Day 7: Kebnekaise

Miserable start to the day with torrential rain but after a decent sleep last night (only compared to previous nights) I've decided to climb the mountain. The rain has now stopped, I'm only 2km into the walk and I'm already in the clouds so the view is unlikely to be spectacular, the route is well marked though so it shouldn't be any great problem getting up. Please accept my apologies if my grammar or spelling has been poor recently, my brain seems to be a little addled (I think it's the altitude).
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Day 6: 87km travelled

I have now arrived at kebnekaise mountain lodge, technically the end of walk. Sadly, the buses here are worse than Reading at there won't be another along for at least 19km. That is another day and my plans for tomorrow (my rest day) are more pressing, it is currently raining quite a bit and if that continues I may not be in a position to go up the mountain. We have to see in the morning, if not the mountain it'll have to be the sauna or the bar! Weirdly I'm hoping for the mountain and if I'm quick enough I should be able to fit the others in as well.
I've deliberately not mentioned today, it was only a short distance but I wanted to die. Cold weather, horrible under-foot, I was exhausted and I couldn't even marvel in the scenery because the cloud was too low.
Hopefully, there will be no more rain left in Sweden tomorrow.
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Day 6: 81km travelled

Really cold and windy start to the day so I decided to take the opportunity of a lie-in, finally starting at 12:30 pm. The first few km have been short but steep climbs into the wind, thankfully now I'm on the steady decent although the terrain is awkward and I'm a little weary from yesterday.
Today is luckily a short day, only 14km until my destination at Kebnekaise. A shall be adopting a slow pace today in an attempt to let my body recover, hopefully I'll be able to have a sauna later as well :)
My present position about 20m below the cloud level..

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Day 5: 46km travelled

I've had a reasonable nights sleep and yet again I'm bathed in sunshine, although at this altitude with the wind blowing it is a lot cooler than previous days - as long as the wind isn't too strong it should be good walking weather.
It's currently 9:30am, I've just finished breakfast and will be very shortly packing up ready to go.
I've attached another picture to you can see what I see as I look out of the tent in the morning...

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Day 5: 70km travelled

Sorry still no reception!

What a crazy afternoon and evening it's been. After leaving the Tjakja pass I was able to make really good progress and the next mountain hut on the route, Salka, was only 8km further on. I arrived at Salka just before 4pm. I should probably mention at this point that yesterday I discovered that over 2000 competitors were taking part in a race in the exact opposite direction to me, there departures are split over 3 days; yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Anyway, by the time I had arrived at Salka I had seen quite a lot of competitors and when I got there I was greeted by over 50 more. I left after a short break and proceeded to meet more and more group, there is not a road 40 km at least and I was seeing groups of 2 or 3 hikers every couple of minutes - walk in the wilderness?
This in it's own way was no problem, almost all were happy and said 'hi', but a short while after leaving Salka the rain started. It was 12km to Sinhi, the destination I had now planned, and for 2 hours I walked in a heavy drizzle. Then the heavens opened, I must at least be grateful as I was less than 1km from an emergency shelter, I sought refuge from the downpour for an hour alongside may of the racers. The fortunate thing is that there was absolutely no shelter for a good 6km in either direction, I have not even seen a tree for over 2 days. I met some charming and genuinely kind people whilst and there does seem to be a real kinship between hikers - especially when it's raining!

Dogs with backpacks!! Never thought I'd see that but it's true, they're actually more like bicycle panniers - that has to be my moment of the day.

I'm now camped just outside Sinhi as it would seem that countless competitors had the same idea to stay there and there was no space, it also started raining again just before my arrival. After sheltering in the camp for about 40 mins I decided to leave and hope the rain would relent long enough to find a spot a pitch for the night - it didn't. At about 10pm this evening a rather tired, sodden mess finally fell into his tent with fingers crossed that tomorrow is better.
I should at least have a phone signal tomorrow - hopefully!!!

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Day 5: 50km travelled

I'm currently perched at the highest point of the kungsleden, the Tjakja pass, it's a bit windy!
The 4km leading here have been pretty merciless, broken rocks and boulders, a bit like a quarry. We've also had the first rain of the journey as well, although thankfully only a few minutes of light drizzle, and the sun is back out again now. Did I mention it's a bit windy?
From here on it's downhill and my body seems to be in much better shape today so I'm hoping for a good day.
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Day 4: 46km travelled

Apologies for the ongoing lack of communications, you wouldn't believe that someone could have so much trouble sending messages in this modern era!

Second Day Syndrome (I'm not sure if I've read that somewhere, if not I've created a new medical condition) :
After the euphoria and adrenaline of starting a new challenge, day 2 presents both a mental and physical hang-over.
The physical is purely over-enthusiasm, covering a few more miles than you should because you're so pumped-up.
The mental is because the reality of the situation is that despite everything around you, ultimately you have got to drag your aching body a hell of a long way and it's got a dead-weight strapped to it.

Please don't get me wrong, I can't think of anywhere else I would rather be at this moment in time. After any good night out you expect a hangover, today is my hangover, my Second Day Syndrome.
So where exactly am I? At a mountain hut called tjakja (that's pronounced Tyucta to us simple English folk), it's 1020 metres above sea-level (higher than most of Britain's mountains) and is just over half way through the main part of my walk.
Today has yet again been incredibly sunny and until the afternoon when the wind picked-up, very hot. The scenery was not as varied as yesterday and most of it was spent following the river through the valley floor - do bare in mind that this a valley at 800 metres and there are peaks up to 1000 metres higher all around you!
The Alesjaure mountain hut was a particular treat, selling cold drinks and a view that went on, seemingly forever, in both directions. I also had the particular pleasure of chatting to a really nice German guy (much more mental than me!) and a couple of Swedish ladies (to all those who aren't aware Swedish women are very attractive, very attractive!)
Hopefully it will get dark enough for me to get some sleep, it's 10:45pm and I'm sitting in my tent typing this without needing a torch or light. Tomorrow is the high point of the walk the Tjackta pass, 1140 m (only 200m less than Ben Nevis), thankfully then it's downhill and one would hope slightly easier!
Good night, I hope this reaches you at some point.
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