Day 8: Alesjaure – Unna Allakas
Starring: A pack of reindeer – sooo close!
Our alarm clock goes at 7:15 again and today we don’t have much to pack. Elisabeth feels a little sick, so we skip breakfast and still it takes until 8:45 until we get away. Right from the hut we have a beautiful view of the Alesjaure – Tjäktja route. The Tjäktja pass, what a wonderful memory! If you’re wondering and don’t understand what we are talking about – last year we got engaged right there – here’s last year’s article (in German language right now, translation is ongoing).
Blick von Alesjaure in Richtung Tjäktja, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 35mm, 1/100s, Blende 11, ISO 200
Alesjaurestugan, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 30mm, 1/80s, Blende 11, ISO 200Lustwandler Panorama: Ein Klick öffnet das Bild und man kann sich umsehen!
The weather is better than predicted yesterday, it’s not raining, the less wind than yesterday and there are even some sunbeams – always depending on where you are looking!
Alisjávri und Alesjaurestugorna, Blick in Richtung Visttasvággi, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 28mm, 1/500s, Blende 8, ISO 200
Blick in Richtung Tjäktjapass, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 35mm, 1/320s, Blende 8, ISO 200Our way leads from Alesjaure up to the pass. Alesjaure is about 800 metres above sea level, the pass between Gárddečohkka and Tjålmeåive is slightly above 1,200 metres. The landscape becomes accordingly barren and rough and there are still some snow fields.
The following panorama was created during the descent from the pass, about three hours after our start in Alesjaure. Our way leads down to the plateau north-east of Snárapoaivi and we ford at the outflow of the middle lake. Here we are lucky, the water level is low and we can cross from stone to stone.
Lustwandler Panorama: Ein Klick öffnet das Bild und man kann sich umsehen!
Einfache Flussquerung von Stein zu Stein, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 16mm, 1/250s, Blende 8, ISO 200
Der Weg über das Plateau, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 35mm, 1/60s, Blende 8, ISO 200Despite the long day yesterday we are quite fit today, my torn sideband doesn’t cause any problems in the hiking shoe, Elisabeth has recovered again and so we make good progress. The way is quite stony, sometimes swampy, but on the whole good to walk.
North-east of the Stuor Allagas there are a few smaller lakes, the terrain is slightly hilly and suddenly I see some antlers! Quickly the lens changed and – ducked! – I walked closer to the edge of the terrain. Then slowly straighten up and – picture! However, the friends are attentive and the direction of the wind is against me – I am identified and the pack increases the distance quite relaxed. We are happy about the opportunity to see these beautiful animals so close!
Friedlich grasende Rentiere, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, 300mm, 1/640s, Blende 5.6, ISO 1250
Jetzt haben sie mich gewittert…, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, 300mm, 1/640s, Blende 5.6, ISO 1250
Zwei wachsame Rentiere, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, 300mm, 1/640s, Blende 5.6, ISO 1250
Mit stolzem Schritt, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, 300mm, 1/640s, Blende 5.6, ISO 1000
Ein seltenes helles Rentier, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, 300mm, 1/640s, Blende 5.6, ISO 1250
Altes Rentier mit prächtigem Geweih, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, 300mm, 1/640s, Blende 5.6, ISO 1250After this great experience it doesn’t take long and at about 14 o’clock we reach the end of the plateau and the Abiskodalen lies at our feet. Neither words nor pictures can give you an idea of how unbelievable this sight was. The Abiskodalen glows in autumn colours, behind it one sees the high mountains in the border area of Sweden and Norway. Embedded in this landscape are the huts of Unna Allakas (Unna: “Small”, Allakas: “Hill”), which we reach after 17km (according to the signs 15km) at about 15:30 o’clock.
Lustwandler Panorama: Ein Klick öffnet das Bild und man kann sich umsehen!
Steinmännchen hoch ober dem Abiskodalen, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, 93mm, 1/125s, Blende 8, ISO 800
Unna Allakas, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 35mm, 1/50s, Blende 11, ISO 400
Blick von Unna Allakas in Richtung Norwegen, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 35mm, 1/100s, Blende 8, ISO 400When we arrive, there is only one guest in the hut named Moritz, funny enough also from the Outdoorforum. Since we did not eat on the way, we first prepare tea and soup and afterwards eat bread and Salamella. Later in the afternoon we have a group of 6 Israelis and a Swedish hiker, who eats only in the hut and otherwise prefers his tent. Unna Allakas has a very nice sauna, this time we can go together again. The evening is cosy, we chat with Moritz and the Stugvärd, eat fried noodles from Knorr and drink beer and cola – here in Unna Allakas is already end-of-season sale 🙂
As if we hadn’t had enough luck today with the fantastic views, the good weather and our beloved reindeers – as we look out of the hut in the early evening, northern lights are actually visible in the sky, although it is quite bright through the moon. The following pictures were taken at 22:30, the first one towards Abisko, the second one towards Norway (Cunojavvre).
Aurora borealis in Unna Allakas, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 16mm, 30/1s, Blende 4, ISO 1600
Aurora borealis über dem Storsteinsfjellet, © Markus Proske — Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, 16mm, 30/1s, Blende 4, ISO 1600
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