Padjalanta & Sarek N Pks

I'm looking at returning to those parts in late Aug for 3 - 4 weeks. Walked thru Sarek last time, NW from Aktse to Narvik, but wonder now about doing a loop from perhaps Kvikkjok to include the southern part of Sarek and maybe part of the Padjalanta Trail.  We found the Kunsleden a little tame and wonder if the Padj trail may also be tame, albeit less walked?

It looks as if to make a sensible loop, there'd be a bit of off-trail walking, probably including a traverse of the higher bits of Sarek, too, although we'll keep off the white stuff as we're not likely to be carrying axes - not at this early stage of the plans, anyway!  And as I may do this alone, guess I'd better be a little sensible?

Anyone any experience of this area?

Thanks.

Thanks Pedro! 1966?  That is tasking your memory somewhat...  Was much of it in trees?  We found the tree section of the Troms Border Trail a little tedious after a while, craving views.  But when we broke out, it was great!

I reckon the first 3 weeks of Sept are best?  Still long days, no mozzies, N Lights, low rivers, good weather.  Love it!  Looking at the Sami huts website, it seems they start to close from early Sept, so I'm not sure about supplies.  Will have to investigate.

Hi Stephen,

Is the nordkallotleden on the Troms Border Trail for part?  Nice area!  In fact it's all good - and Abisko is a good start/end for various trips.  Padj looks quite remote - just ordered BD9 map, which goes across the border into Norway.  I have 6, 8 and 10 - I'm keen to see the opportunities for a big circular route straying into Norway, for good measure.  Will research re-supply points.

Let's liaise nearer the time - you never know, paths might meet?

It looks as if to make a sensible loop, there'd be a bit of off-trail walking, probably including a traverse of the higher bits of Sarek,

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A tip if your going to Padjelanta is the high top of Sulitelma on the Norwegian border. Havnt been there myself but its said to be a very nice top!

Have also looked into walking up through the mountains to Abisko or Rikrgränsen. Theres too many walkers on Kungsleden for me to like it, so the alternative was Nordkalottleden which is less frequented. Would probably walk from Kvikkjokk to Katerjåkk via Padjelanta and the Unno Allakas huts.

Thanks, WG. Yes, we found the Kungsleden a little too busy - but it's relative - not really that many people, but we do like to feel it's remote, wherever that might be.

Current plan is to have two seperate '2 night stands' where the tent stays put in Sarek while I head for whatever tops look ok without axe etc, so 12 days to Kvikkjokk and about 7 back, on a southerly arc.  This way I'll be out of the high ground a bit earlier (which may help avoid snow?), and will have food gathered in UK for the longer, higher bit, so easier to keep weight down.  Also, easier to get boat from Kvikkjokk than to it, tho I gather there's a phone one can use.

Another tip for this summer season in Sweden's mountains before I forget. The spring and early summer have been very cool and wetter than normal so there's still a whole lot of snow about in the mountains.

Was in southern Jämtland (Härjedalen) last week and there was lots of big snow patches down to around 1000m. The higher tops I saw (Helags and Sylarna) had big snow fields, very unusual for this time of year where snow is normally only found on their small glaciers.

Don’t know what it’s like further north, but judging by what it was like in Jämtland then I would expect a whole lot of snow even in late summer this year.

Hmmm, thanks.  I'll be about 250 miles further north, but it may have implications for the higher parts of Sarek, at least - maybe on my southerly drift back, too.  Can't remember how high that will be tho.  And wetter?  Hmmmmm!  River crossing implications then, too...

Just returned from Padjelanta - see my post here.

Re your question on the number of hikers:

Sulitjelma - Sarjasjaure: fewer than 5 people / day

Sarjasjaure - Vaisaluokta: 10-15 people / day

Vaisaluokta - Hellemobotn: only 2 people between Vaisaluokta and the state border (two days)! From the border to Hellemobotn we met about 5 weekend hikers.

NB: We had not expected any mobile signal in Padjelanta so were surprised in Vaisaluokta where there was a strong signal. As the warden informed us, there is an antenna in Ritsem thanks to which the Akkajaure area is well covered.

Should anyone find it useful, I'm back now.  Went thru Padjelanta, zig-zagged thru Sarek, hit Kvikkjokk after 12 days, most of it off trail.  Returned over 6 days on a southerly route, leaving the Kungsleden after Day 1 to go off trail for 3 days before baling out from the high ground as it was all rocks, dropped down to the Nordkotteleden (sp?).  Then to Lofoten for 4 nights where I had the best ever Northern Lights.  Weather pretty poor throughout, nowhere near as good as on the 2 previous trips to the general area.  They too have had a lousy summer.

Even so, river crossings were not really a problem, partly as I was high up, partly as I used bins from on high to to plan crossings.  More of a problem were nasty little bands of hard snow, even down to below 900m. I had no axe or crampons.

Finding camp sites was occasionally hard - I did an extra 5 km one day to find a site. Wet conditions meant many possible sites were too wet. 

Happy to help if anyone wants info.