8 day solo trek in Laponia World Heritage Site (Sarek National Park, Sweden), August 2024.
Laponia was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. With its 9,400 square km (3,600 square miles) Laponia is slightly larger than Yellowstone, USA. The Laponia region includes four major national parks (Sarek, Padjelanta, Muddus and Stora Sjöfallet), two nature reserves as well as nine Sami herding units.
The trek passed through the following key waypoints: STF Akka Mountain Cabin (Ritsem) - Padjelanta Trail - Ruohtesvágge Pass - Lake Bierikjávrre - Stora Sjöfallet National Park - Slugga Mountain - Lake Pietsaure - STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station.
This is filmed in Sarek National Park, one of 30 National Parks in Sweden. There are no marked trails in Sarek, nor are there any cabins except for one emergency cabin which you may use for a short break, but not as an overnight shelter. There are several cabins though, but these are all locked and belong to the Sami people, Scandinavia’s indigenous people, who live in the region and use the cabins while reindeer herding. There are only a couple or so bridges that cross rivers that would otherwise be unpassable; all other rivers and creeks must be forded. With heavy rainfall, as was the case for this trek, many smaller creeks that would otherwise be very simple to cross without taking your boots off, could pose significant challenges. The large rivers and streams would be even more challenging, and many times you are left with no other choice than to make camp to try again the next morning as the water level is usually at its lowest in the mornings.
Anyone planning a trek in Sarek or the wider Laponia region will be wise to have alternative plans, plenty of extra food and time. This 8 day trek was originally planned for 13 days, but due to minor injuries and heavy rainfall, I had to choose a shorter route. 2024 was the second worst year in recent times in terms of challenging weather conditions and number of rescues from Sweden’s mountain rescue service.