People on the trail
The fjelds extend over a very large area, and constitute what is sometimes popularly labelled Europe's last wilderness. While this can only partially be said to be true, it is a fact that the fjelds – especially the Swedish ones – are less exploited and simply more remote than other mountain areas like the Alps. Here, one can walk for days and days without running into any signs of civilization – or another human, for that matter, depending on the region and time period of choice. As a consequence quite a few foreign visitors find their way to the fjelds, and going for tours of varying length and difficulty has long been a staple of the Swedish people, not to mention the Norwegian one.
The fjelds make up a unique terrain type with specialized flora and fauna and hold great natural beauty. There is an extensive network of marked trails in both summer and winter, with solar-powered assistance phones at strategic locations, and accommodation of differing standard is offered far from roads of any kind in many places. There are also vast expanses of more or less untouched ground for those who wish to find their own way and camp out, and it is usually quite possible to combine these two types of visits.
In other words: There is something for everyone!
Fjelds and mountains
The mountain range Skanderna, or the Scandinavian Mountains, runs along the border between Sweden and Norway and is a remnant of the mighty Caledonian Mountains that arose hundred of millions of years ago. Because of its ancient roots the cumulative erosion has been extensive to say the least, and as a result the shapes of most of the present-day constituent mountains are not nearly as jagged as those of younger ranges, such as the Alps or the Himalayas, and the height of the peaks is similarly moderate from an international perspective.
Rounded shapes in the Vĺlĺdalen region
This difference is upheld in Swedish, where we see berg as a general word meaning ”mountain”, and fjäll that refers to the domestic (and bordering) mountains high enough to reach above the tree line. The latter word derives from Old Norse fjall, the descendant of which in contemporary English is fell. The meaning of that term is however ambiguous, and in many cases refers to what should be called ”hills” or just ”highland” rather than mountains – and it is mostly found in England. Some regions also recognize fiell or fjell, and then there's the form fjeld, which most likely is a loan from Danish. Having grown up with the berg/fjäll dichotomy, I find it somewhat difficult – for lack of a better word – to employ the word ”mountains” when speaking exclusively of Skanderna, and therefore I have settled upon one of the Norse cognates instead. The reason it became ”fjelds” in particular is that I first heard of that word in childhood, and it has stuck ever since.
To illustrate the difference, consider the examples below. The first picture is most definitely a berg (mountain), and the middle one is first and foremost a fjäll (fjeld), whereas the peaks in the last one could be called either. Note, though, that there are no clear boundaries, and that different persons have different ideas regarding what to call what; I'm sure many people would not even bother to use anything other than berg in Swedish or ”mountain” in English, but I'm equally sure that no one would refer to the Himalayas as fjäll in general.
Lhotse, Himalayas
Mĺskásjgájsse, Kvikkjokksfjällen
Unna Reaiddávággi, Kebnekaise
Visiting the fjelds
Camp (almost) anywhere
The fjelds, like most of Sweden, are freely accessible to anyone under Allemansrätten, which literally means Everyman's Right, but it is more formally known as the Right of Public Access to the Wilderness. This right has ancient roots, and since 1994 its validity is enforced in the Swedish constitution. It grants the people – any people – the privilege of free roaming across lands which are not specifically marked as residential, including the right to set up temporary camp and to pick flowers, mushrooms and berries provided that they are not red-listed, regardless of who owns the land. But, as usual, with freedom comes responsibility, and there are a number of prohibitions that are also part of Allemansrätten, adequately summed up in the simple phrase ”inte störa – inte förstöra” (”do not disturb – do not destroy”). Regional regulations may also restrict what is allowed in the first place, such as bird sanctuaries or the ban on tenting in Abisko National Park. But other than that, the fjelds are open to anyone, anytime.
For drinking
General hiking in the fjelds requires no special equipment other than regular camping gear and suitable maps where trails, facilities, bridges etc. are marked, which are sold in various places both online and offline – look for Fjällkartan, but there are also alternatives printed on more robust materials. If one chooses to hike between cottages only the demands are lowered further still, but be sure to bring stuff that can withstand rain and wind of the more severe variety, as such conditions are commonplace. It is, however, also entirely possible to make ”harder” tours, for example on the many glaciers – but that does require special equipment and, first and foremost, knowledge.
