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Day
8 & 9
Singi - Kebnekaise
14 km
Our last leg of hiking.
We are now slowly returning towards the civilization and that
could be a basket of mixed feelings. At the same time as it feels
good to have accomplished a long hike, it could also give raise
to feelings of sadness when we realize that the time is approaching
when we have to say farewell to the birds, flowers and mountains.
But that is yet only a premonition, and there is still one more
day to be hiked.
Until today we have hiked more or less towards south, but now the
trail makes a sharp turn left, and the new course is straight east.
To start with, the trail ascends 200 meters. The scenery gets more
and more dramatic when we approach a narrow valley. Towering walls
on both sides are slowly closing in on us, and when we get to the
narrowest part, the mountains on both sides reach their peaks at
more than 1700 meters. When everything opens up again, we have a
group of high peaks to our left including the highest point in Sweden,
the snowcapped peak of Kebnekaise.
From here on the trail is wide and the terrain is more or less flat
for a while when we hike alongside the Laddjujohka-river, but towards
the end it gets a bit cumbersome with lots of small stones sticking
up thru the dirt. And then we reach the Kebnekaise Mountain Lodge.
Here you can find the kind of basic cabins we have got used to now,
but also an a la carte restaurant, a shop, equipment rental, internet,
bakery etc. Here you can expect to see people carrying the latest
outdoor toys and wear well known brands. Many of the guests are
here because of the one all-pervading reason; to make it up to the
summit. And why not? If you feel like it we could try it the next
day. It is an exciting climb including walking on a glacier and
a little bit steeper climbing than we have done so far. And after
having successfully climbed the peak, you are entitled to by the
T-shirt.
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Giant's Cauldrons