Friday 18 December 2015

Nordkapp to Grövelsjön. 1800km, 110 days.

You can find an updated version of this guide HERE


A plan for the summer of 2016: Nordkapp to Grövelsjön



I researched and looked at maps during the last weeks and here are the possible stages for a combination from Gröna Bandet, Nordkalottleden, nortnernmost part of E1 (European Long Distance Footpath Norkapp to Sicily), Kungsleden and Norge på Langs:

All the parts that I have described in stages here are together around 1500km. That's already a bit. With the undecided part in the middle it will be about 1800km total, I suppose. If I walk an average of 20 kilometers a day (not calculating rest days), the whole thing will take 90 days. That doesn't even seem that much. I want to start as early as possible, of course. I will have to be patient and wait till the north is free of snow, but the areas close to the ocean should be walkable from the middle of June. 
If I start by the middle of June and give myself time till the end of September I would have 110 days, so 20 days extra (and I will need those cause I can't walk 20k everyday, unless I become incredibly strong and fit). Even without the stages between Kittelfjäll/ Grannes and Åre, I already have 86 stages, according to the plan above. That's cause some are 30km+ while others are under 10 kilometers. 

Besides that I could always make the trip faster by going the bigger part in Sweden and not in Norway. I think that the part between Sälka, where I leave Kungsleden, and Grannes, where I think about going to Kittelfjäll, would take me about half of the time, if I just continued on Kungsleden. It's much less kilometers, less elevation and an easy to follow, flat trampled trail. 
But if it was all just about taking the easiest, shortest, most convenient way and "saving time"- well, then I can just stay at home instead. 

Bold words mean places where I can restock on food or at least buy a meal. There won't be too many of those during the first part of the trip...
Of course I will camp all along the trip and only occasionally sleep in a hut. I still orientated my daily stretches to huts, for the sake of having a point of reference. 

Nordkapp to Kautokeino / 330km

  1. Nordkapp -> Skarsvågskrysset 13km / no supplies / no accomodation Start off with food for about ten days, and buy some extra on stage 6, 11 and 13
  2. Skarsvågskrysset -> Veidneset 19km / no supplies / no accomodation
  3. Veidneset -> through the Nordkapp tunnel to Vesterpollen. Depending on the traffic...
  4. Vesterpollen -> Vardancohka 25km / no supplies / Very basic hut with space for 2 persons along the E1-route. No oven.
  5. Vardancohka -> Stohpojohka 26km / no supplies/ Open reindeer herder hut with 4-5 beds. There's a stove but not always firewood. 
  6. Stohpojohka -> Hattir Ost 22km / supplies and accomodation 5km from the trail: Olderfjord hotell Russenes Caming (private) Open in summer season. 29 roomas and 14 huts. Includes retaurant. A bit south of Olderfjord there is a Statiol gas station that has a fair sortiment of food. The shop closes at 7pm. Transport: Bus towards Russenes passes the parking Hattir Øst  kl 16 20. More info: www.olderfjord.no/en/home Tlf.: + 47 78 46 37 11
  7. Hattir Ost -> Duolbajarcopma 33km / no supplies / no accomodation
  8. Duolbajarcopma -> Bastingammen 23km / no supplies / no accomodation (small hut is closed?)
  9. Bastingammen -> Rukkujavri 24km / no supplies / no accomodation
  10. Rukkujavri -> Bojobeaskihytta 21km / no supplies/ Bojobeaskihytta (Alta Turlag) Locked with a DNT standard key, 8 beds. 
  11. Bojobeaskihytta ->  Mollesjohka Fjellstue 32km / 54 beds, food available but best to be ordered beforehand. 
  12. Mollesjohka Fjellstue -> Ragesluoppal 17km / no supplies/ simple hut with 4 beds.
  13. Ragesluoppal -> Masi 26km / Masi Turistsenter (private) Renting out huts, closes at 7pm. Warm meals can be bought in the café. There is a store next to the church. 
  14. Masi -> Biggejavri 20km / no supplies / no accomodation
  15. Biggejavri -> Mierojavri 27km / no supplies / no accomodation
  16. Mierojavri -> Kautokeino 17km / Food and a soft bed! Buy resupplies for the next 10 days or have a box with food sent from home.                                                                                                            
                                    

