Many people have experienced magical days immersed in the freedom and simplicity of cowboy life at Trumvallen Fjällridning. This place is unique and has been featured on international television, by influencers, in lifestyle magazines, and on podcasts over the years. But Trumvallen is also a home. Erica's home.
Since 1993, the family has been offering guided horseback riding tours from Trumvallen, on the same mountain they have farmed since the late 1800s. Erica's father, Johan Persson, built up the business inspired by ranches in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Today, together with his children Max and Erica, he guides guests along the same trails that the family's cows walked over two hundred years ago.
Like many others, Erica has tried living in big cities and working in different professions. But after spending the pandemic summer at home on the ranch, she found her way back to both the place and herself.
It's easy to become blind to your surroundings when you're young and want to go out and try new things, which I also think is extremely useful. But during the summer at home, I was reminded of the incredibly wonderful mentality and sense of community we have in the village, the security that exists, and the way we support each other.
First gallop ride of childhood
Today, she is back where it all began, and she has many memories of her childhood and life on the mountain pasture. One of them is when, as a five-year-old, she managed to saddle the large cold-blooded horse Bringbaus and climb onto its back with the help of a ladder. The fact that she couldn't reach the stirrups didn't bother her.
We rode out to the quarry, and it ended with me taking my first involuntary gallop when Bringbaus decided to turn back home at full speed. I let go of the reins and grabbed the saddle horn to hold on. Dad heard us thundering toward the farm, rushed out, and stopped the horse. He looked a little shocked by my antics, but not too worried. You have to learn at an early age, as Dad always said!
Since then, she has had many adventures and is now a confident and experienced guide. If you book a Rookie Day, Mountain Bonanza, or Ranch Week, there is a good chance that she will be the one guiding you through the mountains. The tours also include nature guiding with a focus on plants and wildlife.
Dreams for the future of ranch life
It is not surprising that Trumvallen Fjällridning manages to create genuine experiences year after year, says Erica.
– That's something my dad has been very careful about, that what we do up here should feel real. For me, it's difficult to see our ranch as a business or a job. This has been my life and my everyday reality since childhood. So I don't know if I'm always working or always off work!
Her pride in the family business is evident. Together with her brother Max and father Johan, she continues to develop the business. There are many plans, including expanding the ranch at Näsvallen with better accommodation and a real saloon.
– The idea is to develop our winter packages and focus more on multi-day trips, even in winter. We also hope to continue running this business and offer truly exciting ranch and wilderness adventures in the future, with a focus on sustainable development of our beautiful mountains. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Vemdalen!
A day in the saddle
A typical day for Erica differs from most jobs. During the summer months, she meets guests early in the morning, assigns horses, saddles, packs bags, and goes over the basics before the group rides up into the hills. Once everyone is warmed up, the tour often includes a few gallops across the bare mountain before lunch is cooked over an open fire.
– We always round off lunch with freshly brewed coffee and lie down against the nearest log or rock for a moment of relaxation before calmly riding back to the ranch.
At Trumvallen, the cows also roam freely in the valley, and sometimes they need to be rounded up. When that happens, it's time to saddle up again, no matter what time of day it is.
– So you might as well expect long days! But herding a flock of sixty cows in the evening sun together with great colleagues is not something that makes you feel bad!