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sallyannthearts · 6 years

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How to Hike for Princesses Episode 6: Day 4 Bonfire

Day 4: 21st August 2018 Destination: Somewhere to Alesjaure (5km) ; Alesjaure to Kieron (18km) Total distance: 23km Weather: Where have you been? Ah there you are!

Pic: Our camping site for night 3. Photo credit: Michael Mead

Snow were on the mountain tops where a few hours ago we had been. It was very cold, as it’d been for the past two nights (we were north in the artic circle anyway) and I shivered trying to pack up the tents with one glove on. I couldn’t care less if my one glove was muddy and wet, I still scratched my face if I needed to and ate without washing my hands. No, I never got stomach sick.

Pic of us having breakfast/lunch at the Alesjaure checkpoint Photo credit: Michael Mead (a.k.a. Jesus is a professional photographer)

5km and we arrived at the Alesjaure refuel checkpoint where there was another sauna and chalet selling more Snickers bars. We loaded up on that crap that was giving us the motivation to go on. God, chocolate is heavenly! We decided to have brunch there as the view was amazing although it started drizzling lightly again very soon.

Pic: Alesjaure checkpoint and brunch spot view

Now comes the point where I used the loos for the second time, and this time not just for a little waterfall break. It was and will always remain the only time I unloaded my golden bricks during 6 days (totally bad I know). On the 6 days, you were either supposed to do your business in one of the few wooden toilets only at certain checkpoints that has just a seat, a hole and smells so flagrant that you came out feeling harassed nasally. Either that, or you made a hole in a quiet place in the wild with your spade and covered it back up after you were done.

Pic: ��What do you mean you can't poop in a hole? We do it all the time, we reindeers!” (Photo credit: Michael Mead)

While it’s a checklist for people to say ‘Hey, I pooped in a hole in the wild!’, it will always be mine to say, ‘Hey! I managed not to poop in a hole in the wild!’. Of course, my bowels’ rock solid defence that only gave way that one time at the Alesjaure toilets (that just so happened to be one of those that was see-through on the top so light shone in and you could literally see piles of shit below you); well anyway, my bowels revenged on me once I got back to civilisation. Still, I am glad I didn’t need to do that.

Pic: Beautiful river to help you not picture what we are talking about at the moment. Photo credit: Michael Mead

My boyfriend made a hilarious joke when he first used one of those stalls en route. He went in and after shutting the door, realised that there was no light to even navigate around. He said to himself, “Man, I can’t see shit” and then he laughed out loud to himself.

Pic: One of the many reindeers my friend Michael chased after for photos. Photo credit: Michael Mead

After that first and only experience of unloading golden bricks, we made our way to the next checkpoint via a photography session. The weather had brightened up and there were such beautiful views (and aching feet) that we stopped so often to laugh and pose for Jesus’ camera and mine.

Pic: Day 4!!!! (Photo credit: Michael Mead)

Pics: The Beauty that rewarded us after two days of horrid weather (Photo credits: Michael Mead)

Yup, we took our time and finally let the cameras out for good as the sun got us taking off our layers and the wind got us putting them back on again and again, as if we were still playing hide and seek with the weather.

I didn’t know that it was also the day where we started the longest descent so my knees were really suffering towards the end. So much so that when I took off my bag pack, I was still swirling automatically as if I had just been tossed about in the sea waves for a while. I’d thought that the worse was to be the day after so I did moan a little claiming how tough today already was. Luckily for me, the worse was over without me ever acknowledging it as being the worst.

Pic: Rolling intense cold puressential oils onto my back, the same one that made me freeze in the cold the nights before. Jesus taking a break in the back.

Pic: It was a really long adventure. Starting off 6 days without prior experience wasn’t exactly the route I’d advise you unless you’re determined.

By the time we got to the next checkpoint, we learned that many people had to leave this year’s fjallraven and that it really was the worst one to date. We were all mixed feelings, happy that we stayed despite the harsh beginning and sad for those who couldn’t experience this adventure to the end. Everybody looked at each other with respect for each one of us had fought this far. There was no more turning back.

Kieron greeted us with hot pancakes and a hot cuppa tea or coffee! They gave each person 3 pieces with jam and whipped cream, oh so welcome carbs after the tough descend!

We set up our tent right beside a bonfire and became the only ones who stayed up all night around the bonfire, chatting and wishing for the auroras to come out. Everybody around us were deadbeat and hibernating in their tents but I refused to do the same. This bonfire, the only one we were able to have throughout 6 days, was the real camping that I’d awaited for!

Picture: Kieron campsite, Night 4. (Photo credit: Michael Mead)

That night, we knew that Jesus was going to leave us for he had planned the trip to be only 5 days. (Sounds like the last supper). I chose Chicken & Lime to be my last supper and shared it with Andro over Sweet & Sour Pork. We dried our shoes and socks, burnt my sister’s sock in the process and talked about how great this trip had been because we had all come together.

And it was then that I knew I would never forget how great this adventure had been and that, as surprising as it was to everyone who knew me as the city princess, I would do this again.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE END OF THE BEST CLASSIC FJALLRAVEN SWEDEN TRIP EVER.

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