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Day 1
Arrival Day 2
Abiskojaure Day 3 Alesjaure Day 4 Tjäktja Day 5 Sälka Day 6 Sälka Day 7 Singi Day 8 & 9 Kebnekaise Day 10 Departure |
Misc. photos from today's trailDay 4, Alesjaure - Tjäktja Crowberries cover large areas of the lower alpine region. These berries are not commonly considered to be of any great value to us humans, but some creative entrepreneurs have started to use them in products like crowberry jam.  In the military and on survival courses you can sometimes learn that crowberries contain a lot of water, hence using them as thirst squelchers. Native people in Russia used to like crowberries more than blueberries and lingonberries.  When even the crowberries and dwarf-birches leave us, we have reached the middle-alpine region. All that is between us and the barren stony grounds now are the grass meadows. Depending on the make up of the stones in the ground, these fields could come with flowers. 
 Can you see the lines crisscrossing the ground on the other side of the brook? When the temperature really dive below zero and the snow cover is thin, the thermal contraction cracks the ground in 4 - 6 sided shapes. These natural wonders go by the name of tundra polygons. 
Tundra polygons are filled with ice, and when it melts in the summer, fine sand fall down in the cracks and create an environment where a different set of plants can survive. In theory at least. What I have found is that the dwarf-birches come with higher stems.  Bossosjohka carries water from the Bossos- and Riehppi glaciers 6 km away. There is a suspension bridge to help us get to the other side.  A nice place to have a break. Snow covered peaks around us and the background sound of rushing water keep us company while we sit by the small gorge. Dag Hammarsköld also considered this a special place, and we can find one of the dedicated meditation spots here.    A Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, spinning around in a small lake just before the Tjäktja cabins. It always spins counterclockwise and picks up small bugs that float up to the surface in the middle of the whirl. 
While on the trail, we can sometimes see other hikers too. It never gets really crowded though, not even during the high season, but you should keep in mind that this is the most popular route among the Swedish hiking trails. If you would get tired of meeting and greeting others, then walking a short distance away from the trail should take care of that problem.  Most of the time we will meet lone hikers or small groups of two or three persons, but occasionally we could see some larger parties too.  This photo is taken on the slope right behind the Tjäktja cabins facing northeast. Lots of flowers here, and it is possible to see the whole distance we have covered today from the Alesjaure cabins. |
• July 12 - July 21 • 10 days • 35000 SEK / person • Places left: 4 • What do I get for my money?  |
Today's trail |
Today's trail |
Flower photos from today's trail |
Misc. photos from today's trail |
Tjäktja cabins |
Tjäktja cabins opens in new window |
| Optional Side trips |
Unna Visttasvaggi |
Unna Visttascohkka |
Påssustjåkka |
Gungarrlehppi |