Ceakcahjälmen (Tjäktjahjälmen)

Alpine scenery with snow covered peaks, sheer rock cliffs and glaciers

Ceakcahjälmen can be visited as a part of the Kings Trail all inclusive package. We'll reach the area day 5, when we hike between Tjäktja and Sälka, and it is one of possible day trips day 6.



Part of the peak is visible in the sun lit area, between the two darker mountains in the foreground. From the Sälka cabins (just outside the picture at the bottom) it is only about 5 km.



Some scattered stones here and there, but otherwise in the beginning, it is like walking on a short cut lawn.



The higher we get, the more we can see of the peaks along Stuor Reaiddavaggi. The closest mountain to our left is about 400 meters above the valley, and the pyramid shaped peak in the distance is 10 km away.



After a short climb up to the beginning of a small, nameless valley leading up to Ceakcahjälmen, we will encounter a shallow stream of water coming from the remaining pockets of melting snow and ice. In this photo the water is flowing below the snow.



Here we are at an elevation of about 1400 meters, 400 meters up from the valley. In Sweden it is perfectly safe to drink water up in he mountains. There is no need to boil or purify it.



Now is the time to decide if we should choose the longer but easier route, or the shorter but more strenuous one. The more comfortable one would take us to the far end of this valley, and from there we would follow the mountain side towards the upper left corner of this photo. To get an idea of the more direct, brute route, see the photos below.



From here we could climb straight up. It is pretty steep and there are lots of loose stones, but it can be done. I am not talking about climbing all the way up to the highest point, but to the level just below it. The more adventurous participants could try to reach the highest point. See a few photos below.




Climbing up the steep hillside. These walking sticks are a great help. Some hikers prefer to hike with only one, thicker wooden walking stick, but according to my experience two sticks are better in almost every situation. One sturdy stick can be better when fording streams though, if you need to lean a little bit heavier against it. Some people choose the single wooden stick because of their mental image of it as a "traditional" hikers equipment, I believe, or maybe it gives a closer mental connection to the nature using a crude wooden stick, preferably made by yourself. May that be as it is, my recommendation is to use two light weight sticks.



The 1902 meter peak slowly emerging from behind the edge goes by the name of Nijbas, but between you and me, I believe it's the castle of Sauron.



Čeakčahjälmen. "Hjälm" means helmet in Swedish, and it does have some resemblance to one. I am not really into helmets, so the only things that pop into my head are some examples of Roman and Greek models. Have a new look at the top picture of this page, and maybe at some real helmets to get a better idea of what the naming fathers might have had in mind.



200 meters up to the peak.



Reaidda glacier 300 meters below, seen from the top of a vertical wall between the west and east peaks of Ceakcahjälmen.




A large round hole in the glacier. You can see different layers of packed snow below the surface, but under that it is solid ice.



Some of the peaks around. Left: Kaskasatjåkka 1914 meters, right: Gaskkasbakti 2043 meters. Gaskkaspakti is only 4 km from the highest peak in Sweden.

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Other places nearby
Mielkeriehppi, a small gorge with flowering, green slopes.
Mt. Sälka, a massive with several peaks and one easy to access flat outlook.

This place (Ceakcahjälmen) can be visited as a part of the Kings Trail all inclusive package.
We'll reach the area day 5, when we hike between Tjäktja and Sälka, and it is one of possible day trips day 6.

Photographs!
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