Laggejahka to Vestreviskisvatnet
Distance: 40km
What a gorgeous morning! Yesterday's dramatic sky gave way to mostly clear sky.
After a surprisingly good sleep (I didn't wake up a single time, which is highly unusual) I leave before sunrise, which is later every day. Yes, the days are getting shorter incredibly quickly!
A clear night means a cold morning. Frost makes my feet freezing. At least until the sun pops up behind the mountains.
The trail continues the way it finished yesterday. Rather hard going. Two hours into the hike, I leave Balvatnet and follow Skaitielva river for quite some time before climbing out of the valley along a gravel road. Weather up here can change quickly. Like today. By noon, I'm just walking this gravel road, rain starts hammering on me. While I should actually descend to Graddis, this stupid road keeps climbing and climbing. My mood drops to sub-zero. Eventually, I make it down to Graddis. Plenty of berries along the way. There are some red ones, which I haven't tasted before. Risking getting some discomfort in my tummy, I eat a few of them. They are delicious. Scandinavia: berries everywhere.
After Graddis, it's up again. Before I start my climb, I pass a couple from Bodo. The first two people I meet today. They offer me coffee and pack of biscuits. So we stand there, in the forest, in the rain, chitchatting about my hike. I really start to like these Norwegians!
Well fed I tackle the last climb. A lovely one in fact. Over huge flat rocks, the scenery spectacular. Once more. Eventually, even the rain stops. I'm a happy camper.
Speaking of camping: time to find a camp spot as I have been hiking for 12 hours. It doesn't take long and I pitch my tent above some small lakes with a clear view towards the west, where I am about to head tomorrow.
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