Abisko in Winter- Questions from South America

[phrick]

Hi,

First of all, sorry for writing in english. Im from south america and dont know a word in swedish. Hope you understand

Im planning to do the trek Abisko - Kebnekaisse trek in early april and have some questions:

1- Is it allowed to pitch a tent near the huts and pay something to use their facilities (sauna, kitchen...)?

2-If i choose to sleep in the huts, do I need to book it in advance? Or if I show up there withour reservation, I will still have a place to sleep

3- The trail Tjaktja -> Nallo can be done in winter?

Thanks for your attention, Paulo

 

[majjen]

1 yes
2 No/yes
3 yes

See you there!

Håkan F

 

[anle]

...but the place to sleep you'll get if you don't book in advance may just be the floor in a crowded hut. If you want something more comfortable, you probably should book in advance.

 

[undvall]

Skis or Snowshoes

Hi

Just to make sure, I hope you know that trekking in Swedish Lappland in early April requires skis or snow shoes. There will be at least 1 meter of snow, often more, and the temperature can easily drop down to -25 degrees centigrade.

Have a nice tripp!!!

/ Stefan

 

[camlun]

...but the place to sleep you'll get if you don't book in advance may just be the floor in a crowded hut. If you want something more comfortable, you probably should book in advance.

It is not possible to book in advance in the huts. Also, you can not pay with creditcard so you need to bring cash.

 

[Henning K]

Hi Paulo
Here is the link to one of the huts near the trail, there you will find some usefull information, about prices and so on.
If you camp next to the hut, you pay the service fee and can then use the infrastructure of the hut, except for the beds
It is right, you cannot pay by credit card, but you do not need to bring all the money with you. You can also get a bill that you pay when you come back to civilication, either from your bank account when you are home, or easier by credit card in the Kebenekaise Fjällstation.

Enjoy your trip
Henning

 

[Otto Støver]

I would try to avoid going in the easter if you can. "Everybody" is then going to the mountains, and it will be crowded like never before. The small amount of goods to buy at the huts may be emptied as hordes of scool classes, company gangs, snowmobilers, skiers, snowboarders, guided tour groups, aso want to buy their things. Some are nice and considerate, others are not and are there imo only to have a good party drinking their own carried alcohol.
Otto.

 

[LottaH]

Skiers Only

Along this trail most people are not allowed to use snowmobiles, so the only people who can bring lots of alcohol etc have hired a same to transport their stuff. They are usually from France, and you will probably not meet them at all.
I have only met very nice school classes in the huts, they fetched all the water and wood and went to bed early after having spent lots of energy both on the trail and and in the evening (we had made sure the hut was warm when they arrived). But I have encountered guided groups which have occupied more of the common area in the hut than they "should". And then again I have also shared huts with groups that really made sure they didn't.

You can book in advance at Kebnekaise, and it may be crowded there as well as in the other huts at Easter. The best way to avoid the crowdedness is not to start in the weekend. You will, however, always be given a place to sleep indoors in all huts which are not close to a road even if it is crowded, and most people are good at sharing the crowded space.

The trail from Tjäktja to Nallo can be used in winter, but be aware of the risk of avalanches on the steep way down towards Nallo.

I hope you will have a nice trip, and maybe we will meet since I go there at Easter most years.

 

[phrick]

Thank you for all your replies.
I will start on April 1, so it won´t be easter and also not a weekend so I think it will not be too crowded. I have a pair of snowshoes that will do the job.
I just have one more question. Do the winds are too strong there? I mean, I´ve used my tent in places like Andes (+5100m), Canada and specially Patagonia that the wind is too strong. Is it a concern in Lapland??

Thank you again..

 

[whynot]

There is good weather statistics over the area (Tarfala weather station) from 2001 to 2013, the link http://www.kebnekaise.nu/se/vader/statistik.php?station=20290.
The area is quite large and it may be some variations, but roughly, you can figure out what the weather has been / could be in the area.

 

[smux]

Hi, except for the first and last day of your planned trip you will be above the tree limit thus fully exposed to weather. The distance to north Atlantic in the west is very small, so weather can change rapidly and storm force winds can occur. Along the planned route, you will have huts and a few windshelters that can provide potection in case needed. Please be aware that there is no mobile coverage along the trail so you are not able to search for your own weather forcasts (except close to Kebnekaise mountain hut in case you have a TeliaSonera sim card or are roaming through TeliaSonera). The manned huts along the trail could however sometimes provide weatherforcasts provided they are within FM radio coverage.
Abisko National Park is located in a valley and you will be little more protected from low birch forest, the same applies on the trip between Kebnekaise mountain station to Nikkaloukta.

The link below will give you a map with distances in km between the huts:
http://www.svenskaturistforeningen..../Lappland/kingstrail/Abisko--Nikkaluokta/Map/

Good to know is also that you are not allowed to pitch your tent in Abisko NP except on a few marked places which can be seen on the map in this link:
http://www.naturvardsverket.se/en/Enjoying-nature/Protected-areas/National-Parks/Abisko/