Friday 15/4

I slept mostly well, awaking the last time to a fairly warm room where my roommates were already moving. After resting to 07:45 I went out to photograph, finding temperatures still on the cold side, with frozen crusts. Most people were having breakfast as I did the same, and after packing up I prepared for another cloudless stage, leaving around 09:45.

Good morning...

...in Stensdalen

Paying a visit to...

...the deep water hole

Very soon I passed a group of five with a sled, and then another trio. The trail through the forest shifted between snowy hollows and nearly bare crests, and as the fresh snowmobile track was rather soft in the former I often skied on the side. I passed another two without exerting myself particularly; in fact I held rather a moderate tempo, and a weak wind kept me cool.

Snowy

Bare

Leaving the cliff behind

Heading into Lill-Stensdalen

As I exited the forest the wind picked up a bit, so the cap went on. Gåsen proper was in full view ahead, as were three people with three sleds, but rather than continuing on the trail I broke off up the southern slope before reaching a shallow ravine, climbing slowly diagonally. After an intermediate crest the snow got much harder, and I wormed my way in search of softer patches as the views grew. Eventually I came up into a wide, flat hollow above the crest, where I soon found a hilltop that looked promising for a lunch break. Walking up onto it, however, I felt that it was somewhat lacking in the vista department, so I put the skis back on and pressed onwards a bit further, aiming for another group of hills above the long hollow. Having reached them at 12:15 I felt much more satisfied, and sat down for lunch on a rock.

Reindeer passage

Left the trail here

A look back down the valley

The trio with Sylarna in the back

Östra Bunnerstöten and
Stor-Stensdalsfjället

Västra Bunnerstöten in all its breadth

Lunch stop

Solitary Tjallingklumpen

Lill-Stensdalsfjället laterally

I mostly kept the down jacket on as the moving air was chilly, and remained seated looking out over the surroundings for quite some time. I then headed west, maintaining my altitude as I approached a corner from where I got a mesmerizing partial view of Helags in the distance. I zigzagged my way down between areas of scant snow, crossing a perfectly unbroken surface before Kleavetje before continuing up the eastern side of said rise at an angle. The eastward views grew with every meter as I rounded the summit on the southern side, and then I proceeded down past the western part of the twin rise.

Looking through Tjallingdalen

Helags peeking out behind
Stora Härjångsstöten

More of Härjångsfjällen

Most of Helags visible

Vuelie Livkiesåajja and Lievkiesåajja

Sylarna in sight again

Now that the trail was back in view I saw the sled-trio upon it as I made my way down with more zigs and zags before climbing a short bit to reach the markers. Before closing the distance completely, however, I turned south again, getting another great view of the Gåsen cottages crouching before the grand panorama spreading out in the background. Here the snow stuck heavily to my skis as soon as I stopped, but once I had built up speed the descent was unproblematic. I skied over to the wardens' cottage around 14:45 and spoke some with the two present as I checked in for my two nights.

Rounding the rise

Helags in full

The trio approaching

Härjångsdalen

Cottage spotting

Closer

Closed

I had heard reports that the large cottage had been completely buried in the recent storm and therefore basically rendered uninhabitable, but most of the windows had been dug out by now, so I got a room there. The sled-trio pulled in just as I moved inside, followed by more arrivals. I sat down outside the entrance and had afternoon tea, while the sun warmed considerably in the now still air. The nearby privy had also been dug out, and having paid it a visit I improved the ergonomy of the lowest rather high step.

I spent some quiet time inside and then returned out for a photo round, while others headed for the Gåsen summit (as they should). Also here a couple of rescue scouts stopped by, and most of the other guests were also outside or were in the process of coming out. High veils were starting to appear in the sky above Sylarna while the sledders continued eastwards. Back inside I had acquired two of the same roommates I had had in Stensdalen, the third having remained there for the day. After some quiet time both indoors and outdoors, and more arrivals, I sat down for a good dinner in the kitchen.

Summiteers

Larger/newer

Smaller/older

Latter again

Not yet dug out

Guests from the west

A bit later I went out again, and found that it had gotten noticeably colder with more veils – a twin process which continued throughout the evening. I spent most of the time reading or photographing, and then had my evening snack in the kitchen after one of the wardens had held a fire safety briefing there. Outside the sky was now veiled in its entirety, but only a weak wind was blowing. Most people were moving off to bed, and I did the same before 22.

More and more veils...

...as the evening progressed

Privy with moon

Stora Härjångsstöten with moon

Helags without moon

Dusk falling over Gåsen

Moon risen

Dusky Sylarna