A common measure of expected speed is 3–4 km/hour, but this figure also depends on the type of terrain, inclination, and, of course, the visitor's physical condition and pack size. Most peaks can be reached without climbing skills, but there are a handful that require such (still a cakewalk by international standards, though). The waters are clean, so any rill, stream, river, lake or sizeable pond will do nicely for drinking. In May the spring flood makes hiking more or less impossible, but skiing may still be done in higher areas.
Seasonal mix
The hiking season starts in the middle of June when the plants blossom, but something else which also arrives is the mosquitos, which are not to be discounted. The second half of July and the first half of August constitute the high, but after that visitors – and the mosquitos – grow more sparse. September comes with an explosion of autumn colors, and water levels are as low as they get, but the risk for snow is also appreciable. The following period is generally inhospitable and in midwinter the days are short and the cold is usually severe, so the skiing season is delayed until the middle or end of February – at least as far as STF is concerned. The light progressively grows, and in April it can be rather warm and sunny – but this time of year the weather is usually fairly unstable. Winter tours in the fjelds place higher demands on visitors, as the cold winds and blizzards can quickly turn a situation life-threatening, but with some common sense and proper equipment it is a joy gliding across the silent white lands, as the snow and ice often facilitate progress.
In short, the fjelds offer a wide range of challenges and opportunities and are mostly to be regarded as friendly, but one should always be respectful of them. The weather is notoriously prone to very sudden changes, and the extremes can be extreme indeed – especially in winter. It is a simple matter of being prepared for what might come to pass, so that one can savor all the other times when the sun shines from a clear sky upon a tract of raw Nature extending to the horizon – and beyond.
Jagged shapes in the Kebnekaise area
Transportation
There are many starting points for tours in the fjelds, quite a few of which are easily accessible through public transportation. During the tourist seasons many buses to and from the fjelds match up with the trains and a combination ticket can usually be booked in advance. For areas further from the railroad system, bus or car is usually the way to go. See the Map section for more precise locations and the Associations and links section for links to transport companies.
Abisko lies along both a railroad and a car road and this combined with its status as one of the endpoints of Kungsleden makes it a very popular choice as both start and finish. Nikkaluokta is easily reached by bus from Kiruna for tours around Kebnekaise and the northern part of Kungsleden, and from Gällivare another bus reaches Kebnats/Saltoluokta, Suorva, Vakkotavare and Ritsem for tours in Stora Sjöfallet, Padjelanta and Sarek. To Kvikkjokk, the other natural starting point for Padjelanta and Sarek, one travels by bus from Murjek/Jokkmokk, and Ammarnäs and Hemavan on the edges of Vindelfjällen have connections from Sorsele and Storuman on the E45 road. Much of the fjelds of Jämtland can be reached by a combination of train and bus services, with Storulvĺn and Vĺlĺdalen as the two main gateways, but a car gives you more flexibility and also opens up more remote locations such as Skäckerfjällen. Ljungdalen near Helags also has a bus connection with Ĺsarna and Svenstavik on the E45.
Railroad platform in Abisko
Bus in Sjöfallsdalen
Car road to Nikkaluokta
Several major trails are drawn across large bodies of water which cannot be circumvented, and where these are wide enough to make bridges impractical there is typically a boat service in place.
Along the official trail system three rowing boats are placed at such crossings every summer, so that it should always be possible to get across from both directions (do the math),
but in many places there are private motorboat services as well, often run by local Sámi (bring cash) or sometimes by STF. The latter also have a large tour boat on
Láŋas servicing Saltoluokta and used to operate one on Áhkájávrre as well for travel between Ritsem and
Änonjálmme/
Rowing boat in Dievssajávri
Motorboat in Dievssajávri
M/S Langas, Saltoluokta line
Helicopter transport is offered in several places, both with fixed tours and as a (much more expensive) charter service. Before opting for those, however, do consider the environmental impact and the sensitive status of the fjelds, where the glaciers melt at an alarming rate even now. In winter there are some transport routes travelled by snowmobiles and snowcats, but these are often subject to restrictions. A means of transportation closer to nature during that season is dogsleds, tours with which are offered by several companies for those so inclined.
