Strange Vacations - at the borders of sarek deep winter void
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Video from an early winter hike starting in Kvikkjokk, going up north on Gamajåhkå, Tjuoldajåhkå, Buojdesjåhkå, crossing Buojdes lake before descending on Padjalentaleden and returning back to Kvikkjokk. This route might not be travelled frequently because it is bit less spectacular. It was my first time going in January and I expected the worst possible conditions however it turned out to be surprisingly friendly. I had soft and deep snow conditions in Februaries on previous trips which had me sinking in badly. So this time I turned to big freestyle ski (sort of copying the concept of OAC Skinbased "gliding snowshoes" but with the usual Rottefella NNN-BC manual bindings) and a narrower but longer pulka (Fjellpulken 168cm instead of a short but wider Acapulka). The idea was to have less of a sinking in effect because of larger overall surface areas and also have the pulka fit into my wide ski tracks and therefore less of a drag from the “submarine” effect were the pulka moves more under the powder than above. I think this worked well and I will continue using this combination on trips early in the year and away from solid trails. For this tour all these efforts turned out unnecessary though. Snow conditions were as good as possible, hardly any sinking in, and it was practically wind still all the time - something I have never experienced before. Temperatures where between minus 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. Daylight hours were longer than I expected. Although the sun is only about 3 hours above the horizon I would say there are about 6 hours of usable daylight altogether. Sorry for the lack of any narration or explanation in the video! ;)
Anybody interested in going on this route: it was more on the easy side of things. The road to Kvikkjokk is well maintained in winter and this cute village is very accessible. There is even a daily bus (except on Sundays). I found the Kungsleden parking area cleared from snow on Monday morning January 15th. There was no other car there however it looked like there was some activity on the weekend and fresh snowmobile tracks led to the first hunting huts on the shores of Gamajåhkå. After I passed those huts there was no sign of other people in the area. There was a two meter waterfall squeezed between two giant rocks which forced me up a steep embarkment (Tjuoldajåhkå not so far below Tjårok). Days later I saw two about 200 meters wide slab avalanches in the lower third of Skieevvun. High up on the west side of this mountain was an area which looked like a potential avalanche to me. This made me stick to my original plan to keep well south of Buojdesjåhkå and high up. There I came across some steep and icy areas covered with a thin layer of snow all so slippy I had to switch to snow shoes with crampons. On Padjelantaleden it was not always obvious to me when to take the river and when I would be better off to take the marked summer trail. I should have researched this better because it was my impression I made some wrong decisions. When I reached Såmmarlappastuga I was surprised someone was there three days before me coming from Kvikkjokk on Padjelantaleden and returning the same way. The first sporadic snow mobile tracks I saw near Njunjes. It seemed like some people live around there in winter. Of course I missed the fact these people take the summer trail with their snow mobiles so I took the river only to find myself fighting my way around waterfalls and half frozen rocky rapids. Once I made the cut through the forest to get on Padjelentaleden it was easy to get to Kvikkjokk.
Thank you! Such good filming and a beautiful winter walk. Thanks for sharing the trip and showing your skills/techniques -- I picked up a lot of little ideas for winter travel.
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Nice video ! As usual ! Thanks for sharing your adventures.
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The colors, the silance, beautifull. Thank you for bringing us along.
Thank you!
Fantastic trip. Great production, cinematography, silence and snow
Thank you!
This silence, this captured atmosphere is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the feedback! I was trying to bring this feeling across.
@@sareksolo2571 you absolutely succeeded.
Last year, coming back to Kvikkjokk from my Sarek crossing, I didn't met any snowmobile track before Nunjes. So I was on the river, until being blocked by running water and snow walls between rocks 😅 then I aimed for the summer trail, on the forest...what a mess it was 😂 waist deep snow, a 700m progress in 1h, awful. I was so relieved on the other side to be able to follow tracks on the river... gosh ! Thanks again for this video, and the previous one which led me to do my round trip in Kvikkjokk 🙌 cheers mate !
You are welcome, always good to know I'm not the only one getting himself into trouble 🙃 I'm about to go again the next days, but weather forecast looks really bad - lukewarm conditions, rain, lots of snow coming up...🤨
@sareksolo2571 I'm trying my luck further north next month. Going for a Finnmarksvidda traverse, all the way to Inari lake. Hope for a cold trip, because there will be a lot of river skiing ! Stay safe 🙏 get some fresh shots to share too ;)
This is my neck of the wood, lived in these mountains since I was born some 55 yerars ago, just on the other side of the border.
Great video, my Brother!
The north might be rough and cold at times but the solitude there is so peaceful and solemn. It must be a great place to live! 👍
all your videos are awesome and very inspiring. I go by snowmobile (no Sarek) but always on border to Sarek.
Thank you! I just recently caught myself comparing snowmobile models and features online… :-)
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤WOW SUPER FANTASTISKT GRATTIS SANTA LIVET ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
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yes!
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I have stayed sleeping in Tjuoltacabin many times when i hunt grouse in winter. Perfect location. Nowadays snowmobile is not allowed ther, only by reindeer keeper.
Interesting. Do you know when they closed this area for snow mobiles?
Thanks, that’s useful, was also thinking of towards Nunjes. II had seen the snowmobile route markings in the summer but was not sure about the condition of the river to access the trail. Your larger Hilleberg looks a better choice than my smaller Hilleberg soulo.
Kvikkjokk is safe to start. Just go downhill near the church to get to the summer boat dock. You will see snowmobile tracks on the lake and markings on the lake. Snow shoes are fine for a start but if you put the long skins under your ski you might as well start with those as a beginner. Just don‘t do that in an ongoing snow storm ;) Preferences vary a lot. I need a big tent for all that stuff (cooking, pulka, length of my sleeping bag is 235cm…). Winter camping is not difficult but really really uncomfortable!
Hi like your video what country are you in?
Thank you! I understand this is interesting but I prefer to keep terribly embarrassing things to myself :-)
Thank you. Love the film, great atmosphere and sound! I have been there several times in summer. Would like to try a not too challenging winter trip of three or four days with a pulka and snow shoes (no experience of xc ski’s, snow shoes look to be more intuitive) any was thinking of starting in Kvikkjokk and following part of the padjelanta trail. Do you know if the river at Kvikjokk towards padjelanta for safe passage? The part where in the summer you take a boat to the start of the trail. Its fast water, so maybe not frozen. Would welcome any suggestions for an easy first winter route that could fit? I have winter skills, but would. be a first for snow shoe winter backpacking/sled pulling, so looking to learn by doing.
Kvikkjokk is a very good starting point. The lake had route markings and many snow mobile tracks even in January. I saw some locals in the distance walking their dogs on the lake on the morning when I came back. I would suggest going to Nunjes direction as a beginner. Not so far and you have options to extend your trip if things go well.
Why didn't you follow the "Tarratrack"?
Not sure what you mean. It was not always obvious which way is the best to go :)
Что ты за создание такое???
Северное создание!😅
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