Friday 22/2

I passed a group of reindeer at once, who remained in place just looking at me, and then continued around the northernmost cliff of Lulip Muorahisčohkka. After that I proceeded down the slope at an angle, crisscrossing between rocks and drops and grassy mounds, all the while with no or very little contrast as the sun was still hidden in these parts. Down in Alisvággi I skied to the right of Luoktekluoppal, and then headed west.

Passing some reindeer...

...close by

Rounding Lulip Muorahisčohkka

Cloudy above Šielmmávággi

Down Alisvággi

Up Alisvággi

Somewhat lighter in the distance

Down in the valley

Northeast

Now the clouds were quickly breaking apart above and in front of me, and before long I emerged into full sunlight. I crossed the northern part of the eastern one of Luoktekjávrrit, noting both an old snowmobile track, a winding fox track, and an ermine track. I went up the northern slope at a shallow angle, soon finding myself in an area of small hills intersecting my line of motion, which necessitated some more crisscrossing, during which the sun was clouded once more. The continuation of the valley looked rather stony, but I continued upwards, turning the corner to Njivleriehppi. I climbed between rocks beside a nice-looking hollow, and when the sun came back I saw fit to stop at a good intermediate crest in the middle of the slope up to the 1251 point at 12:15.

Clearing

Going west

More clouds behind

Sun behind Alip Muorahisčohkka

Having passed Luoktekjávrrit

Flatter lands

Climbing

More clouds again

Stony Njivleriehppi

The sun was out for most of my lunch, but the higher peaks far off to the southwest were cut in half – and not much of Rivgojiehkki closer by could be seen either. Then the clouds started descending, and before I knew it they had covered all the nearby tops and then some. Rather than risking ending up in a fog I therefore started the return journey, doing some turns in the adjacent hollow before crossing my own tracks and keeping a lower route back to Luoktekjávrrit, taking it slow since I had no contrast to reveal small-scale terrain features.

I skied on the southern side of the valley this time, and once I had gone far enough to look around Ážik I saw that Abiskoalperna were still sunlit, albeit cloud-capped. I crossed my tracks anew and followed a less direct course up around Lulip Muorahisčohkka, returning to the tracks again near the top of the steeper slope, where there was a chilling wind. Looking back down I saw snowmobile lights heading my way, so I wasted no time in covering the last bit, which saw me back at Tjäktja at 14:45, once again observed by the reindeer.

Stopped around here

Light still

Desolate

Sinking clouds

Heading down again

Back in the valley

Sun spots

At Luoktekluoppal

Blue hues

Ascending

Better around Alesjaure

Home in sight

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