Helicopter at Vistas
Snowcats at Sylarna
Dogsleds at Nallo
The Sámi people
Reindeer herd
Unbeknownst to some, Sweden has an aboriginal population in the form of the Sámi people. The region that the Sámi inhabit – called Sápmi – is, however, not constrained to Sweden, but extends through parts of Norway, Finland and Russia as well, and here they have lived since the last ice age, before the present majority population found their way to the area. Originally they made a living hunting and fishing, but at some point they began focusing on one type of prey in particular: the reindeer, which was eventually domesticated to some degree, and in the 17th century reindeer husbandry had become the main source of income for many Sámi. Today this traditional occupation is still a hallmark of the Sámi people – especially as far as public perception is concerned – but of the about 20,000–40,000 Sámi that live in Sweden (out of a total of about 80,000–100,000 throughout Sápmi) only about 4700 are reindeer herders. The rest have ”normal” jobs and/or concentrate on other traditional trades like hunting, fishing and handicraft, and most of the reindeer herders also do other things on the side.
Hut of older make
The reindeer are deeply linked to the fjelds, and so are the Sámi. For thousands of years the latter have followed the natural rhythm of the former, moving between highland and woodland with the change of the seasons. Consequently the Sámi have acquired profound knowledge of the nature and climate of the North – they had no choice if they wanted to survive, as conditions can be pretty harsh. They have not stayed on the sidelines in the industrial age, though, so nowadays they utilize modern equipment like snowmobiles and helicopters in managing their reindeer – the last rajd (reindeer-powered move) took place in the 1950s and the traditional huts have mostly been abandoned for houses of contemporary make. But make no mistake – the fjelds are still the domain of the Sámi.
Flags of Sweden and Sápmi
Like many other nomadic peoples the Sámi ran into trouble with fledgling nations wanting to lay down borders, and as always it was the nomads who were forced to yield to their ”new masters”. In the 17th century the Kingdom of Sweden concentrated on conquering the northern parts of Scandinavia for real, and one of its main tools for this purpose was the Christian church. The original natural religion of the Sámi had up until then coexisted peacefully with Christianity, but with the backing of the state the church started a crusade of sorts, desecrating their ancient sacred grounds, burning their ceremonial drums and forcing them to attend services in churches far away from their dwellings. Around the turn of the previous century the Swedish government was becoming concerned that the Sámi were getting too assimilated into society, and the mantra Lapp shall be Lapp became the guiding principle of an educational system that would guarantee the continued inferiority of the reindeer herding people – the woodland Sámi were given no particular thought.
For in full accordance with the history of the mastery of the White Man over aboriginal peoples all over the world, the Sámi were long regarded as a lesser race, and their way of life viewed as primitive and uncivilized – especially around the abovementioned turn-of-the-century, given the prevailing ideas of racial hygiene and nationalism. Time after time they have been subjected to aggression – not of war, but of the intrusion of industry into sensitive areas with a living history, always in the all-powerful name of Progress. The prime example of this is of course the extensive construction of hydroelectric plants in the northern rivers, a process which destroyed vast areas that the Sámi had inhabited in peace much longer than anyone can remember. It drowned invaluable cultural traces, and compelled entire tribes to flee the rising waters. Also for other reasons many Sámi were relocated by force, and much has been lost, both substantial and immaterial. To cut a long, sad story very short, both the Swedish church and the Swedish nation have a lot to be ashamed of.
Paintings of Sámi in traditional garments
Nowadays the situation is two-fold. On the one hand many Sámi reindeer herders are struggling with difficult winters, predation pressure and legal clashes with private property owners, and some of the old xenophobia and Lapp shall be Lapp mentality can still be found in places. On the other hand many young Sámi who earlier may have wanted to hide their ancestry are now proud of it instead, and it is not at all uncommon to see the traditional kolt dress on school graduation ceremonies and the like in places like Jokkmokk or Kiruna.
And, of course, many Sámi run businesses geared towards tourism in the fjelds, offering genuine perspectives and a taste of the traditions of yore. On the whole there is an increased interest in the Sámi culture and heritage among non-Sámi, strengthened by the emergence of several successful Sámi music artists mixing traditional jojk with more modern tones. Let us hope that we have now in a way come full circle, only that this time the people of the high north can receive their neighbors in a mutual setting of peace and respect.
The Sámi language(s)
The Sámi language is actually a group of closely related languages in the Finno-Ugric family, but for classification purposes they are regarded as dialects – or varieties – of one language. These sub-languages are in turn grouped into three main divisions: East Sámi (Russia and Finland), Central Sámi (Finland, Norway and Sweden) and South Sámi (Norway and Sweden). The boundaries between these groups cut straight across national borders, but they are not in any way sharp or rigid. In Sweden the main varieties are North Sámi, Lule Sámi and South Sámi, ordered by number of speakers, but there are also some smaller dialects that are close to extinction. Speakers of adjacent varieties can usually understand one another, but the longer the distance the greater the differences. The relationship between Lule Sámi and North Sámi might be likened to that of the Scandinavian languages, whereas South Sámi to Inari Sámi (one of the East Sámi varieties) is more like Swedish to German.
