Safe Return Doubtful

Day 69 – to Rindal The tiny mountain of Merkespynten at a paltry 341 metres was this morning’s goal. But sometimes even peaks this size can be far more challenging than they appear. The first couple of kilometres were just around the lake next to which I had parked last…

Day 68 – to Malvik There may seem limited appeal to a hike into the National Park here without paths and through wetland, but the place is virtually untouched. I was on the edge of the Park, so there are hunters here very occasionally, though I didn’t see any signs…

Day 67 – to Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella (north west entrance) Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella National Park is the third largest national park on the Norwegian mainland, and one of the largest remaining true wilderness areas. Part of it was established as a National Park as early as 1970, but enlarged greatly in 2004. Sami people…

Day 66 – at Lierne National Park The Lierne National Park is one of Norway’s smaller parks, and half of it lies in Sweden. It’s renowned for its lynx, wolverines, bears and the rare Arctic fox around its mountains, but the area I visited today was wetlands, much to Roja’s…

Day 65 – to Lierne National Park (entrance) Even seen through curtains of cloudy rain Klimpfjäll looked a town of mixed fortunes. It may consider its claim to fame as its name being used for an Ikea dining table, but prior to that, it was for the Stekenjokk copper mine,…

Day 64 – to Klimpfjäll I managed to get the things done around town on foot with the dog before the rain set in, and included a return along the Umealven river, in full flow. By chance I happened upon the Systembolaget being open. It is so rarely. That is,…

Day 63 – at Hemavan The Kungsleden is Sweden’s famous long distance hiking route. It is 440 kilometres in length from Abisko in the north to here in Hemavan, and there are 20 staffed huts on route. At a reasonable pace it would take 22 days to complete the entire…