NPL Day 51 & GB Day 27

Day 51: Sunday 6 August 2023

Balskota-east of Kilvassaksla

This morning we were really tired and it was hard to get up. We had woken up several times in the early morning hours which probably didn't help.

When we woke up there was so much moisture on the inside of the inner tent, that we had to take the towel and dry it before we could get out. We also had to dry the inside of the outer tent the same way, and take them apart. Hopefully it won't be too wet next night.

Then we got going, talking a bit as we walked in the very wet trail. Just after 10 o'clock we ate some breakfast in the middle of two creeks, and the sun even shone on us! It was really nice.

We continued over the mountain, stopping once to use the drone a bit, the view just amazing!

As we came down, down to the bogs, we met two women and a dog (maybe mother and daughter?) that were out picking berries. We chatted for some time about our hike which they seemed curious about.

Then we came out to the road, and stopped there for some time to see if we could get some phone connection to check mails. Still no answer from Tverrelvnes gård, so since we had good reception for calls we decided to call. After talking to the owner Gunder, we made the decision that they will drive us to Hattfjelldal so we can buy food ourselves for the upcoming days. Then we could also withdraw some cash. But unfortunately we would now come there on Tuesday instead of Monday, and on Tuesday they were full. We will see how it all turns out...

After removing a splinter in Kim's finger, we could finally leave the road and continue. But then the women that we talked to earlier showed up again, and we were given chocolate 😍 So very nice of them, and much appreciated!

After that we continued on the road, and it was so nice walking and talking that we didn't even notice when we should have left the road. So we had to backtrack about 400 meters and then we found the trail again, going off towards Storfurua, a gigantic pine in the middle of small birch trees and bushes. Very majestic.

The next part was tough. A lot of thick vegetation and some elevation too. Very sweaty, but then we finally came out of the forest. Earlier on the road, when we had phone reception, we saw that another NPL hiker sent us a message the day before. From their message we should have met them by now, or so we thought. Maybe we missed them somewhere? We had hoped to meet them, and the hope had almost died, when Lukas spotted hikers ahead. Yesss!

It was Marie, Joakim and their dog. We talked for quite a long time in the drizzle, about our pack, about the route, giving tips and advice as usual... One of those came from us, when they said they were going through Padjelanta. Then we had to tell them that dogs aren't allowed there, which they didn't know. So we tried our best to suggest other routes, and we really hope that they will come to a good solution that works.

Finally we had to say goodbye. We didn't come far, probably not more than 200-300 metres, until we saw another hiker. We stopped and talked a bit with him, Jonas, until his "German friend" showed up. Apparently they started from Lindesnes the day after each other, and had gone a bit back and forth past each other in the beginning. Now they hadn't seen each other for a really long time until today.

After a quick talk it was time to move on, it was getting late.

We managed to get up on the mountain again, and put up the tent beside a small lake with a creek. There, we had an amazing view of Okstindan glacier, and it was definitely the best tent and dinner view we've had so far.

After dinner we also, both of us, went for a swim in the lake. The shore was perfect with some stones to step on and sandy ground, and the water was not too deep or to shallow either. Or way too cold. It was really good actually.

Today's

Distance: 24.86 km

Start time: 08:50

End time: 19:55

Ascent: 858 m

Descent: 739 m

Tent nights: 37/52

Lukas' swims: 1

Kim's swims: 1