Day 3 | To Vuomatjähkka | 22km

The forecast had called for rain, but almost none fell. A lucky break. I set off at 10 AM, my pack feeling heavier than expected—maybe I had packed too much, or maybe I just needed time to get used to the weight again.

By lunchtime, I reached Serve Hut, where I met a group of hikers. Their DIY rain protection—tape-wrapped shoes—caught my eye, and we chatted about potential campsites ahead. They pointed me toward a flat spot after the next climb, which sounded promising.

Later in the day, I came across a small shelter and stopped to take a look inside. A few trekking poles were leaning against the wall outside. As I opened the door, the smell of a hot meal drifted out. Inside, cooking his dinner, was Paul—the Dutch guy from my flight. A surprising but welcome reunion.

After finishing our meals in the shelter, we set up our tents on the flat area nearby. The night was calm, and I was just about to crawl into my tent after brushing my teeth when something in the distance caught my eye—a flashing light. It flickered, disappeared, then reappeared. Paul noticed it too.

Was it a hiker with a headlamp? No, it moved too fast. Then a noise—growing louder. A group of young people on a quad? But out here, in the middle of nowhere, miles from the nearest town? The uncertainty made the situation a little unnerving, and I was glad I wasn’t alone.

As the lights and noise approached, the mystery revealed itself: a rescue team. They stopped and asked if we had sent an emergency call. We hadn’t. I mentioned that I had passed a few hikers and spotted a tent perched on the ridge earlier. They nodded and continued on, disappearing into the night.

A bit of unexpected late-night drama on the trail; but thankfully, we weren’t the ones in need of rescue.