Day three on our Nordic expedition delivered a serious dose of mountain adventures. My Fjällräven Classic Sweden Day 3 was marked by crossing the dreaded Tjätktja pass, showers with tiny hail, but also a breathtaking circular rainbow and well-deserved rest by the lake.
Morning Pack-Up in the Rain and Duct-Taped Trousers
I slept through most of the night, waking up only about twice. Even with the constant daylight, I slept a bit longer than the previous night. In the morning, I was battling fatigue, a headache, and a queasy stomach. Around five AM, it started raining like crazy, so I had to come up with a packing strategy.
I cooked up some warm oatmeal. My boots and socks hadn’t dried overnight, so I just put on my waterproof socks straight away. I patched the ripped knee on my trousers from yesterday’s fall with silver tape ripped from my trekking pole. At 8:15 AM, I managed to catch a short break in the rain, shook out the inner tent, and hit the trail. Those waterproof socks came in handy because we were walking through water pretty much constantly.
Ascent to Tjätktja Pass, Carrot Cake, and a Giant Rainbow
The trail was incredibly tough due to the ubiquitous stones and water. Before the ascent to the highest point of the route, my left heel started acting up. I stopped as a precaution and taped it up. After crossing the Tjätktja pass, the weather improved significantly.
(https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Ffjallraven.com%2Fclassic)]
Around noon, I reached the mountain checkpoint. I treated myself to a hot coffee and a fantastic carrot cake. On the section after the checkpoint, I met some familiar women from the Prague airport who were hiking the route in the opposite direction. I took advantage of a break in the rain, took off my rain pants, swapped my socks for regular ones, and dried my wet tent. As I was leaving, a magnificent, giant rainbow appeared in the sky, with its beginning and end clearly visible.
However, my right knee started bothering me a lot. It was making unpleasant crunching noises, and I felt a lot of stiffness. Shortly after, a hail shower rolled in, forcing me to put on my Rab rain pants again.
Second Checkpoint and a Fairytale Campsite by the Waterfall
At the next checkpoint, I got a stamp in my passport and picked up two packs of Real Turmat with Pasta Bolognese flavor. The camping spots here weren’t ideal, so I kept looking.
Around five in the afternoon, I found a perfectly picturesque spot. On one side, mountains with a waterfall towered, on the other, a lake, and a fresh stream flowed near my tent. As soon as I set up the tent, a short shower passed through, but the sun quickly chased it away. For dinner, I cooked up some excellent beef with rice. I washed my socks and underwear in the stream and, for the first time since the trek started, cleaned my teeth thoroughly.
The day ends bathed in sunshine, and I’m hoping for a peaceful night of recovery. Today, I covered 27.81 km over challenging terrain.
Do you use silver tape from your poles to repair clothes on treks? How do you deal with sore knees on tough descents, and what was the most beautiful view from your tent?
Daily Summary
- Distance Today: 27.81 km
- Total Distance on Fjällräven Classic Sweden: 81.87 km
- Highlight of the Day: Crossing Tjätktja pass and the magnificent giant rainbow over the Lapland valley
- Weather: Mixed – morning rain, hail in the mountain section, afternoon sun, and evening chill
- Interesting Encounters: Women from Prague airport hiking the opposite way and volunteers at the checkpoints
- Food Supplies: Oatmeal, carrot cake with coffee, Real Turmat Pasta Bolognese, beef with rice
