Sarek and Kungsleden

[Bradley30]

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong place, I'm afriad I do not speak Swedish!

I am travelling to Sweden in July to hike in Sarek national park and north up the Kungsleden.

I would like some advice on bears in this area. I am used to hiking in Canada where precautions against bears are necessary when camping. What precautions are recommended in northern Sweden? Is is advisable to carry a bear canister to protect food etc?

Any advice or thoughts would be very helpful.

Many thanks!

 

[Jörgen Fjaderlatt.se]

Hi Brad,
Welcome to Sweden.
I would say that you do not need to take the slightest precaution against bears in that, or any area i Sweden. Last summer I hiked through the bear densest area in Sweden (far south of Sarek) and did not see a single bear. I have not had any bear incidents around camp in Sweden after four decades of hiking. It is very different from parts of the States and Canada, where I have had bear incidents.

Jörgen

 

[eaglerock]

The Swedish bears are rather shy and won't be a problem. (Feel lucky if you see one - and don't be afraid, They won't go after your food.)

But if you are trekking in July you will need precautions against the mosquitos which which can be really annoying this time of the year. Around mid-August they will usually have disappeared.

In Sarek the greatest danger will be river-crossings since there are almost no bridges. You will also need to carry all your food for that part of the trek. Along Kungsleden you can buy supplies in every second hut that you'll pass along the trail.

 

[avslutat-1105]

In Sarek the greatest danger will be river-crossings since there are almost no bridges.

Unless he meant that he would be following Kungsleden through Sarek. There are plenty of bridges along the trail.

And I agree with previous posters about the bears. They are very shy and prefer hiding - they may be watching you, but you almost certainly will not see them.


...until it's TOO LATE!

No, just kidding. They mostly eat blueberries.

 

[mnen]

The onlyones that have to be careful of bears in Sweden is the ones that hunt them!

 

[jimtoy]

No need to worry at all. You can even have your food in your tent. It's not like Canada in Sweden.

 

[grodanbolle]

Well, don´t charge one if u are lycky to see one.

 

[tobiasdr]

Apparently, the Swedish brown bears are docile and shy compared to their North American counterparts. As far as I know, there has only been one known casaulty during the entire 20th century where the bear was not provoked (a few hunters have died though, trying to kill charging bears with guns having too small bores).

You should be considered lucky if you get to see one. The bear population is estimated at circa 2500, and this is spread over really huge areas (100000+ km^2). If you're really paranoid, you could carry a bell while walking through the lowland forests.