A botanical hiking tour on the Kungsleden in Northern Sweden

August 23 - September 5, 2000


Snarapjavri Pass (1220m)

the group (on day12 after a 15km hike in some snow and rain)

The hike of about 200km

Kungsleden Wanderung auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen

Start of the tour was Abisko Tourist train station. From there the first stage was 12km through birch forest to Abiskojaure. From there a it was a long hike of 24km to Unna Allakas, being at a higher elevation in outside of the birch forest.

This trail follows a river and leads trhrough rivineSalix-shrubs as well as over rock outcrops with open birch tundra. The third stage of the hike led over a pass of 1220m to Alesjaure. On this trip we found Ranunculus glacialis and the grass Phippsia algida on the bare frost soils. The following stage led back into the birch forest of Vistas (16km). The valley was formed by a glacier. From Vistas it was a short hike (10km) to the next station: Nallo. It is located at the upper end of a valley at 915m. At this latitude of about 68° north, at an elevation of 900m there is not much vegetation left and the soils form typical frost patterns. The vegetation is dominated by mosses, a few grasses (e.g. Poa alpina), and lichens (e.g. Rhizocarpon geographicum, Peltigera crocera).

From Nallo we walked 12 km to Sälka. The hike was across two rivers and many rocks. Sälka itself is located in a valley next to a larger river. From the mountain Sockertoppen (1400m) we had a nice view into the valley of Nallo with its rocks and a big lake and also into the Sälka-Valley with its green meadows and rivers.

From Sälka we walked over the Tjäktja-Pass (1100m) to the station Tjäktja at 1000m (about 12km). From Tjäktja it was 12km back to Alesjaure, now leaving the bare soils of the higher elevations and returning to the tundra shrubs regions. We got the first snow in Tjäktja, but when we reached Alesjaure, it was only raining - until everything was white as well on the next day. From Alsesjaure we walked back to Abiskojaure (22km), now returning to the birch forest. By the time of almost two weeks, leaves had turned yellow.

During the two weeks trip we had to carry all food necessary - packs were heavy on the first few days, but became lighter every day. We allowed ourselves four resting days in areas of interest, such as Abiskojaure, Unna Allakas, Vistas, and Sälka.

Life in the huts and tent

Rivers to cross...

Botanists in action

Looking for special grasses and sedges in the bog, discovering Pinguicula villosa in the Sphagnum fuscum, taking pictures of Cassiope tetragona (flowering!), identifying the plants on rock outcrops, watching birds, and being enthusiastic about the discovery of Koenigia islandica (a terrribly small plant - you have to lie on the ground to see it!).