First Days
Ritsem - Mile 70 - Jul 1st, 2018
The first week of our trip has been a big learning curve. We started on the 26th in high spirits, despite not having slept much on the train. After about 12 km, we were waylaid by high winds, and spent our first night in the Sorjus cabin. The next several days featured low temperatures, almost constant wind, and occasional rain. Despite that, we made good distance, around 20 km per day for the next four days.
On the way, we passed through a few Saami villages. They're only inhabited in the summer, and most of the residents haven't arrived yet, so they seemed nearly abandoned as we passed through. Most of the buildings were small houses built with modern techniques, but some were traditional earthen structures.
Yesterday, (June 30th) we arrived late and exhausted to the STF hut in Vaisaluokta, where we were welcomed by the caretakers with beer, fermented herring, warm beds, and wifi. This morning, we relaxed, read, and baked bread at the hut, and took the afternoon ferry across the lake Akkajaure to Ritsem, where we're staying the night. Ritsem's two main attractions appear to be the view of Ahkka (the second largest mountain in Sweden), and the frozen pizzas available in the STF lodge's store.
Reflecting on the week over homemade rye bread this morning, we made the decision that we'll approach the rest of the hike at a slower pace, taking more time to relax in camp, fish, take side hikes to summit mountains, and appreciate our surroundings. This means we're not likely to reach the North Cape on foot, but it's a trade-off we're willing to make.
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Eli, Liam, Sam, and Kristian
Ritsem - Mile 70 - Jul 1st, 2018