Day 6: Approaching Alesjaurestugorna hut

            Kungsleden ("The King's Trail") is a hiking trail in northern Sweden, approximately 440-kilometre (270 mi) long, between Abisko in the north and Hemavan in the south. It passes through one of Europe's largest remaining wilderness areas. In the winter Kungsleden is a ski trail with approximately the same route.

Kungsleden was created by Svenska Turistföreningen (STF) at the end of the 19th century, in order to allow more people to experience the beauty of Lapland. It runs for about 440 kilometres (270 mi) between Abisko in the north and Hemavan in the south. The trail is well marked and many sections are well equipped and maintained by STF, with plank walkways covering swampy or rocky ground, but other sections further from the trailheads are eroded and rocky, increasing the difficulty of hiking some parts of the trail. There are bridges across non-fordable streams and during the summer season lakes and rivers could be crossed either with rowing boats provided by STF or by taking a local charter boat.

The trail is separated in four portions which each represent approximately one week of hiking. The most practiced part is by far the northernmost, between Abisko and Kebnekaise. The season, when the huts are open and rowing boats available, usually runs between mid-June and the end of September, but the weather can be very treacherous, including late or early snow. The winter season runs from mid February to the end of April.

(Wikipedia)

-----

I somehow got used to going to the north on a yearly basis, if not even more often. This time, our hiking destination was Sweden - northernmost part of the world-famous Kungsleden trail and locations close to the Abisko national park. And of course, early September means peak of autumn season in the deep north - arguably the best part of the year there.

The 9-days itinerary was as follows: Nikkaluokta -> Visttasvággi valley -> Unna Reaiddávággi pass -> Sälkastugorna -> Alisvággi valley -> Unna Allakas -> Abiskojaurestugorna -> Abisko. Except one night in the Unna Räitastugan hut, we used our tents and enjoyed autumn landscape of the deep north quite heavily. That sense of freedom... cannot be described by words.

This is a shot taken close to the Alesjaurestugorna tourist hut and Alisjávri lake. This was our longest trekking day - we hiked ~26km, starting in Alisvággi valley and finishing our daily portion at Unna Allakasstugorna campsite.

Taken in: Sverige / Norrbottens Län / Kiruna (show map)

Taken on: September 14, 2013

Tags:

Sweden

Sverige

deep north

Sápmi

Sapmi

Lapland

Lappland

autumn

fall

September

hike

hiking

walk

walking

trek

trekking

track

tracking

backpacking

journey

trip

adventure

outdoor

outdoors

ruska

tundra

river

water « less

Sets appears in: • My Favs • Sweden: Abisko & Kungsleden

Groups appears in: • Sweden • Autumn Leaves more » • Made in Sweden • Autumn colors • Northcountry • autumn colour of leaves　紅葉 • Lapland-Lappi • Sweden with Camera • North of 63° (Pictures from above the 63'rd latitude) • AUTUMN*FALL P1/A5 ***CONTEST for every member • Pictures in Sweden • Deep North • Colores del Otoño/Autumn Colors • Geotag Sverige (Lang: ENG/SWE) • Best of Autumn • Sweden Loves! / Sverige Älskar! • Spirit of Sweden / Norway • Kungsleden, Sweden • Sweden Countryside • Shades of Autumn • Autumn Anywhere • Autumn colour of love (Check out the new discussion) • Autumn around the World • Sápmi / Saemie / Sábmi / Säämi • The Fabulous Northwest, The Far North, and Greenland Photography • Sweden by tips4travels • Sweden landscape • swedish lapland • Sweden by nature • The Best of Autumn/Fall (P1C3) • North - close to and over th arctic polar circle around th world « less

Camera: Pentax K-5 II s, f/11.0, 1/90 sec, 14mm (=21mm), ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Pentax K-5 II s
Lens:	smc PENTAX-DA 12-24mm F4 ED AL [IF]
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.011 sec (1/90)
Focal Length:	14mm (35mm equivalent: 21mm)
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Creative (Slow speed)
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Contrast:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS5 Windows
Show full info

Stats: 2,525 views / 1 comment

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: