Wednesday 23/8

There was some intermittent drizzle at first, followed by intermittent wind, but most of the night was more or less still and I slept well. The morning was somewhat chilly, but not overly so, and there was only a weak wind blowing. Clouds covered the entirety of the sky, but visibility was unhampered and the cover seemed to be slowly growing lighter. As I had breakfast with blueberries inside the shelter patches of blue started appearing, and there was some weak sunlight as I broke camp. When I left after 10, however, it was back to overcast.

A bug that posed...

...on the tent

I followed a reindeer path across the nearby hills above the valley floor, keeping to the western slope, going over various small wet areas and brooks. As I neared the southern end of the valley the view ahead expanded, showing league upon league of lowlands, but rather than descending to those I went upwards, rounding the outrunner making up the western wall. There were more reindeer paths to follow between and upon the hills making up the slope, and once I had reached the crest the view was even wider and far-reaching (surprise).

Leaving the shelter

Tarn passage

Lunndörren opening up behind

Niche in Gruvfjället

Lowlands below

Better view of Lunndörren

Wide

Low

Looking into the distance...

...towards Storsjön

I maintained my altitude as I turned northwards again, passing just below another set of hills until I first caught sight of Lill-Lunndörren, which made a striking impression from this vantage point. From there I continued about halfway between the central stream and the steeper parts of the slope for a good distance, eventually drifting down onto the valley floor. The clouds were now breaking up again, and I had some sunlight as I approached the pass. The terrain here was rather nice, and after passing a nice reflecting pool and a subsequent area of heath I sat down upon a rock at 12:15 for lunch, enjoying the fair weather.

After that things got flowery for a bit before I reached the rock fields in the pass itself, which I navigated with some care. On the other side Lillådörren sprawled out in all its tarn-riddled glory, and I immediately switched to the western side in order to avoid a ford later on. The terrain was varied and uneven, with a few rocky portions, and after first keeping close to the water I stayed higher up, usually following some reindeer path or other. At one point I took out the map to check my progress and came to the conclusion that I would be better served by not staying higher up, so I approached the stream again as I proceeded. The sun had been clouded for some time and an ache had developed in my left ankle to boot.

The flowery bit

Looking back from the pass

Looking ahead from the pass

Down in Lillådörren

Pass behind

Stones ahead

As I reached an area of small pools I passed between various hills to make a snug turn around the northernmost point of Nörder-Storådörrfjället, utilizing well-trodden reindeer paths to navigate said rises, which were good to have since there were steep portions and unexpected hollows. The lower valley was now visible in full, but it would soon fade as I was headed into Storådörren. Having completed the turn I went down towards the new central stream, seeing as how my current level was too hilly for comfort, and forded it easily at the first opportunity. I was now feeling somewhat spent, albeit not actually tired, so I started hunting for campsites now that the impressive U-shape of Storådörren was towering before me. Having reaching a small intersecting brook I found a bumpy one at 15:15, but immediately thereafter spotted a much better patch, and soon decided that this was to be my abode for the night.

Some pools at...

...the bumpy end of the valley

Drawing close to...

...Storådörren

As I pitched the tent the sun returned, and it was rather a nice afternoon. After having some dried reindeer meat I went over to the brook to have a good wash, which was cold but refreshing. I spent some quiet time outside, and feeling some rather acute stiffness coming on turned to stretching. I saw one other person going southwards on the other side of the valley, but other than that there was no movement, save for a mosquito or two (but no more; most of those had apparently called it quits for the summer). I made dinner in the shelter of the tent to escape the wind and then ate in more sunlight, feeling rather good.

Good spot

Came from there

Neighbors

Smaller neighbor

The sun stayed out most of the time until it disappeared behind Synder-Storådörrfjället, and so did I. The wind had turned chilly so I spent most of the remaining evening in the tent, going out a few times to catch the light playing on the higher reaches. The sky was all but clear and it looked like it was going to be a cold night; temperatures were already down noticeably. When the last light faded I returned inside to read, and eventually called it a night at 22:00.