NPL Day 39 & GB Day 15

Day 39: Tuesday 25 July 2023

Boarkka-Gáhpesluoppal via Árasluokta hut, Stáloluokta (& Parfas kiosk)

This morning was warm, and the sun was trying to boil us inside the tent once again. Kim was reeeaaaally tired, so Lukas did most of the packing.

When we got going, the first person we met was the man that Helena and Jonas had mentioned the day before. He is walking to all the STF huts (not in one season, but in due time). Now he was here to take some along Nordkalottruta.

Next up we met a woman named Anna-Karin who was out with her dog, she seemed to live in the area but was now on her way to Ritsem, so we were supposed to send a message to her friend Antonella in Stáddájåhkå.

Then we met Miia, whom Kim has had some contact with online this winter and spring. She is hiking Nordkalottruta from Sulitjelma. Kim had forgotten that we might meet, so it was nice that she recognised us! She had to go to Ritsem tomorrow and catch the boat, so she was in a bit of a hurry but we managed to exchange some words about the trail in front of us and behind us. We wished her an (early) happy birthday and to say hello to our friend Ola who was going to join her in Ritsem.

When we finally came to Árasluokta we sat down by a table and talked a little bit to two Germans there. The cabin host, or rather, one of the hosts - the older lady, Svea, came by and we could all have a look inside the shop. Kim was so happy that there was fresh gáhkku (bread) there so we bought three big ones! We also bought a chocolate bar and Lukas bought a can of beer.

Kim also talked a lot to Svea about the hike and she seemed very understanding about the whole thing (which is actually not that usual). She also said that they spend the whole summer here, so two months, with no phone reception at all, just a satellite phone so they can call their family back home once a week to say they're okay.

Just as we were about to leave, the guy who recognised us from YouTube, and his friends he was hiking with, caught up with us again.

Buuuut, we had to keep going now.

We said that maybe they would catch us again in Stáloluokta.

We continued uphill, and it was tough, but we managed quite well to pass the time by talking about some nice topics.

We also met a ptarmigan family that didn't flee as they normally do, but were defensive and tried to scare us away. That was a new and a bit weird experience, almost scary!

On our way to Stáloluokta we also found a geocache and met a dad who was hiking with his young son. Cool to see that the son was experienced already. They told us that he hiked Keb when he was just ten years old.

Came to Stáloluokta where we bought Pringles and Fanta at Parfas kiosk and paid with card 😎 When he heard that we are walking Norge på langs we also got a free apple each ❤️ So nice!

We haven't had fresh fruit for some time now. While talking to him we sat down in the very hot sun and talked for a bit longer. Then we headed over to the hut itself. Over there we weighed our backpacks (11,5 kg and 15 kg) before using the toilet and then continuing.

We still had a long way to go today.

We passed the bridge to "Padjelanta 2.0" - an upgraded version of previous parts along Padjelantaleden and Nordkalottleden, in a sense. This place was just amazing. It was so pretty, and we wanted to camp everywhere because there was so many perfect places ⛺

By one of the nice green hills we stopped for a short rest and also aired our clothes and bodies, by taking our clothes off to air dry on our hiking poles.

The rest of the hike there were those nice green hills and both Lukas and Kim felt really good 😊 At the end of the day, we had to cross some water. Kim was not sure if she could cross it and stay dry, so she ended up walking barefoot the rest of the way. Nice green fields that were almost tickling under her feet as she walked. Later, by the tent, Lukas tried to take a swim but it was really shallow. Kim just warmed water and cleaned herself with her rag instead.

Then we ate som ölkorv and went to sleep 💤

Today's

Distance: 29.92 km

Start time: 08:15

End time: 20:12

Ascent: 754 m

Descent: 924 m

Tent nights: 33/40

Lukas' swims: 1