Monday 10/3

The snow was very good to glide upon, and for a while I also had some tailwind. This soon turned to headwind, and then it died down altogether. At first I had a good track to follow, but as I passed around Nállu I entered an area where the wind had erased all such features, leaving a jumble of hardened little crests in their place. Save for a short time of increased cloudiness behind me it was getting clearer all the while, and I made good speed. I ascended out of the deepening groove of the frozen stream I was skiing on around where the old tracks did, and then chose a somewhat higher route. Just then another police helicopter appeared in the sky, and after making a quick dash up the valley it set down closer to Vistas – and just like back in Nallo it took off again before long, but this time another one came just after it, chasing its companion northwards. The remaining distance to the cottages I mostly covered in the tracks, which were now clear again, crossing Visttasjohka at 11:30.

Panorama over Čeakčabákti, Čeakčačohkka and Šielmmávággi

The spire of Nállu

Vássanjunnji

Nállu transit

Reaiddáčohkka west

Kugghjulskammen
(Cogwheel Ridge)

Sharp

Nállu et al

Visttasvággi spreading out

The Vistas cottages
(and the police chopper)

More of Visttasvággi

Siehtagas

Unna Visttasvággi

By the western wall of the larger cottage I found Göta and Rolf – the new warden – enjoying the sun; I had seen precious little of it (as in, nothing) on my way down. I talked with them for a while and then had lunch while the sun was still clear of Reaiddáčohkka, during which Peter (the to-be-relieved warden) came out as well. When the sun disappeared we all went inside, where a lot of talking and a bit of snacking took place. Now more clouds were coming in from the southwest, blanketing the sky, and another police chopper landed on the other side of Visttasjohka – this time we could actually see that they switched pilots before taking off again. Myself, I took off again at 14:15.

Stuor Reaiddávággi from the cottages

Up Visttasvággi

Clouds approaching

It was variably draughty and warm as I skied on, keeping to the tracks for the most part. The cloud cover had seemed quite opaque, but now it was starting to break apart again. After I had passed the stream from Nállojávrrit I encountered two people with sleds going in the other direction, but other than that the only sign of life I saw – or, rather, heard – was the resident ravens of the cliff of Nállu. A creeping cloud had started to form about Čeakčačohkka in front of me, and as I went on another one came into being behind me. The time was after 16:15 when I got back to my cottage, feeling quite satisfied with the first longer day tour of the season.

In Stuor Reaiddávággi again

Look back

Čeakčabákti appearing

The jagged ridge of Reaiddáčohkka

The pointed shape of Nállu

Čeakčabákti in the clear

A series of shots of Čeakčačohkka...

...as a cloud passed in front of it...

...and dusk started to fall

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