Day 10 | Tentsite by river at km214 | 26km

I enjoyed a cozy, warm sleep on the soft ground. While it wasn't perfectly flat, the moss beneath my tent made for a wonderfully comfortable bed. The morning brought a deep sense of contentment. 

Shortly after leaving camp, I found myself crossing the arctic circle, a fact that had somehow slipped my mind until then. The realization that we were so far north hit me with a pleasant surprise.

I journeyed across a beautiful plateau, basking in the full brilliance of the sunshine. I thought I was alone but noticed a couple of hikers taking a break in the distance, which I only realized once I had squatted down. Hopefully, they were far enough away or need glasses to see details in the distance – oops!

For lunch, I paused at a Sami shelter, and suddenly, a reindeer strolled by incredibly close. It was a surprising encounter. The hike continued, leading me down to the river. What initially appeared to be a promising campsite, though a bit early in the day, turned out to be swarmed with mosquitoes. I ended up retreating into my tent to enjoy dinner in peace.