Wednesday 1/1

There was heavy snoring during the night, but I managed to get some quality sleep nonetheless. The morning came with quite audible wind, but since it was not snowing visibility wasn't bad. There were quite a few people at breakfast, but I required only so much space. Afterwards the wind lessened a bit, and I decided that a tour was in the cards anyway. I debated how to arrange my clothing, in the end settling on a fairly light solution with a thicker cap, and left without pack at 11:30.

I set off along the Vålåvalen trail, where there was a bit of scrub sticking up here and there, but the wind was also less noticeable. The slope down towards Lunndörrsån offered a small obstacle in the form of scant snow combined with a sudden terrain change, and the stream itself a larger one as it was open. I therefore enlisted the help of the sturdy bridge, after which I crossed an open heath and entered the sparse forest at the base of the next slope, where the wind all but died down.

First slope

Another ice-mire

Towards Ottfjället

Whence I came

Towards Lunndörren

Trondfjällen

The start of...

...the next slope

Lone pine

Lunndörrsån bridge

Light

There I followed the meandering course of an open brook, crossing it where a passage had formed, and then started ascending in and on the side of a ravine, which went well with a few changes of heading along the way. Higher up it was easier to stay in the ravine itself, and the wind was returning as well. I passed a marked hill and then gained some altitude, and just when I thought I should be able to spot Tväråkåtan I saw a wooden structure which upon a closer look appeared to be a toppled outhouse – and moments later I caught sight of the hut among the trees. Its door was ajar and there was no windowpane, so it was full of snow, and it generally seemed in a state of decay.

Got across this

Passing the hill

Coming up to...

...Tväråkåtan

It was now quite windy, and a large cloud concealed the view across the basin, so I soon turned back. I started out by climbing a little, then crossed a patch of very thin snow, made a few turns on an unbroken field (where the tracks blew over immediately), and made my way across another thinly covered area to a collection of hills. These I crisscrossed between, going down, and emerged at the very flat landscape around Lunndörrsån. It was open here as well, but a short distance downstream there was a frozen passage.

Passing the hill again

Higher up

More ice

Last bit down

Lunndörrsån open

On the other side

From there I made my way towards the rises at the mouth of the valley in front of me, assailed by strong gales from time to time. I carefully climbed up to a plateau which was almost completely bare, and here the gales were stronger still. In Lunndörren proper a mighty haze blocked the view, so I turned my back to it (and the wind) and started following the trail back up. There were patches which needed to be rounded, but nowhere was there an actual lack of snow, and I could let the wind carry me the last bit over the ice, landing me back at the cottages after 13:45.

Lunndörren emerging

View from the plateau

Same, northwest

Haze in the pass

Ottfjället back in view

Trio

Don't get lost

Back at the cottages

Four out of a group of seven were inside, as was Karin, and I settled down for lunch at once. One of these four, Jessica, was also a warden, and we conversed a bit on the subject. Outside the weather had taken a turn for the worse, and visibility was deteriorating. As I was (for now) alone in my room I moved down to the bottom bed and rearranged my stuff, and then stretched a bit and just generally took it easy. I took to reading in the kitchen, first at a table, then by the window, then by a candle, and finally by the phone's light when the candle burnt out. By then more people had arrived, and it looked as though I would soon acquire roommates again. I dug into the cheese'n'crackers, and then went to the sauna in a strong wind.

I was the first to get there, but "the rest" soon joined me. It was again very hot – and very good – and I could spend long periods out on the porch despite the wind. I even dared to visit the hole in the ice later on, which involved walking (or running) a quite noticeable distance, and it wasn't as bad as expected thanks to the considerable warm-up. When I returned all the other beds in my room were taken, and as I prepared dinner the others made a fire there. After some more cheese I retired to my room to read, while the wind howled outside, and finally had an evening snack in the kitchen before drifting off to bed at 22:00.