  Kautokeino to Kilpisjärvi / 190km                                                                                                 

  1. Kautokeino -> Cunovuohppi 18km / Madam Bongos fjellstue (private) several huts to rent Tlf.: 481 06 003 Meals can be bought. 
  2. Cunovuohppi -> Reisavannhytta 30km / no supplies / Reisavannhytta (Statskog) Locked hut with 6 beds. Booking over inatur.no 
  3. Reisavannhytta -> Nedrefosshytta 30km / no supplies / Nedrefosshytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 16 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  4. Nedrefosshytta -> Saraelv 28km / no supplies / Ovi Raishiin, Gammetunet Hut with 4 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  5. Saraelv -> Somashytta 31km / no supplies / Somashytta (Statskog) Open hut with 6 beds. 
  6. Somashytta -> Pitsusjärvi 15km / no supplies / Open hut with 12 beds. Simple standard, oven, wood. 
  7. Pitusjärvi -> Meekonjärvi 10km / no supplies/  Open hut with 6 beds. Simple standard, oven, wood. 
  8. Meekonjärvi -> Kuinarjohki 10km / no supplies/  Open hut with 14 beds. Simple standard, oven, wood. 
  9. Kuinarjohki -> Saarijärvi 10km / no supplies /  Open hut with 10 beds. Simple standard, oven, wood.  
  10. Saarijärvi -> Kilpisjärvi 15km / Kilpisjärven Retkeilykeskus (private) Rooms and huts for rent. Restaurant, kitchen and supermarket.
Have food sent from home to the Hiking Center www.kilpisjarvi.info     
    
                 

Kilpisjärvi to Abisko / 190km

  1. Kilpisjärvi – Treriksrøysa – Goldahytta 15km / no supplies / Goldahytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 22 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  2. Goldahytta -> Gappohytta 13km / no supplies / Gappohytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 20 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  3. Gappohytta -> Rostahytta 20km / no supplies/ Rostahytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 33 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  4. Rostahytta -> Daertahytta 17km / no supplies/ Dærtahytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 24 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  5. Daertahytta -> Dividalshytta 24km / no supplies/ Dividalshytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 20 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  6. Dividalshytta -> Vuomahytta 18km / no supplies/ Vuomahytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 20 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  7. Vuomahytta -> Gaskashytta 17km / no supplies/ Gaskashytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 20 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  8. Gaskashytta -> Altevasshytta 12km / no supplies/ Altevasahytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 17 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  9. Altevasshytta -> Lappjordhytta 24km / no supplies/ Lappjordhytta (Troms Turlag) Hut with 164beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  10. Lappjordhytta -> Abisko Turiststation 25km / Food, a restaurant, a shop a warm bed! Have food sent from home to STF Abisko Turiststation
     

Abisko to Ritsem / 115 km                                                        

  1. STF Fjällstation Abisko -> Abiskojaure 15km / shop in Abiskojaure huts, sauna
  2. STF stuga Abiskojaure -> Alesjaure 20km / shop in Alesjaure huts, sauna
  3. STF stuga Alesjaure -> Tjäktja 13km / no shop in the hut
  4. STF stuga Tjäktja -> Sälka 13km / shop and sauna
  5. STF stuga Sälka -> Hukejaure 25km / no shop in the hut
  6. STF stuga Hukejaure -> Sitasjaure 19km / no shop in the hut
  7. STF stuga Sitasjaure -> Ritsem 22km Have food sent from home to STF Ritsem Turiststation    
 

Ritsem to Sulitjelma / 115 km                   

  1. STF Fjällstation Ritsem boat to Akkastugorna 
  2. STF stuga Akka -> Kisuris 14km 
  3. Kisuris -> Låddejåkka 23km / little shop by the hut and in the Sámi village
  4. Låddejåkka -> Arasluokta 13km / little shop by the hut and in the Sámi village
  5. Arasluokta -> Staloluokta 12km / little shop by the hut and in the Sámi village
  6. Staloluokta -> Staddajåkkå 12km / no shop in the hut
  7. Staddajåkkå -> Sårjåsjaure 6km / no shop in the hut
  8. Sårjåsjaure -> Sorjushytta 19km / no shop in the hut
  9. Sorjushytta -> Ny-Sulitjelma Fjellstue 16km/ Buying food in Sulitjelma or in Fauske
   

Sulitjelma to Lønsdal / 90 km                               

  1. Sulitjelma -> Lomihytta 5km / no shop in the hut
  2. Lomihytta -> Calalveshytta 12km / no supplies/ Calalveshytta (Sulitjelma og OmegnTuristforening) Hut with 25 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  3.  Calalveshytta -> Coarvihytta 12km / no supplies / Coarveshytta (Sulitjelma og OmegnTuristforening) Hut with 4 beds, locked with DNT standard key. 
  4. Coarvihytta -> Balvasshytta / 20km / no supplies / Balvasshytta (Sulitjelma og OmegnTuristforening) Hut with 4 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  5. Balvasshytta -> Argaladhytta 10km / no supplies/ Argaladhytta (Bodø og Omegns Turistforening) Hut with 7 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  6. Argaladhytta -> Trygvebu 8km / no supplies/ Trygvebu (Bodø og Omegns Turistforening) Hut with 20 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  7. Trygvebu -> Graddis Fjellstue 8km / Graddis ligger øverst i Junkerdale ikke langt fra svenskegrensa. Her passerer Grensesømmen og det er fjellstue, camping og vandrerhjem. Stedet har helårs bilvei. Overnatting i lavsesong bare etter forhåndsbestilling. Telefon i sesong: 75 69 43 41
  8. Graddis Fjellstue -> Lønstua 15km / Restaurant in Saltfjellet Hotel Polarsirkelen Lønstua (Bodø og Omegns Turistforening) Hut with 30 beds, locked with DNT standard key. Get food sent from home to Saltfjellet Hotel
 

