While the rest of Europe begins to turn green, the most magical time of year arrives in Jämtland Härjedalen – the so-called fifth season. This is when winter’s glistening snowpack meets the warming rays of spring in a unique embrace. Biting cold is replaced by long, bright days and a sun that truly warms your skin.

Days are best spent on skis, whether you prefer freshly groomed slopes or gliding across vast mountain expanses on cross-country trails. But spring-winter is as much about the breaks as it is about the action. Do as the locals do: dig your own “sun pit” in the snow in a sheltered mountain slope, lean back, and enjoy a cup of coffee while enjoying the spring sun. The extra daylight hours allow for late-afternoon summits or relaxing at an outdoor café long after the ski lifts have closed. Welcome to recharge your batteries in spring-winter land.