Thursday 29/6

As I started walking the sun slipped behind cloud feathers that were approaching from the south, but it was not obscured all the time. I followed the Alesjaure trail, veering off on a reindeer path when I came to a narrow plateau in the slope, heading straight for the rise of Unna Allagas. I paid some attention to the ground, seeing both an increased amount of leaves and a good deal of low flowers. I made my way up zigzagging on grass between small cliffs, and from the first crest I spotted the Dutch crossing the first stream on their way to Abiskojaure. I went on eastwards atop the ridge, both seeing and hearing rough-legged buzzards in and around the cliffs ahead. These cliffs I climbed without too much trouble, but at some point I hit a "dead end" and had to backtrack a bit. I made my way over to the eastern end, going up the last part from the southeast, and then stood looking at the nice but more or less barren view for a good while. The sun was coming out again, but soon enough it passed into a large cloud bank that was coming from the west, and I started the descent.

Storsteinsfjell

Unna Allakas

Low flowers

Goržžijohka fall

More flowers

Tarns below

Abiskoalperna rising

Reflective Čunojávri

Waterfall closeup

Storsteinsfjell's summits

Even more flowers

Ruovssokjohka's course

One of the rough-legged buzzards

Allagasjávri

Abiskoalperna from the eastern end of Unna Allagas

Snárapjávri and the valley below

I picked my way down the southern side; it was somewhat steep with small ledges, but it was not too difficult. Close to the stream from Allagasjávri there was quite a bit of osier, so I mostly kept my distance from it as I progressed westwards through the little valley. For a while it seemed as though the cloud bank would break up, but then it got denser instead. I followed reindeer paths at times, stumbling upon a grassy patch that could support a tent; otherwise the terrain was bumpy and bushy. Ahead of me the sky was growing ominously dark behind Rádječohkat, and closer at hand I passed a curious ring of stones in the ground. Then I walked on the trail for a short bit, soon turning off towards the little rise immediately northwest of the lake. In front of me there were some reindeer resting on a snowfield, and as I approached they got up and walked to and fro. I ascended the rise from the north, having to use my hands at some point, and then sat down against a rock close to its western end just after 12.

Down at the bottom

Circle

Lone marker

Some reindeer being...

...their cautiously curious selves

I had lunch at once, looking out over a land of shadow; the sky was covered by clouds save for the remote area around Torneträsk. There was a bit of wind as well, but it was not chilly. I sat calmly for some time, but when I felt a few drops falling I got up. I went downwards at an angle until I came upon the trail and then followed that for a bit before breaking off towards the "source tarn", and then walked down the next slope. There had been no more drops, and as I was approaching the cottage before 13:00 I thought that the clouds were about to split apart.

Lunch site view...

...close to home

Closer to home

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