Nothing has happened here in a while, so I thought I would post some pictures from our latest hiking trip.
We, Kirsi, Alina and I, started on Monday, July 1st at Vakkotavare and from there, we hiked up the mountain about 2 kilometers until we reached the plateau, where we could set camp. It was the perfect start!
The next day, we made our way toward Teusajaure, a 13-kilometer trek. To get there, we had to row across the lake—just one kilometer, which sounded easy enough. But as we neared the other side, the wind picked up, and Kirsi and Alina had to give it everything they had to reach the shore. I, on the other hand, focused on sitting as still as possible to avoid tipping us over!
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| Drinking spiced hot chocolate and playing Yatzy in my tent :) |
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| Temporary mess |
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| Alina braiding Kirsi's hair |
The next day, our first goal was Kaitumjaure. Up until then, the mosquitoes hadn’t been too much of a nuisance. Little did we know, we were in for a special treat. As we arrived at the cabin in Kaitumjaure, the mosquitoes were eagerly waiting to feast on us, so we made a quick escape inside. But things were about to get even worse.
From there, we decided to push on to Singi, about 15 kilometers away. Having already hiked 10 kilometers, we agreed to keep going until 6 p.m. before setting up camp. The trail was beautiful, the views stunning, and a light breeze kept us comfortable. As long as we stayed on the path, the mosquitoes left us alone. But the moment we stepped off to pitch our tents near a stream, they swarmed us.
Dinner at camp was out of the question, so we moved up to higher ground, hoping for more wind—and fewer mosquitoes. We finally found a spot that was somewhat breezy, but not entirely free of those nasty bloodsuckers. In the end, we gave up and went to bed at 7:30 p.m.
As a result, we woke up ridiculously early—6 a.m.—but even then, breakfast at camp was impossible. We packed up as fast as we could and hiked for another 30 to 45 minutes before finally finding a mosquito-free place to eat. I can handle skipping breakfast, but no coffee? Come on! It’s a miracle I survived.
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| The Kaitumjaure camp site was beautifully located by the lake and surrounded by the mountains. |
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| Gorgeous but unbearable place to set camp. |
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| Alina trying to escape the nasty little insects. |
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| Blurred in the foreground, you can even see a mosquito. It looks huge! |
Thursday had arrived, and we wanted to reach Kebnekaise Fjällstation no later than Friday. The original plan was to hike to Singi—now only about 7 kilometers away—and then continue to Kebnekaise the next day. But then Kirsi discovered a shortcut that would take us straight there in one go, about 15 kilometers. If we took it, we’d arrive on Thursday and have an extra day to climb the summit. Fair enough!
Since this route took us off the well-trodden trail, we had to battle our way through dense vegetation before finally reaching the mountainous terrain. Talk about a workout! It’s incredible how the landscape transforms—from lush, green, and warm to almost barren, gray, and cold. We welcomed the chilly breeze after working up a serious sweat.
Eventually, we merged onto the trail from Singi to Kebnekaise, winding through the stunning Laddjuvággi Valley. Towering mountains rose on both sides, making us feel small and humbled by the vastness of it all. What a place!
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