NPL Day 18: Tuesday 4 July 2023

North of Rivkkoš-Gaskkasčohkka via Ráisjávrihytta

We woke up by foot steps - someone passing our tent 😱 Felt especially strange since we haven't really seen much people on our hike yet.

We packed our stuff and walked for 5 km to the Ráisjávri hut. On the way there we walked on planks for the first time!!!

Really nice place (except the bugs ofc) and here we met the guy who passed our tent - Tom from Ireland, really nice dude. We also soon met two German guys who had been there fishing, one also named Lukas. They let us use the nice toilet before they left. Then we stayed for a while together with Tom because in the hallway of the hut we could charge our electronic devices. Such an opportunity we couldn't miss! So while we did that we had breakfast and talked to Tom.

After breakfast we walked over more planks, but quickly we were followed by mosquitoes, blackflies and horseflies so we just walked and walked... It was really difficult to take any breaks at all.

Finally on the mountain again we stopped for some well-needed rest. We just put on our head nets and wind jackets and lay down on the ground. Both of us soon dozed off.

We woke up when the sun showed up again together with Tom. From here we walked behind him, once again chased by a cloud of bugs.

Somewhere here Kim suddenly stopped. There was a ptarmigan in the middle of the trail, still with some white feathers, just watching us and slowly and carefully moving away. We just watched. Normally they fly up when you come near, which makes you jump every time. This was different. And she was so cute!

After some long km, we passed Tom again at his camp, about a km away from where we had planned to camp. He had managed to pick the absolute windiest spot with no bugs, and we were welcome to join, but at the same time we really wanted to hike as far as possible to have it shorter tomorrow.

So we continued. But soon put up our tent beside the trail and near a small pond. There we could wash ourselves (but damn, the ground was incredibly slippery and you sank down in the mud!) and later we had some dinner inside the tent. Mashed potatoes and sausage.

Today's

Distance: 24.22 km

Start time: 08:35

End time: 18:33

Ascent: 381 m

Descent: 372 m

Lukas' swims: 1

Tent nights: 17/19