FJALLRAVEN CLASSIC 2011 : CONCLUSION

Hiking the Fjallraven Classic is a great experience everyone should try. the nature is fantastic the organisation has no failure and its a very good way to discover Lapland.

The trail is of medium difficulty with very few "flat" trail. It's all the time rocky and you have to be careful of not sliding when it's wet. The trail is always a little bit up and down and you have to cross moraines, swamps fortuity equipped with wood trails but often under the water line. The biggest difficulty as I can remember was the way just after Kebnekaise and the Tjaktja pass, but nothing impossible. Many people are walking with their children (I guess the youngest was about 8 yo) or with dogs (even very small dogs !). The real difficulty is the one you decide to give to the trail by trying to go fast or put too much weight in your pack, otherwise you can have pleasant time with no stress.

My buddy and I will do it one more time for sure. For myself I will probably tempt the whole Kungsledden in 2013, as a solo hike.

If you are in search of a particular on this trip feel free to leave a comment and your question.

FJALLRAVEN CLASSIC 2011 PART 7 : ABISKO NATIONAL PARK TILL THE END

ABISKO NATIONAL PARK - FINISH LINE

With surprise(and pride!) we noticed that we were able to finish the trail in less than 72 hours and then catch the gold medal. So we hit the trail with no delay heading for the last check point.

 

A very nice surprise was waiting for us : a all you can eat buffet of pancakes, Chantilly marmalade ans coffee !!

We took a little rest at the last check point, chatting for a while with German backpackers then standing on our feet for the last stretch. The trail across Abisko National Park was a bit tricky because there were more trails and at this time it seemed like some work was done in the park and the trails were re-routed with detours. We finally made our way thru   the park and passed the Kungsledden door. Just in front of this door was set a big board with  the indication of the distance to finish line : "500m".

after these last meters with reached some buildings an heard the sound of many people and music. on the left was a big tent with a pub and tables outside passing this point we received applause and a member of the team came to us to shake our hand ! Just after we had to check for the last time confirming our time at less than 72 hours - 71H02minutes - and we were given the medal a patch to sew on a garment or a backpack a soft drink and a candy. We stayed for the night at the Abisko station where there is a restaurant, rooms, showers and sauna. Here you can pickup your luggage and purchase a bus ticket for Kiruna.

FJALLRAVEN CLASSIC PART 6 : SALKA TO ALESJAURE

SALKA-ALESJAURE

We left again early in the morning and headed to the "frightening" Tjaktja Pass. This stage was described as the most difficult stretch of the trail. In fact the pass is just an intense climb on a short distance about from 940 meters at the bottom for 1140 meters at the top on a 200 meters stretch. We climbed it at a pretty good speed, not without having a rest from time to time an taking pleasure with the view to the south and the magnificent valley.  Finally by reaching the summit we found some snow remains, a small cabin and...toilets. 

 

On the other side of the pass the landscape is 100% mineral on some kilometers before gaining in green. The weather also became more friendly with some sun rays but fresh temperatures. 

We passed our intended camp site during the day and joined the Alesjaure checkpoint and its magnificent lake. We had a rest on a beach (no sun tanning) and our dinner.

We walked some more kilometers and established our camp site North of the lake near some others small lakes and not far from a reindeer coral. 

FJALLRAVEN CLASSIC PART 5 : KEBNEKAISE TO SALKA

KEBNEKAISE-SALKA

We left early and headed to Singi check point then Salka Check point.

In my mind this part of the trek was may be the most difficult, with the climb of the tjaktja pass. Mainly because the weather was a bit rainy and the trail slippy with mud and rocks and a up and down all the way from Kebnekaise to Singi. This was widely compensated by the beautiful landscape which were now surrounding us, we were entering the Lapland wilderness. The landscape was now different the trees had disappeared and it was a rocky mountain landscape at first then a ice age valley when heading to the North. The temperatures where close to ice too with no more than 3 to 4°C during the night and may be 8 to 10°C at day time. We finally reached Singi for the lunch break. 

