if I could walk very far. Already 10 days after my return from Norway I boarded a plane to Geneva and started walking south towards Nice. I made it 100 km in three days and in Chamonix I had to call it. I had developed a huge blister and my ankle was swollen to double size and I could not progress as fast as I had planned. I was not fit for the mission. However, it was still an incredible trip, you can see more about it here: The Best Failure of My Life.

Two years later, more specific training (running), and carefully selecting every piece of gear a brought I boarded another plane to Geneva again. This was the gear I brought along.

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After hitting a wall like ascent just after getting off the train in St. Gingolph I could enjoy the view of Lac Leman.

 

The first night I pitched the tent in a field outside La Chapelle-d'Abondance after eating the best spaghetti of my life in town.

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After a few days with sore legs my body had adapted to the daily strain of 10-12 hours of strenuous hiking in mountainous terrain.

 
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The halfway camp. At that point I felt like I had been on the trail for a long time but knew I had to keep on going for just as long.

 
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Most days started with my alarm going off at 5:30 AM. After eating a light breakfast usually consisting of a few cheap pain au chocolat I drifted onto the trail and headed south in the sunrise. The mornings were my favorite time of day. Waking up together with nature is special.

 
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Just as special was the wildlife encounters. While taking a break on the top of a mountain pass this goat was watching me from afar. A few moments later a baby goat appeared.

 
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The landscape gradually changed from pointy mountains to rolling hills and the trip was slowly coming to an end.

 

600 km and 18 days after I left the shores of Lac Léman I reached the shores of the Mediterranean.

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Pas Normal Studios Brand Summit 2019 by Gustav Thuesen

I had the great fortune of covering the Danish cycling brand Pas Normal Studios brand summit in Barcelona this spring. A couple of days spent in the sun was welcome after a long winter. Can’t wait for those summer rides!

Canada: The Road Trip Gallery by Gustav Thuesen

Canada. A place I’ve always wanted to visit. When I got the opportunity to go on exchange as a part of my university program at Copenhagen Business School, Canada was the first place that came on my mind. And so I went to Vancouver.

I came a little early before the school started so I could explore a bit of my new backyard. The only thing I had planned was a rental car waiting for me at the airport when I arrived. I just covered a tiny bit of what British Columbia has to offer and it was mighty fine! Mountains in my backyard! I was stoked!

Click on the photos to make them BIG.

Southern Sweden: Winter Getaway by Gustav Thuesen

I needed to get out and feel the wind under my wings. As I've done many times before I went to southern Sweden. It's perfect for a quick get-away from Copenhagen as it is easy to get to and everything is a bit different on the other side of the sound that separates Denmark and Sweden. The language is different (but fairly similar), the food has different tastes, and the landscape is more rugged and spacious. All enough to make you feel fairly far away although it is very close indeed. A buddy, Philip Høpner aka Leica fanboy (shameless plug: philiphopner.com), tagged along for the trip and we spent a few days roaming wintery southern Sweden.

I have made a guide to my favorite spots at the very southern end of Sweden.
Check it out: THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO: SOUTHERN SWEDEN

Stay curious! 

2017: Year in Review by Gustav Thuesen

Another year, 12 months, 365 days, 8760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,00 seconds has gone and a new year awaits. 2017 was a great year personally. One of my favorites so far in this thing called life. I went out on a few adventures:

Started the year with a trip to the Alps searching for snow:
Link to full story

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Slept under the stars:
Link to full story

Went on a spontaneous bikepacking trip to Sweden: 
Link to full story

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Went on a non-spontaneous bikepacking trip from the southernmost point of Sweden to the westernmost point of mainland Norway:

Full of confidence after my successful trip to Norway I decided to go south and try to cross the French alps on foot (600 km). That was a bit more than I could chew - but it ended up being one helluva trip!  
Link to full story

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I couldn't get enough of Norway or cycling so I made a road trip to Bergen to watch the road cycling world championship and to explore the beautiful Norwegian nature along the way: 
Link to full story

I missed the mountains so I went to the most dangerous (and beautiful) place in Denmark: Møns Klint
Link to full story

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The last real trip of the year was a trip to Bavaria in southern Germany:
Link to full story

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Hope you had some awesome adventures too - big or small they all count! 

Let's do this, 2018! 

Chamonix: The Best Failure of My Life by Gustav Thuesen

Sometimes you bite off more than you can chew. Setting out to cross the French alps on foot was too much for my feet.

My feet definitely wasn't conditioned for heavy trail use after about a year of cycling training. I pushed hard as my legs were fine and my overall cardiovascular shape was alright. But the chain isn't stronger than its weakest link - which this time were my feet (I'll save you for showing photos of them). After about 100 km in 4 days I reached Chamonix and decided to call it.

I reached Chamonix almost the same time as a storm and was basically stuck in my tent for two full days - partly due to the weather and partly due to my feet. After a few days of semi-forced rest I decided to stick around and explore Chamonix. That turned out to be a great experience! Glaciers, rivers, forest, mountain views, snow - what a place!

After little over a week in the Chamonix valley I decided to go home. Originally the plan was to catch a plane in Nice by the mediterranean sea but ended up going back to Geneva. This wasn't the trip I set out to do - and it was hard not to finish what I had started. Nonetheless it ended up being one of the best trips of my life. The French alps are still there - and I'm watching them as I'm getting better at chewing.      

Bayern: Ist Wunderschön by Gustav Thuesen

A quick trip to southern Germany visiting my sister who is working for a year in Munich. Of course I was more interested in the Bavarian Alps than the city so during the day we made a few trips into the mountains and went back to enjoy the nightlife in the city. A perfect combination of both worlds. Living in Denmark I miss being able to just go for a day trip to the mountains - there is about 1000 km either north or south to any real mountains. 

Møns Klint: Over the Edge by Gustav Thuesen

One of the wildest places in Denmark. "Møns Klint" is a 6km stretch of chalk cliffs - One of the few places where you can actually die if you aren't careful. Very beautiful this time of year when the forest is in its fall dress. 

And a few stills...

Hunting without Guns by Gustav Thuesen

An early morning on the hunt. No guns. Only cameras.