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  Kebnekaise - kitteltoppen   What better is there in the break of spring than to escape the warm weather, go north and get to the peak of Sweden. With it's 2111 meters, Kebnekaise qualifies as the highest point in Sweden and all of northern Europe.
  Early morning, and time to go to the airport. But first we had to pick up some happy campers!
 
   
  (23 March 2007) Early morning, and time to go to the airport. But first we had to pick up some happy campers!
  One more happy camper, and we were all set.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) One more happy camper, and we were all set.
  First mishap: Patrik got his bag stuck in the trunk and couldn't get it out. The situation was eventually resolved and we could continue.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) First mishap: Patrik got his bag stuck in the trunk and couldn't get it out. The situation was eventually resolved and we could continue.
  Clear weather gave us good views over the Swedish landscape, and in the far distant the northern mountains were starting to loom large.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) Clear weather gave us good views over the Swedish landscape, and in the far distant the northern mountains were starting to loom large.
 
 
   
  (23 March 2007)
  Arriving in Kiruna. Among us on the flight were lots of americans and japanese going to the Ice Hotel.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) Arriving in Kiruna. Among us on the flight were lots of americans and japanese going to the Ice Hotel.
  Kiruna was a nice city, but a little quiet for my taste. It was full of ice sculptures and in this photo the mine is also visible.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) Kiruna was a nice city, but a little quiet for my taste. It was full of ice sculptures and in this photo the mine is also visible.
  But on with the trip now. We went by bus from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta, from where we started our 20 kilometer walk to the Kebnekaise mountain station. The bus was late, so most of the walk would be in the darkness of night.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) But on with the trip now. We went by bus from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta, from where we started our 20 kilometer walk to the Kebnekaise mountain station. The bus was late, so most of the walk would be in the darkness of night.
  But we geared up quickly...
 
   
  (23 March 2007) But we geared up quickly...
  ...and had a nice sign that pointed the direction to go.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) ...and had a nice sign that pointed the direction to go.
  This first part to the mountain station would take roughly five hours, and since the road was well used we could walk without snow-shoes most of the time.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) This first part to the mountain station would take roughly five hours, and since the road was well used we could walk without snow-shoes most of the time.
  Short break with hot rose-hip soup and almond macaroons. ^^
 
   
  (23 March 2007) Short break with hot rose-hip soup and almond macaroons. ^^
  Northern lights dancing in the sky.
 
   
  (23 March 2007) Northern lights dancing in the sky.
  And after almost four hours of walking we could see the mountain station and the place to sleep the first night. Only one hour more to go...
 
   
  (23 March 2007) And after almost four hours of walking we could see the mountain station and the place to sleep the first night. Only one hour more to go...
  Not so happy campers after five hours of sleep. But the sun was up and time to go.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Not so happy campers after five hours of sleep. But the sun was up and time to go.
 
 
   
  (24 March 2007)
 
 
   
  (24 March 2007)
  Dawn at the mountain station and after eating breakfast, the time was 6:30 and we could start.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Dawn at the mountain station and after eating breakfast, the time was 6:30 and we could start.
  The path up went over this field an up to the right and through a mountain pass.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) The path up went over this field an up to the right and through a mountain pass.
  Short break after an hour of walking. The road so far was easy, but it was going to get worse. Behind Patrik is the eastern, more technical route. We went the western non-technical route.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Short break after an hour of walking. The road so far was easy, but it was going to get worse. Behind Patrik is the eastern, more technical route. We went the western non-technical route.
  Me.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Me.
  Lunchtime at around 10:30. Even though we still were in a valley the wind was picking up, but temperature was above -5 still.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Lunchtime at around 10:30. Even though we still were in a valley the wind was picking up, but temperature was above -5 still.
  From the valley we could see up to the peak, and it seemed very far away. Especially since we had to walk over the smaller mountain to the left to get there.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) From the valley we could see up to the peak, and it seemed very far away. Especially since we had to walk over the smaller mountain to the left to get there.
 
 
   
  (24 March 2007)
  But a few hours later we finally started to gain some altitude. This is about 13:30 and we had three hours from here, down the valley and up to the top.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) But a few hours later we finally started to gain some altitude. This is about 13:30 and we had three hours from here, down the valley and up to the top.
  Fancy moves by Patrik.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Fancy moves by Patrik.
  Linus ftw!
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Linus ftw!
  Break for food at the top hut two hours later. The peak was now only 30 minutes away and the wind had waned a bit.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Break for food at the top hut two hours later. The peak was now only 30 minutes away and the wind had waned a bit.
  And an hour later we had reached the summit. 2111 meters amsl. I agree that this picture could have been take pretty much anywhere, but you'll just have to trust me.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) And an hour later we had reached the summit. 2111 meters amsl. I agree that this picture could have been take pretty much anywhere, but you'll just have to trust me.
  Patrik and Linus had also made their way up there. On two sides of the way up were steep slopes, so I guess this is not for anyone who is afraid of heights.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) Patrik and Linus had also made their way up there. On two sides of the way up were steep slopes, so I guess this is not for anyone who is afraid of heights.
  View to the east. It is said that you can see almost one tenth of Sweden's surface area, which is almost the size of the Netherlands.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) View to the east. It is said that you can see almost one tenth of Sweden's surface area, which is almost the size of the Netherlands.
  View to the west and into Norway.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) View to the west and into Norway.
  The lower, northern peak of Kebnekaise, about 2100 meters high.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) The lower, northern peak of Kebnekaise, about 2100 meters high.
  The way down was a race against time as the sun was about to set. We had to get clear of the difficult and rocky parts, and three hours after the summit we were safely down in the valley with only an hour to go to the mountain station.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) The way down was a race against time as the sun was about to set. We had to get clear of the difficult and rocky parts, and three hours after the summit we were safely down in the valley with only an hour to go to the mountain station.
  And finally, 16 hours after leaving in the morning, we were back and celebrated the victory with a beer.
 
   
  (24 March 2007) And finally, 16 hours after leaving in the morning, we were back and celebrated the victory with a beer.
  Next morning it was time to start the trip home, and I'm happy we had reserved snow-mobiles for that part. This is what the mountain station looks like.
 
   
  (25 March 2007) Next morning it was time to start the trip home, and I'm happy we had reserved snow-mobiles for that part. This is what the mountain station looks like.
  Much faster than walking... orz
 
   
  (25 March 2007) Much faster than walking... orz
 
 
   
  (25 March 2007)
  Behind us we could see the whole mountain range and all the way to the peak of Kebnekaise.
 
   
  (25 March 2007) Behind us we could see the whole mountain range and all the way to the peak of Kebnekaise.
  From Kiruna we had reserved tickets for the night train, and fortunately, when the train got to Boden there were som delays and we could buy pizza! ^^ Patrik is holding the pizza and I'm gathering snow to cool the beer.
 
   
  (25 March 2007) From Kiruna we had reserved tickets for the night train, and fortunately, when the train got to Boden there were som delays and we could buy pizza! ^^ Patrik is holding the pizza and I'm gathering snow to cool the beer.
  After drinking beer and playing cards, it wasn't that hard to go to sleep and we woke up as the train reached Stockholm, and that concludes this short but adventurous trip. Cheers!
 
   
  (25 March 2007) After drinking beer and playing cards, it wasn't that hard to go to sleep and we woke up as the train reached Stockholm, and that concludes this short but adventurous trip. Cheers!