Kungsleden – day 19

The final day.

I did set an alarm for the slim chance that the sky would be clear and I could do Sytertoppen. One glance was enough, but as I was already awake I might as well start hiking. So I packed up and left. Soon I was walking through the mist and just in time I put on rain gear. I did picture my final day a bit differently and the lack of view saddened me. So I was a bit downcast.

Luckily I crossed paths with a fellow hiker who invited me for a chat underneath his umbrella-ella-ella. His happiness put me in a better mood. After an hour and a half, I reached the emergency hut where an elderly couple was already sitting. Despite being in their seventies they were still hiking and camping in wind and rain. Something I admire and hope will be my future (if my knees and hips last that long). At one point they said that they were heading on and I couldn’t stay behind. In a much better mood, I continued to the final hut.

On my way to the hut, Joel caught up with me and decided to lower his pace to mine. The way to the hut went quickly and once there we had a snack break where we finished as much food as possible. Because of the weather forecast posted in the hut, it became clear that camping here and hiking up Sytertoppen the next day was not possible.

We continued to chat as we walked the last kilometres to Hemevan. Luckily the weather became much better. Unexpectedly, we met the running girl on the way down. She finished the day before and was now going on a hike with her boyfriend. It always surprises me that from those I met and wondered if they succeed, I meet again. The underprepared German girl and now running girl.

When Hemevan was only a few kilometers away, there was this ski lift that could take you down. I was really tempted to take it, but it didn’t feel right to not walk to the end.

So I reached the final sign by foot!

Then it was going to the stuga and relax. Okay first pitching the tent and so I did that first thing. Still really wet, I hoped I could let it dry first. Nope, the weather gods gave me the shortest shower of the trip, just when I was putting up my tent to dry. So I fully set it up, unpacked my stuff, and went to take a long, warm shower.

After that, it was time to chill and do nothing. Too early for dinner, it was phone time. If I was smart, I would use this time to write the missing day summaries. However, I didn’t. So that’s why I’m now a week into my Philippine travel and I’m only now finishing the Kungsleden stories.

So Joel and I went for dinner and I was extremely happy with the dessert because I was craving rhubarb and they had a rhubarb dessert. Nomnomnom. With full tummies, we went back. Did some more chilling and then it was off to bed!