The Flight back - at last.

A bit shocking to find nothing about your booked and paid flight on the net which seemed to got cancelled.

3 calls later, an emptied prepaid card and more kronour going down the drain using international roaming we were invited for a direct flyg home ...

I could use some vacation.

The last Day.

So many data to sort, so many pictures to categorize and another last 20km-round-trip up the Njuolla - but we did not go to the top. All the days we were in luck with the weather; only two days with real rain on our tracks.



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UPDATE: Out of which queue did this post found its way to the net? That was already 2 days ago? Funny roaming stuff.

Rocking the LAP-D and the Darkness.

So yesterday the ancient offerplats 'Baddusdievva' was the first stop for the great view off Cuonavaggi (Lapporten). On the way to Nissunvaggi we went lucky to loose the track, wandered by compass and the Lovely Young Woman was satisfied by 5 Renhorn in the 'Lapponian Desert' - we could'nt end our trip without those.

So today we started smooth as it rained all the time since morning, sought a better way to 'wet our pants' and took an official grottning tour. The caves between Abisko and Björkliden are hard to find (known since 1983), and should be visited with a guide (not a printed one, but of flesh, bones and a senseful mind for the point of return). It was dark, wet, loud as hell, a bit scary and too much water for a 'rebirth' (a full walk through until the exit). Btw. our guide Christian is a hell of a mean climbing machine.
Last day in Abisko is near - *sobb*.

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A sunny and Mosquito-free day in Abisko.

Well, only about 200 times to sweep tiny mosquitos from the arms, legs, face and back. A true T-shirt-day. Good chance for another day off, visit the heart of Abisko, check out the local supermarket and buy and eat those things we did not really miss but love to eat. Fresh vegetables and sausages. Not sure to visit the top of Njulla or follow the Paddus trail to an ancient Sami-point tomorrow. Back still hurts - it feels like the ominous 'phantom-backpack'. A bit glad that until our flight back we'll stay on day trips.

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Back to "Civilization".

After Kebnekaise we had no more connection to the outer world. Many funny stories to tell. But at first comes the end. Singi, Sälka, Tjäktja (the pass was not as hard to take as many people said - even in a guide they exaggerated), Alesjaure, Abiskojaure and finally Abisko. It can be a bit depressive while looking at the white water of the Abeskoeatnu you hear a horn and realize a bridge crossing the river with a freight train of 80 wagons transporting iron from Kiruna to Narvik - instant thought: return to Fjäll. Almost forgot to make a picture. But after check-in and a good sleep - here comes something for the swedish chef de cuisine from Stockholm (hej Niklas): Steaked ägg med rökt ren, lök, paprika och tomaten. Now that was a good start back in civilization.

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A Day-Trip to the Great Glacier.

As I was already worried about the glacier de Rhône in switzerland, the 'Storglacieren' is a really wonderful but also painful view. The valley along the Darfáljohka is really rich of all different kinds of flowers. So our short seven hours/16km-trip was the last one in this valley. Dag Hammarskjöldsleden will lead us to Singi and the Kungsleden tomorrow.

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The Plan has changed.

Nice to have so much time to make plans for short trips.

About 6 kilometers northeast from Kebnekaise Fjällstation exists a glacier-institute near Tarfala. Between 2007 and 2009 research about the relationship between climate and glacier dynamics is been intensified.

So you can't say, we do not learn something out in the Fjäll - even if it will be not funny. Who was it again: "There is no such thing as Global Warming."

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Northern Topping - served chilled.

We did it. And it did us. But after Hochflue, Rigi Scheidegg, the Gr. Mythen and the entrance of the Matterhorn, the Hörnlihütte, we can pinpoint one more location: Sveriges Kebnekaise - but it really looks like the top has been built using tons of gravel, doesn't it?

12 hours. Damn cold up there. It began to snow and the stones went icy. So we came back at 3 this morning.
Today is called chill-out day. Tomorrow we'll move on.

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Flying Chickens so far up north?

For about 60 euros one could fly from Nikkaluokta to Kebnekaise Fjällstation with a helicopter. Yesterday it started to rain - a Finn would say that there is no such thing as bad weather - but it looks like there are too many people with unbroken legs and wallets to be emptied around. Now that's a bit annoying to see five people to catch the next flight back to civilization. One could imagine how those people look like with shiny equippment and just bought boots.

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Wet Warm-up for the Top.

As proposed by smhi.se the weather got worse. For tomorrow evening a clear view is foreseen (crystal ball anyone?). So today we made a short step-in: six km to and back the route. New snow has fallen, so for tomorrow we'll take out our hardshells. If we're lucky we get back at midnight on saturday. Funny incident: met some scouts from Duesseldorf, Nicki & Andreas, they teamed up here; he came by from Norway and she travelled by sea from Ireland. Crazy ones...


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Several Days - The short Version.

Flight to Kiruna, Camp Kiruna, Bus to Nikkaluokta, Camp Nikkaluokta, hiking about 20 km with 25 kg on my back, to get many stitches. Know the Elephant Man? My right hand doubled. Those tiny suckers. But now we've reached the Kebnekaise bottom - and tomorrow the weather will be bad. So let's wait for friday.
P.s: Dear Telia, why are Prepaid-Customers not allowed to use the internet, but are able to send SMS? So the rest follows hopefully tomorrow - there's the net at Keb STF!


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Day #2: The ordinary tourist.

With Stockholmskortet it is a great fun to run through the museums and drive through town by boat. A crazy sign-exhibition on kungsträdgården from kilroy (a scandinavian travel agency) called "signspotting" - really worth several hard laughs.

One last good meal before we're off to the wilderness - aehem, ok ... at least Kiruna at last.

STHLM is still a funny town.

On monday we'll head on to Kiruna - nice to be again in Stockholm. Even better with a Rhinozero shoving you through the streets or into the best beer bar in town.

Only trivia to be reported. Lost a button on my shirt - could that incident be interprated as loss to american sewing quality?

Ah. Blogger should embed more of its own services like Picasa. Our raw pics from this trip could be found at Picasa.

Up up and away.

Getting nervous.



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