Lapplandsleden, Day 4

Today was the hardest day so far. I was up early and started walking at 6 a.m. There was some rain last night, and the sky looks threatening again. I very much hope it doesn’t rain. The beginning of the hike is easy, with a 40-minute walk along the lake. At one point, I see a dead animal on the shore. My bottle contains lake water, so I decide to replace it at the next stream.

After the lake walk, there’s a very steep climb up to over 1200 meters. I am very slow. Even when I start descending on the other side, I remain slow because it is steep and slippery. Then, there’s another mountain range to climb. I stay on top of that range for about 9 km, walking up and down. Twice, I get caught in a rain shower, but luckily, it doesn’t last long.

Then comes another long and steep downhill. I am very tired when I reach a road, but there’s still a 9 km road walk ahead of me. When I finally reach the small camping area after the 9 km, I am relieved. I rent a cabin, get my resupply box that I had sent here, grab some snacks, and crash on the sofa for an hour. I feel too tired to do anything.

Afterward, I walk to the service building and enjoy a hot shower. I am tempted to stay one more night, but the weather for the next three days looks good, so I should take advantage of it. I have about five more days of walking. I’m worried about the last two days because the forecast now predicts heavy rain all day, and there are no huts around.

I’ll see how it goes. For now, I’ll get some more rest, then have dinner and pack my resupply for the next five days.