Bierikbákte in Sarek
Since the fjelds and other large areas of northern Sweden have been populated and/or utilized by the Sámi for a very long time, the majority of place names in those regions were originally given by them. Such names are almost always descriptive in nature – and of nature – and with only a basic understanding of some common terms one can learn a lot just from looking at the map. For example, in Sarek National Park we have Gĺrttjevárátja (”small waterfall mountains”), Jĺgĺsjgaskatjĺhkkĺ (”peak between brooks”) and Tjievrra (”gravel”). Other names may have a meaning that requires more analysis, such as Bietsávrre (”pine lake”) which tells of historic terrain features as there are no pines there now, or Bierikbákte (”fool's cliff”) which might have earned its name by being notoriously difficult to climb.
In line with the Swedish government's destructive policies regarding the Sámi, their children never got a chance to use their mother tongue in school for much of the 20th century – and could even face punishment if they tried – so by and by the old native language was suppressed or forgotten. Like many other aboriginal peoples the Sámi had no written language, and as a consequence words were changed to various degrees when they were brought into official records, such as road signs and maps, to better suit Swedish vocalization. This process eradicated many a nuance and distinctive mark, and of course served to further devaluate the language. Today less than half of the Sámi population can and do speak their native tongue, always in conjunction with a majority language.
Twin road sign in both Swedish and North Sámi outside Abisko
In the late 1960s Lantmäteriet, the Swedish geodesy authority, introduced a special ”map orthography” which was employed throughout the fjelds, regardless of the very real and important regional differences. For example, the words for ”lake” – jávri, jávrre, jávrrie, jaevrie – were all simplified to jaure. In the 1950s North Sámi was given a uniform orthography which was amended in the late 1970s, South Sámi was standardized in 1978, and Lule Sámi got its official writing system as late as 1983.
Through a series of decisions by Lantmäteriet since then, based upon a United Nations resolution from 1972 about the status of minority languages (Sámi being an official minority language in Sweden since the year 2000), these orthographies have found their way onto the maps as well, which now finally reflect the original names in an accurate manner. Many road signs in the northern areas also display both the Swedish name and the Sámi counterpart, where available.
One can bring forth several reasons as to why adopting these name forms also ”for personal use” may be a good idea:
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The practical argument
As outlined above the modern fjeld maps employ Sámi orthography, but in many cases the older spelling is printed in parallel. If one compares sequential revisions, however, it is clear that the frequency of those cases is dropping in favor of the Sámi forms, so it is likely that within a decade or two only the more well-known names will still appear in their old shapes. By then the non-simplified words will be the norm, and the new generation that takes its first steps in the fjelds will know of nothing else. Then the rest of us will no longer have a choice, so it is reasonable to make the transition now, to give possibly unfamiliar forms time to sink in and take root. -
The emotional argument
If one considers the treatment the Sámi people has been forced to endure in this country (let's call a spade a spade – it's racism, pure and simple), the act of in a sense returning the lands to their original inhabitants may seem entirely appropriate. The Sámi language was long regarded as worthless and its speakers risked persecution just by using it, so the fact that it is now in full display in its true shape on official maps might be seen as poetic justice of sorts – these are, after all, the original names. -
The aesthetical argument
Depending on one's views and sentiments, the Sámi name forms may hold greater aesthetic value than the simplified ones (I submit Čeakčačohkka and Reaiddáčohkka versus Tjäktjatjĺkka and Räitatjĺkka for consideration). Sometimes these forms may be decidedly more difficult to pronounce (Moarhmmábákti versus Mĺrmapakte immediately comes to mind), which in itself might pique the interest of select groups of people. -
The legal argument
There is a Swedish law that governs how public institutions should treat place names of various origins, and this law clearly states that name forms that have been approved for use on official maps shall be used in that form in all other contexts, effectively making Lantmäteriet the authority on which names are the ”correct” ones.
As for myself, I find merit in all of the above, so the decision was easy for me. See the About section for more information, and the Names section for an index of place names.
Čeakčačohkka from Reaiddáčohkka, Kebnekaise area