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We are now in the end of the season. The weather has turned and it has been raining a bit. On the 28th of April we chose to lie still instead of fighting against the elements of nature. Instead we, Anette from Dagens Nyheter and me (Matti) chose to start early the next morning. Saltoluokta Mountain Stations area was still and sleeping while we hooked up our snow hooks and steered our dog teams up the hill to the bare mountain. The huskies held good speed over the frozen open spaces. Standing on the sliding sleds we saw the sun rise over the horizon. We took of the trail on the highest point between Sitojaure and Aktse and steered west in to Sarek National park. Sarek is a part of the world heritage Laponia. It was stone hard ice crust covered with 5-10 cm of powder snow. What more can you wish for as a musher? We set a base camp west from Skierfe on the edge to the Rapavalley. Anette took some pictures and awaited the sunset. By sunset we took the snow shoes up to the top of Skierfe. It tingles in the stomach when you look over the edge of Skierfes cliff 700 metres straight down. The next morning we got up early, harnessed the dogs and drove the dog teams down along Abmojåhkke ravine. When we reached the Sitojaure cabins it had become rather warm so we stopped the teams and took up the box with food and had a coffee break in the sun. The Swedish Tourist organisations house keeper “Tobbe” with company were there to service the cabin. They should change gas, change some tin on the roof and fix some things here and there. There are always things to do. After a while

Elin and Tove, both from Sweden arrived to Saltoluokta Mountain Station. Elin was here last year to and followed us on the "Northern Kings trail" tour that goes from Saltoluokta up to Abisko. Tove has been with us on three different tours before and has also been on two husky tours with other companies. This was the second "Explore Sarek" tour for Tove. Fully loaded with heavy sleds we steered our three dog teams up the tough hill up from Salto and headed west. When we approached Gukkesvagge the wind got stronger and the snow started to whirl. The visibility got worse with the twilight. We set the camp where we found a bit shelter from the worst wind. The next day we travelled further west through Gukkesvagge and we got another night in tents. After several breaks we then reached the Kisuris cabins. The weather was perfect. The dogs only sank about 10-15 cm in the snow and the sleds glided fairly easy despite the heavy load. From the Kisuris cabins we found a good snowmobile track going south in to Padjelanta National park. We reached the cabins in Låddejåkk in the afternoon. The next day we went with the teams east. The destination for the day was Alkavagge. From the beginning it went well with just a little bit of head wind but the wind got stronger and the snow conditions made it really heavy. We and the dogs had to work hard. We stopped for a break behind one of the sleds. The dogs rolled up and the felt a bit worn out. Behind the sled we all agreed to change the plan and turn back and try a northerly valley instead, Routesvagge. Our choice turned out successfully and we found a snowmobile track that we could

Already during our first dinner together the level of topics was set. Wild discussions on a high level. During this tour as many others the conversations hovered from politics, ethics, nature, culture, careers and the whole spectra down to so low jokes that I had to stand on my knees to understand. I off cause contributed to the more cultivated conversations…sometimes… With me on this tour was Eva (Sweden), Iris (Sweden), Rutger (Germany) and Ewald (Netherlands). As the week before this tour started at Saltoluokta Mountain Station and went down south to Sitojaure, Aktse, Pårte and then back again. On some parts the way back goes on the same trail but on some parts it’s different. The area varies a lot with everything from open spaces to old dense forests, frozen lakes and cosy cabins. Fritte, one of the dogs in Eva’s team stretched and got a small sprain. He started to limp and had to ride in my sled 2 days even if he protested a bit. He also got some massage and had the luxury to come inside to sleep during the nights. This treatment made him good and soon he could move without any trace of the limping. Another good week of dogsledding! /Matti