Friday 21/3

I skied in the tracks up around peak 1333, starting out in a rather cold and somewhat windy shadow. After gaining some height I could see that off in the Moarhmá region in the east there was a large, dense cloud, but nothing of the sort was to be seen in any other direction. I maintained a high course rounding the rise, using some older tracks where suitable, and now that I was out in direct sunlight climbing was fairly warm – and the wind had died down too. I could also see that some clouds had started passing over Unna Reaiddávággi, and when I approached the valley mouth a wind came rushing out from it.

I then found my own way, going up to some curious holes in the snow that looked very much like having been dug by humans – an impression that was strengthened by a multitude of tracks going to and fro between them that looked very much like footsteps in deep snow, but these were all actually the traces of reindeer. From there I zigzagged my way up towards the summit in a shifting wind, stopping at a collection of larger rocks about a hundred meters from the actual top to dump everything and walk the last bit. From the top I had a marvelous view of pretty much everything, but especially eastern Stuor Reaiddávággi – in which I counted a total of ten people approaching in a much leisurely and scattered manner.

Clear sky

Pointy Reaiddáčohkka

The peaks of Unna Reaiddávággi

Čeakčačohkka major

Panorama over Čeakčabákti, Čeakčačohkka and the peaks around Šielmmávággi and the Bossos pass

Nállu posing as a rhinoceros

Stuor Reaiddávággi east

Stuor Reaiddávággi south

Vaktposten

The little tarn between 1333 and Reaiddáčohkka west (1825)

I then returned to the rocks and put on my skis, going down due south. At first the snow was a bit deceptive, but then it got pretty good, and once I had cleared the part of the slope suitable for turns I immediately started up again. A second run a bit off to the side of the first one followed, which was itself followed by another prompt ascent. The eastern whiteness had now reached Vássačorru, and closer to my location the cloud content in Unna Reaiddávággi had increased as well. It was past noon when I took a seat upon the largest rock to eat, and while I was engaged in this activity a haze swiftly swept in together with a bit of wind, but the sun was never completely hidden and neither were the closer peaks.

I did not remain seated for long, but instead I skied up to the top to have a new look, finding an all-white wall in place down in the valley, but off to the south the haze was beginning to lift somewhat. I waited a while and then went for another run, and since it was still getting lighter when I got down I went up and down again. Yet another climb followed, and now the haze had grown denser once more.

The last run took place somewhat west of the others, and towards the end of it I turned towards the north following the contour of the slope. I then managed to find a rather excellent portion straight down to the main track, which offered the best run of the day by far, after which I passed just above the ravine and then over to the lower crest of The Slope. There I saw a group of people outside the cottage – but not much else, as it was now snowing in full. I went down the usual way, which was not at all easy due to the complete lack of contrast, but I suffered no fractures and found myself back home as early as 13:45.

Veiled

Not falling into the ravine

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