Lønsdal to Umbukta Fjellstue / 140 km

  1. Lønstua -> Saltfjellstua 24km / no supplies / Saltfjellstua (Rana Turistforening) Hut with 20 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  2. Saltfjellstua -> Krukkistua 5km / no supplies / Krukkistua (Rana Turistforening) Hut with 8 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  3. Krukkistua -> Bolnastua 27km / no supplies/ Bolnastua (Rana Turistforening) Hut with 13 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  4. Bolnastua -> Virvasshytta 27km / no supplies/ Virvasshytta (Rana Turistforening) Hut with 16 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  5. Virvasshytta -> Kvisteindalstunet 23km /no supplies/ Kvitsteindalstunet (Rana Turistforening) Hut with 10 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  6. Kvisteindalstunet -> Sauvasshytta 23km / no supplies/ Sauvasshytta (Rana Turistforening) Hut with 9 beds, locked with DNT standard key.
  7. Sauvasshytta -> Umbukta Fjellstue 12km / Café, restaurant, accomodatio year round. Booking: 951 951 31 / 957 990 58 Get a box with food from home to Umbukta Fjellstue


Umbukta Fjellstue to Unkervatnet Camping / 110 km

  1. Umbukta Fjellstue -> Kjennsvasshytta 12km / no supplies/ Kjennsvasshytta (Hemnes Turistforening) 28 beds
  2. Kjennsvasshytta -> Gressvasshytta 12 km / no supplies / Gressvasshytta (Hemnes Turistforening) 14 beds
  3. Gressvasshytta -> Steikvasselv Gård 12km / Meals and supplies are available but must be booked beforehand  Tlf.:  +47 916 70 540/ +47 915 56 282
  4. Steikvasselv -> Sivertgården 21km / no supplies/ Sivertgården (privat) Accomodation to be booked beforehand Tlf.: +47 75 18 51 43
  5. Sivertgården -> Krutvatnet 20km / no supplies/ Krutvasshytta (Statskog) Åpen, 4 beds
  6. Krutvatnet -> Tverrelvnes 22km / no supplies/ Tverrelvnes (privat) 12 beds.
  7. Tverrelvnes -> Unkervatnet Camping 12km / no supplies/ Grannes Camping (privat) 12 Huts with 2 to 6 beds each.

I haven't decided yet how to continue after Grannes Camping. If I continue in Norway I will come to a stretch without any resupplies and without a marked trail for about 300km. Grannes Camping is right next to the roas that goes over to Sweden. Where I could continue on a trail from Kittelfjäll to the south. But even here I will come upon an inconvenient stretch, south of Gäddede I will basically have to walk on the road for a really long time. 
I'm happy for any suggestion how to get past this stretch in the fastest and most comfortable way. 

From Åre to Grövelsjön / 200 km

  1. Åre -> Vålådalen about 30km street
  2. Vålådalen -> Stensdalen 13km/ STF hut with supplies
  3. Stensdalen -> Gåsen 16km / STF hut with supplies 
  4. Gåsen -> Helags 18km / STF Fjällstation with sauna, restaurant,..
  5. Helags -> Fältjägaren 12km / STF hut with supplies 
  6. Fältjägaren -> Ramundberget 16km / Youth Hostel with supplies
  7. Ramundberget -> Tänndalen 20km / Youth Hostel with supplies
  8. Tänndalen -> Skedbro 21km / STF hut with supplies 
  9. Skedro -> Rogen 17km / STF hut with supplies 
  10. Rogen -> Storrödtjärn 17km /  STF hut with supplies 
  11. Storrödtjärn -> Hävlingen 9km / no supplies (as if this would matter at this point...)
  12. Hävlingen -> Motherfuckin' Grövelsjön! 13km


Two good old STF maps that have unfortunately been taken offline when they renewed their website.

3 comments:

  1. Hej

    Good work with all the planification. It's great all information that you have posted of this trail.

    It's just precisely for this route, from Nordkapp to Grovelsjon- that I ended up here. I can't walk this summer but my idea is to start the next one, so on 2017. I hope you keep on working in this great idea and finally start it with a firm step.

    I'd be nice to hear about updates of all of this.

    Sincerely,

    David Gracia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey David,

      thank you for your feedback. It took actually quite a long time to plan this trip, find all the distances, trails, huts and maps. But it's something that I love doing while I'm at home, dreaming about my next trip.
      Now it seems like I will end up doing only a part of this 1800km adventure this year and also do the whole thing the summer after, in 2017.
      Goood luck with your planning as well! :)

      Delete
  2. hello, did u ever attempt this? and thank you for all the info, im planning to do the whole e1 route in one hit and this is really helpful

    ReplyDelete