Day 11 | To Kvikkjokk | 29km
Sleeping by a lake and camp on grass was not a good idea. I should have known.I woke various times at night staring at my phone in the hope that dawn would come soon. Partly because I was cold, partly because there was some rock below my tent. And of course: a lot of condensation due to being so close to water. Woke up at 5 am. Should I get up or try to fall asleep again? I would definitely not get warm again just lying around. So, I decide to pack. I leave a note for Pau and leave camp at 6.15am. Its the first time I listen to music since I started this trail and had a lovely early morning walks slightly uphill, passing a lake and a couple of nice campsites, protected ones that would have been a better choice than the one we chose yesterday. Oh well!
Awesome reflections on a lake. Everything is so peaceful and fits perfectly with the electronic music I am listening too in that moment. I am superhappy. What a great way to start the day!
After roughly two hours I pass by Nick’s camp where he just started packing. Had a quick chat and continued. Steep uphill to little plateau. No one is there except for Nick who is ahead again. So very quiet and peaceful there with a herd of reindeer in the distance. They start moving once they see us. A baby reindeer stops right on the trail and looks at us until Mama reindeer picks it up and they run to follow the others further up to a field of snow. I could have stopped and starred at them for much longer. Sun finally comes out. Lovely walk to a hut where I have a coffee break with Nick. And if had never used a lighter before, I burn a whole into my brand new rain jacket.
Then we run down to the Kvikkjokk lake where its time for another boatride. Well, running down is what we would like to do but there are so many roots on the ground that one could easily trip over. Not pleasant, especially not when downhill.
We call Björn, the boatdriver, who says that he could be there in 35 minutes. Shortly after the call two other hikers arrive. The boat ride is entertaining as Björn was interested in where we all were from and told us about growing potatoes up here, a hobby of his.
Lovely ride across the lake with several sandbanks. Once arrived at the Kvikkjokk Fjällstation, I thought it would be nice to have a room. It was pretty busy though and the receptionist told me they are fully booked unless I would be happy to be in a “dogs room” (special rooms that are reserved for hikers with dogs in a separate building). I totally didnt mind. Yummy dinner with the others from the boat ride. The fact that reindeer steak was on the menu made me cringe a bit but yes, its totally normal up here.