Saturday 3/3 – Thursday 8/3
Between tours
Saturday 3/3
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Eclipsed moon
Visibility was fairly good, but the wind was still strong and snow drifted by in alarming volumes down in the valley, sometimes reaching up to engulf the station in whiteness as well. I expended some worry about the three men I knew were en route from Singi, and at 15 I was calmed by seeing them unload outside the reception. They were probably in luck arriving when they did, for things got even worse as the afternoon was passing into evening.
That evening saw my premiere in the restaurant – and as if to get things going fast we were hosting an invitational dinner for the population of Nikkaluokta (which isn't that large), and there was also a group from Fjällräven there, plus a few "normal" guests. Among the latter were the familiar trio, so it was natural that I took care of them. The evening progressed fairly well, although things were somewhat muddled most of the time. Afterwards the wind had subsided to some degree but it was still appreciable, and the clouds had given way to stars and a moon which was about to be eclipsed, so I stayed up watching that.
Sunday 4/3
This day was in many ways the opposite of the preceding one, with cold, clear and calm weather. Since I was working at breakfast I got a chance to say a proper good-bye to the two Germans; the Swiss stayed for another night. The storm had taken its toll on the snow cover both in the valley and on many a slope – it looked really bare at places. Furthermore, the restaurant was extremely calm and quiet during dinner, with a whopping three guests, so Malin and I who staffed it could get away early. The stars'n'moon were in display again, and the sheen on the wind-polished surfaces in and around the valley was enchanting.
Monday 5/3
This was another free day, and I used it for another day tour. Yet again the morning was mostly clear, with a bit of a haze high to the west, and the sun was warming. Now I turned my attention to Darfálčorru: the long rise that makes up the eastern wall of Darfálvággi.
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After unpacking I went to the sauna together with several others from the staff,
and we spent quite some time talking in the relax area between heating sessions.
There were also a pair of Scots there, who were planning on attacking the Peak the following day.
As usual the sauna made me both hungry and tired, so after dinner I did not exert myself in any way.
Tuesday 6/3
It was rather cold when I arose and there was fog in the valley, but it retreated towards the east quite quickly. This day we were three people assigned to clean – Tosse, Petter and myself – and since there was hardly anything to do we were pretty much finished shortly after breakfast. We therefore got extra outside jobs from the janitors, which was not at all unpleasant since it was absolutely clear by then, and the sun gave much warmth. Tosse finished up the last cleaning stuff while Petter and I gouged out stairs in the hard – and slippery – snow slopes between the main building and the service building, and between the former and Skarta.
In the afternoon clouds had started to roll in, hanging low in the east but leaving a hole to the west. In the evening the was a bit of wind and an even smaller bit of snowfall, and to the southwest stars were visible. I took it easy in Skarta and went to bed early.
Wednesday 7/3
A regular work day of the mostly overcast variety, with worsening conditions and snowfall later on. I prepared for another longer tour, and in the evening I and five others had dinner in the restaurant; the staff had been invited to do so in small groups so that the cooks and serving personnel (excluding me this time, of course) would get to practice. The weather forecast for the morrow looked promising, and I called it another early night to be reasonably fresh.
Thursday 8/3
Things started out overcast and a little bit windy, with a white wall to the west, but as the morning progressed it cleared. Clouds remained in the west, however, but just as I was getting ready to leave after lunch it started to clear in that direction as well, and it was both windless and warm.
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