GB Day 16:

Vuolimus Čuhčajávri-North-west of Čuolak

Via Hukejaure

Sunday 25 July 2021

Today started just as miserably as yesterday ended. Everyone except for Kim and Lukas was awake early and pretty much ready to go, but we were tired and it was raining, so we stayed at the spot to have breakfast, before packing down our tents to get going.

At first it was raining constantly, and the ground was soaking wet and rocky. Some km in, we had to cross the river Gaskkamus Čuhčajávri, a river crossing that we had been warned about already on our way from Vistas. We had heard it would be thigh-deep, but luckily it was just shin-deep. Super cold though, and quite wide, so it took some time for all of us to get across. Lukas also had to carry Diesel, the dog. After this, thankfully, the weather calmed slightly, and it was now just breezy and cold. The ground was still really wet though.

Pretty much since Abisko, we've had an inside joke going. Last section between Treriksröset-Abisko, Micke was always messing with the weather. When the weather was finally okay, he would say things like "oh, why isn't it raining more" or "is this all you got?" and it would always make it worse. So when he left us he said he would jinx the weather from home, but to our advantage. So when the weather's been shitty we've blamed it on Micke, and when it's been good we've thanked him for doing a good job. Today we weren't very happy with his job with jinxing the weather, perhaps he was busy doing other things, we joked.

The last few km was better, and we had started to dry up a bit. It was a relief to see the cabin in the distance though, especially for Helena whose feet were full of blisters. When we got there we were met by the nicest cabin host! We talked a lot and hung up our clothes to dry. Apparently Mats, the other Gröna Bandare had come there the day before and talked about us. He left earlier this morning, like planned. Hopefully we will catch up to him in Ritsem, the cabin host wanted us to say hi :)

After having a really long and nice lunch in the late afternoon, drying our clothes a bit, playing some cards, using the privy etc, it was unfortunately time for us to get going.

We waved goodbye and headed off for a few more km, over the mountain pass in the distance. After 5 km we made camp. On the way there we also met the only other hikers for today. The sun also started creeping through in the evening, and the sight that had been very bad in the afternoon, now got really good. We could see some really high, snow-covered mountains in the distance.

The day ended with Ismaël and Lukas having dinner in the midnight sun, Kim chilling in the tent and Helena and Viktor having a small party with music in theirs, before going to bed.

Even the more miserable days can show off its pretty sides as well!

Today's:

Favourite: The Hukejaure mountain cabin!

Distance: 19.6 km

Start time: 10:22

End time: 21:50

Ascent: 434 m

Descent: 347 m

Snickers eaten: 1

Totals (from Treriksröset)

Distance: 312.8 km

Ascent: 7353 m

Descent: 6977 m

Tent nights: 13/16

Gröna Bandare spotted: 3

Snickers eaten: 12

Ice cream eaten: 1