Kebnekaise "Haute Route"

[fred alpiski]

Hi-

I'm trying to plan some sort of Haute-Route around Kebnekaise for next February. A preliminary tour looks like that:

Day / Hut to Hut via Peak

1 - Nikkaluokta to Trafala via Darfalcorru
2 - Tarfala to Kaskavagge via Darfalcohkka
3 - Kaskavagge to Unna via Nilbbas
4 - Unna to Salka via Ceakcahjalmen
5 - Salka to Singi via Salka + Rusjka
6 - Singi to Tarfala via Kebnekaise
7 - Tarfala to Nikkaluokta

Does it sound reasonable? fun?

Any comment and suggestion are indeed much welcome.

Thanks a lot !

Happy holidays !!

Fred

PS. Hope I didn't mispell too many names.

 

[Cremytos]

Depends on what you think is fun, the last time I was there in February it was dark, -27 Celsius and blowing like hell. But yeah, we had fun

 

[fred alpiski]

Thank you for your input.

last time I was there in February it was dark,

According to astronomical tables, in mid-Feb 2012 sun will rise at 0800 and set at 1600. Do you mean that there will be low daylight anyway?

-27 Celsius and blowing like hell.

Is it usual conditions at this period of the year and did have especially bad luck?

But yeah, we had fun

Good. It's probably the most important....)

 

[Cremytos]

Not even 6 hours of sun in the beginning of February but actually over 9 hours in the end of the month so I guess it differs depending on when you are there. Bad weather affects the light easier when the sun is low on the sky and I think we were a bit unlucky there.

I checked the temperature in Kiruna 7/2-20/2 in 2011 and 2010 and got the following data
2011 - Maximum: -31.4, Minimum -2,8, Average: -17,4
2010 - Maximum: -29.0, Minimum +1,0, Average: -12,7

Bring equipment that can handle -30 to be on the safe side.

 

[EHJ]

Going in april or march instead definitely improve your chances for good weather conditions. Are you aware of that Unna Räitas (and probably Kaskavagge as well although I haven’t been there) are not mountain huts, but unmanned rescue shelters? Follow the link below to see a picture of the shelter at Unna Räitas.

http://www.utsidan.se/forum/showthread.php?t=61799.

 

[fred alpiski]

Thanks for the info.

re. Unna hut

From the pictures it looks great. Just like a real mountain hut, not a hotel for tourists...

Most important is to be protected from the elements. The rest is superfluous.

Here are pictures of one of most renowned hut in the french Alps: http://www.camptocamp.org/huts/104071/fr/refuge-de-l-aigle

As you can see not much difference. But a hell of an ambiance.

 

[Cremytos]

As you can see not much difference.

Depends on how high you climb Here is a picture of Gouter Hut at Mont Blanc.

I have plans on trying it this summer.

 

[fred alpiski]

Well the Gouter is not much higher than l'Aigle.

Thank you for this perfect example of what I think is wrong. The new Gouter has nothing to do with a mountain hut which should remain a simple shelter and not become a full blown hotel. What's next a spa and a casino?

More seriously, it's just a response to the inadequacies of the traditional hut to accomodate the increasing demands of "tourism".

It's just the continuation of what started with the cablecar of Aguille du Midi. Why not extend it direct to the Gouter or even better to 200 m below the top of Mont-Blanc?

That's some of the reasons why Lappland is so attractive, incl. the Unna hut !!