Wednesday 14/8 – part two

As the train rounded Njullá things got considerably lighter, with higher clouds. I was the only passanger to disembark (or embark, for that matter) in Katterjåkk, going under the railroad via a tunnel to a dirt road leading up beside Gátterjohka. I stopped at the first bend to put on the rucksack properly – and to tie the boots – during which a walker (not "hiker", due to the lack of pack) passed by. Around 18:30 I was ready to leave.

On the platform...

...in Katterjåkk

Not running

I walked upon the road, noting with contentment that the pack felt good and not so heavy, meeting one other person and then the walker who had turned back. A path broke off to the left just before the road reached another ski lift, and this turned out to be the marked trail I was to follow. The subsequent slope made me rather warm, but things got better as a wind picked up near the crest. There I also caught sight of the Katterjaure cottage, still some distance away. Another path took me to the bridge over Gátterjohka, where I observed a brightly colored tent on the northern side of Gátterjávri. It was before 19:30 when I walked up to the cottage, which displayed no signs of being inhabited at the moment.

Vássevággi

Winding road

Following Gátterjohka

Behind

Bridge not marked on the map

Approaching...

...the Katterjaure cottage

I left the pack by the wall and snoped around, confirming that the place was indeed empty (and, therefore, locked) – there were only a few reindeer present outside. I did see another guy up on the trail, however, but he passed down towards Katterjåkk without coming close. I walked over to a nearby little headland at the outflow from the lake hosting an old bulwark from the WWII era, when nearby Narvik was occupied. There was a good spot to the side of the ruin which had obviously been used as a campsite before, so I decided to opt for that and fetched my stuff.

Sildviktinden (and the tent)

The locals

Katterjaure

Lake outflow

Reverse angle

Good spot

Structure of old

After pitching my tent I went for a little walk; the clouds were getting both higher and lighter, and it was a nice evening. I sat on a well-utilized bench looking out over the lake and Sildviktinden across the border until it started getting a bit chilly, at which time I returned to the tent for an evening snack. I do like those. A sudden light show on the surrounding mountainsides had me jumping back out again, but it quickly faded. There was a bit of wind, but the tent appeared to be situated in a sheltered spot, so I didn't need to worry about optimal angles and all that. The time was 22 when I went to bed, feeling tired after a long day – but it felt good to be on the move.