Got up to be ready for the 7 o’clock breakfast buffet. Also with the belief that today would be great thus an early start would be nice. Unfortunately, there was rain and the next part was in the clouds. This did mean that I couldn’t take forever with the buffet. So I ate a second and third breakfast. It went so fast that I didn’t even take a photo. Oopsie
Robert (the guy in whose cabin I slept) joined me with the same idea about maximising the breakfast buffet. With the mountain still in the clouds, I called my parents. And drank some more coffee.
At 9:39 the sky was blue so it was time to start packing. Packing went really fast until on my way back from filling up my water, I met a Dutch girl. With whom I chatted for a long time. Then Madeleine (girl from the hiker’s group yesterday) and Robert were done and so we chatted some more. When there a few raindrops fell my hiking motivation went to zero. So many people that I know were taking a rest day which made it very tempting for me to also take a rest day. However, my body doesn’t need it plus today would be dry so it would be a shame not to start hiking. And so I went.
The first hut was only 7.4 km away. Even though it was a little bit of a rooty and rocky uphill, I still made it in a good time. Had some lunch together with an Italian man and met a woman who was running to Hemevan in 2 days. Super impressive and jealous of how easily she ran uphill. She was staying in Hemevan for a few days extra so I hope I’ll see her there.
After the first hut, I wasn’t sure how far I would walk. The wind was very strong in my tent would not survive it. After seeing a little hut near a lake, I thought I passed the first shelter so when I reached the actual first shelter, I thought it was the second. Caused a small disappointment. But it was indeed a beautiful day, despite the wind, and so I was enjoying the hike when I reached the second hut and no one was staying there. I decided to sleep inside, technically it’s not a real emergency, however, destroying my first tent to be able to sleep in the hut, seemed a bit ridiculous.
Near to the hut, there was already a tent who belonged to a Dutch couple. Had a nice chat although I was a bit too straight forward by concluding that there impressive abroad carriers that wouldn’t need a pilgrims hike to over think life. As they told me soon after they suffered a great loss. So a personal reminder to not assume that someone’s life is a fairytale after 10 minutes of chatting.
After we all finished dinner, a French couple entered (different French couple) The third young French couple I met. The atmosphere was nice and plans for the next day were discussed because everyone received different information from the NoBo (northbound) walkers. My plan is to hike up to Syterstuga and hopefully climb Sytertoppen. If the weather cooperates.
After they all left the hut I went down to the stream for a cleanup and found two sporks (spoons forks) from the Dutch couple and the water bottle from the French couple. I guess I’m not the only one who forgets things sometimes. And now it’s time to go to bed.
Zilla-in-the-wild 