We reached Salka in the evening where we had the nice surprise to find a coffee and cinnamon cake to welcome us!!

We pushed a few kilometers after this checkpoint and camped mid way to Tjaktja pass. 

In green on the map the camp sites we intended to use and in red the camp site we used.

FJALLRAVEN CLASSIC PART 4 : START TO KEBNEKAISE

From Kiruna a bus shuttle bring you to Nikaluokta Fjallstation which is the starting line of the Classic. Here we found, in the big red building, a nice restaurant with a small gift shop. We used the scale outside to weight our full loaded packs (11kg for mine and 11,5 kg for my buddy). Outside, a small stand offers a fast food service. Many people were now gathering, some with their dog. We went to the blue tent for the ultimate check-in. 

 

A few minutes before the start a Sami person gave us a speech and the Sami anthem was song.

Then the "race" began. The trail was overcrowded for some kilometers before each one found his rhythm, balanced his gear and clothes. the path was still very crowded until Kebnekaise check point. We intended to camp before the Kebnekaise check point because with a starting time at 16pm we thought we were not able to join this place before the "night", but as there is no real night in this land and because we were underestimating our stamina we were on time at the Fjallstation for checking and pushed a bit more after that to find a camp site. this task was not that easy because there is not so much place at this point : many people, a river on one side and the mountain on the other. My advice would be to walk some more kilometers, but it was raining a bit and we didn't chose this option.

FJALLRAVEN CLASSIC PART 3 : KIRUNA - LAPLAND DISCOVERY

KIRUNA and LAPLAND

Once in Kiruna the air is much fresher than in Stockholm and the moisture is higher too. 

As we thought the organisation is very good nearly perfect. The buses were on time at the train station, we were welcomed and led to the Operating Center. At the gymnasium containers are parked on the parkway in order to receive your luggage you could wish to be delivered at the finish line like a rolling locker. Each luggage was given a number and you keep the receipt. Then we had to go to the check-in where every participant received a personal information by a member of the Fjallraven team about the race the rule how things work...then you check-in receive your personal logbook with a bar-code which has to be scanned at the starting line in Nikaluokta. After this we took the line to pick-up our gas canister, food, bread, map...even a small store from Naturkompaniet provided the gear one could wish to add to his already too heavy pack !

We then went to the Camp Ripan to book a cabin for the night, it was raining really strong outside and a good night was a good idea before the "race".

Kiruna is a small industrial city with all the facilities you wish for a short stay: grocery, outdoor retailers, pubs, restaurants (Camp Ripan has a good restaurant and breakfast service (restaurant was a bit expensive in my mind)).

Kiruna doesn't offers much activities but you can visit the town, we appreciated the Church, the city hall with an interesting architecture and art exhibition, the great iron mine can also be visited but we didn't.

FJALLRAVEN CLASSIC PART 2 : TRIP TO KIRUNA

We traveled to Stockholm arriving at the Skvasta Airport then to Stockholm by bus without any problem. We let the luggage at the Stockholm Central Station where lockers are at disposal. Lightened of these weights we took a little site seeing in the town that we previously already visited separately. We decided to travel to Kiruna by train despite a plane travel was also possible. the price is appreciatively the same only the time needed is different ! 

The departure was at 21h30, as a night train we booked a cabin with small beds and had the luck to be only two in this 6 places "room", many travelers seem to prefer the regular seat travel. we reached the destination at about 12h00 the day after. everything in the train was clean and nice we even had a shower ! People are quiet and nice too a big change when coming from France ! I wish I could live in Sweden !! 

We had a connection in the morning and took another train for Kiruna the main line doesn't go all the way. In this "new" train passengers have another style : 95% backpackers. after this 16 hours trip we finally reach Kiruna where buses were waiting for us to drop hikers to a gymnasium close to Camp Ripan being for this time the registration center and supply center. 

Our start was the next day so we took some time to walk in the town where you can find everything you need from food to outdoor equipment, pubs, restaurants, we slept at Camp Ripan in a small but very comfortable cabin. In Kiruna its also the last place to have a phone call to friends or family before the phone free wilderness territory !