Day two on the northern trek, Fjällräven Classic Sweden Day 2, thoroughly tested my mental and physical resilience. The weather showed its unforgiving face, with constant rain showers punctuated by a biting wind. Still, I managed to chew through a solid chunk of kilometers, passed two checkpoints, and even spotted wild reindeer. It was a tough, muddy, but ultimately amazing stage.
Morning Tactics in the Rain and a PCT Flashback
The night was pleasantly warm, and my sleeping setup worked like a charm. At times, I even got too hot, forcing me to regulate the temperature. However, I woke up frequently. You see, I’d pitched my tent on a slight slope, and during the night, I kept sliding headfirst downhill. Around 4:30 AM, I was definitely awake and reading a book. At five in the morning, it started to rain.
In that moment, I remembered the PCT, where I used a single-wall shelter. I really appreciated having my current spacious, double-wall tent. For breakfast, I’d planned to cook some Real Turmat porridge. In the end, I decided against boiling water to avoid increasing condensation inside the tent. Instead, I had bread with reindeer cheese from a tube, which tasted surprisingly good.
By 7:50 AM, my pack was ready. I thoroughly shook out the wet flysheet and groundsheet, then stowed them in an external pack pocket to keep the inner tent dry. I hit the trail just before 8:30 AM, sporting waterproof socks, Rab rain pants over shorts, a sun hoodie, a Polartec Alpha fleece, a rain jacket from NaLehko, and a Fjällräven cap.
Two Checkpoints, Weather Whims, and a Meat Sandwich
After half an hour of walking, the rain stopped. I immediately swapped my waterproof socks for regular ones and shed the fleece. The sun even peeked out for a bit. Throughout the day, however, it was a constant back-and-forth of rain, wind, and calm. I found myself yawning frequently from the relentless rain and sheer exhaustion. By the afternoon, I was completely soaked and felt a chill creeping into my legs. My phone signal only worked in the morning before I set off, and I didn’t take many photos due to the weather.
At the first checkpoint, I got a stamp and a fantastic meat sandwich that reminded me of a filled tortilla. My original plan was to cook a hot meal and restock my Real Turmat supplies. But the weather was miserable, and there was no option to replenish food. This caught me off guard, and I started wondering if I’d packed enough food.
At the second checkpoint, the international crew quizzed me about my planned campsite. They strongly warned me not to go more than 5 kilometers further, as a tough climb awaited and it was getting quite late. My English isn’t great, but I got the message loud and clear. Plus, they had Real Turmat packets for replenishment, though none of the flavors tempted me. With another stamp in my passport, I set off to find a place to sleep.
Treacherous Mud, a Plunge into a Puddle, and Evening Ramen
Finding a spot for the tent turned into a demanding discipline, as water lay everywhere. The rocky path morphed into deep mud, and I was covered from head to toe. A few hundred meters from my chosen spot, my foot slipped on the mud. I executed a textbook split – one leg sank into the mud, my hand landed in a puddle, and there I lay, stretched out like a clumsy calf. After a few steps, I checked the damage and discovered a torn left knee.
The reward for the day’s hardships was an encounter with three reindeer right by the trail. By 7:24 PM, my tent was up, and I’d almost finished eating. For dinner, I cooked some excellent ramen noodles. I’m a bit apprehensive about my morning toilet routine due to the lack of privacy. While changing, I also discovered blood on my knee and my throat is starting to feel sore. All that’s left is to brush my teeth and hit the sack.
Have you ever dealt with packing a wet tent in the rain? How do you manage to dry your gear on rainy days during long treks, and what’s your favorite flavor of dehydrated meal?
Daily Summary
- Kilometers Today: 32.44 km
- Total Distance on Fjällräven Classic Sweden: 54.06 km
- Highlight of the Day: Three reindeer by the trail and an involuntary split in deep mud
- Weather: Wildly unpredictable – constant shifts between rain, wind, sun, and cold
- Interesting Encounters: 3 reindeer and the checkpoint organizers
- Food Supplies: Bread with reindeer cheese, meat sandwich at a checkpoint, ramen noodles
