(edit title) Kungsleden in July How are the midges? Options

[Edmund]

Hi all

I'm thinking about going walking on Kungsleden in the second half of July. I'm kind of put of though by all the (southern) Swedes I know talking about the midges there.

Can anyone who knows a bit more shed some light on how bad they really are?

Cheers

Edmund

[AW1]

Have a look at: http://www.walkopedia.net/walks/display-walk.asp?WalkID=578

[gplusa]

Edmund, we walked Kungsleden from Abisko to Nikkaluokta in mid July a couple of years back. So I can give you the low down on that part of the trail if you're doing the same portion. As far as mosquitos and other assorted flying bugs go, the only problem we had, and it wasn't a big problem, was on the first day between Abisko Turiststation and the camp site at Abiskojaure. It's relatively flat, through scrub, and near to water. All the things that mozzies etc love. But we gave ourselves a quick spray when we started out and they never bothered us the rest of the way. From that point on they aren't a problem. You're travelling mostly through open country, as well as gaining in altitude. Two things that they hate. There's also more air movement as you get higher up. I don't remember us seeing any of note from Abiskojaure through to Kebnekaise. There might have been the odd one around the camp sites in the evenings, but that was all. Not something you have to worry yourself about if you take a small can of spray in your backpack.

A couple of things to watch out for along the way, which I can give you more advice about. You're likely to encounter a bit of snow heading up towards the mountain pass at Tjäktja, so wear long trousers that day. There are a couple of stream crossing along the way where you will get wet. Not waist deep wet, but you'll get wet feet. The water is straight off the mountains so it's pretty cold as well. Although it's a well worn track, it's very stoney under foot. You don't need heavy hiking boots, but you will need good strong shoes, preferably with a bit of ankle support. The stoney surface will also slow you down a little, so factor in plenty of time. We probably should have taken one day longer than what we had planned. It ended up being a bit of a route march at the end, as we had booked a cabin at Kebne, which was a crime as the scenery along the way is truely magnificent.

A few more tips to be had if you need.

[kuuipo]

When we went from Vakkotavare to Teusajaure the last week of July in 2009 I had to put a headnet on going down to Teusajaure. The mozzies there where fierce as well as some other small flying insects that landed on our light colored hiking clothes in droves. The worst was while we where waiting for the boat to come get us to cross to the Teusajaure side. I recommend bringing a headnet and wear clothes that cover, like a light nylon, long sleeved hiking shirt and pants.

Even though the mozzies can be bad at times it's still worth going there. We go every year. Both Kungsleden and Padjelanta are amazing places. Don't let a few mozzies stop you! Just make sure you bring mosquito repellent ;~)

[gplusa]

Yup, thoroughly endorse Kungsleden as a "must do". I've done a few walking trails in a few different countries and Kungsleden is as good as it gets. One day I'll do the southern parts.

[Edmund]

Thanks for the replies guys. Decided to head from Abisko to Kvikkmokk, if its half as good as you make it sound then its gonna be awesome!

[gplusa]

Sounds a top trip. Are you planning on turning off to Kvikkmokk from Singi or from Nikkaluokta ? If you turn off at Singi, you'll miss Kebnekaise (obviously), but that's not necessarily a bad thing. You generally can't book cabin space along the way, but there's never a shortage of beds. At Kebne, however, you do need to book in advance. Especially in July. The disadvantage with that is that it locks you into arriving at Kebne on a certain date, which in turn limits your options along the way. Kebnekaise itself is ok, but if you've seen large mountains before then you've likely seen better. It's often covered in cloud anyway.

If you are taking the train to Abisko, be aware that it's going to be packed with hikers. So be sure to book a seat in the seated cars. It's also notoriously late. I think it's due in to Abisko around 11am (at best) which means your first day is limited to Abiskojaure. The next day is a full slog to Alesjaure. It's not much more than 20km, but will take most of the day. A big climb, a lot of stones, and some water crossings. The third day, we made a mistake and went all the way to Sälka. If we had our time over again, we'd stop at Tjäktja, just below the pass. Not many people stay there, as it's just over a half day from Alesjaure, but the views from Tjäktja are, well, you'll see what I mean when you get there. I really recommend that you consider overnighting there. It's also prime reindeer country. We saw quite a few herds very close to us that day. If you stop off at Tjäktja, then you can get to Singi in one day, stay the night there, and then turn off to Kvikkmokk. Bypassing the bottleneck at Kebne. Just a thought. It's quite tough underfoot to Sälka, but then plain sailing to Singi.

All of the cabin sites (except one, from memory) have a little store where you can buy food, medicines, etc. So you can travel light. They also have a good supply of cooking utensils. You'll only need to carry something if you want to cook some lunch between Abiskojaure and Alesjaure (you'll also need to carry your own water supply that day). If you're planning on sleeping in the cabins, you can manage taking just a sleeping sheet, and not a full sleeping bag. Saves you space and weight. The cabins are heated. Pack a set of thermals if you need. If you decide to camp by tent, you can pay a small fee to use the facilites at the campsite, such as the kitchen, drying room, bastu, etc. They are fully manned throughout the season and all take credit cards.

[kuuipo]

I think you must mean Kvikkjokk??

If so then you're doing the whole northern stretch of Kungsleden, which is usually done in 2 1/2 - 3 weeks.

When you get to Vakkotavare you'll be catching a bus and then boat that takes you to Saltoluokta and then you continue hiking south from there. Saltoluokta is actually a Mountain Station with a gourmet restaurant and the best sauna I've ever come across due to it's incredible view from inside. I would encourage you to spend an extra day there and do a day hike to Pietsjaure. It's a small Sami village which the Sami use seasonally and there's a little cafe there with home baked Sami bread. You'll see signs for it in Saltoluokta.

Another route you might consider if Kungsleden and it's huts seem crowded and you're not really getting that wilderness experience is veer off in Alesjaure to Vistas and from there go to Nallo and then Sälka. It´s a beautiful route.. one of my favorites and you´ll avoid some of the crowds. Between Sälka and Kvikkjokk it gets less crowded. It seems Abisko to Kebnekaise is the most popular and so the most crowded, probably due to it´s easy accessibility and people wanting to climb Kebnekaise.

Check the STF site:
http://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se/
you´ll get info on which huts sell food and which huts have saunas and also how long between each hut and what kind of terrain to expect.

Have a wonderful trip.

I would also recommend getting a sleeper cabin on the train if possible. It´s a long ride and it will be more comfortable.

[gplusa]

I forgot about the Nallo route. I pondered long and hard about go that way, as I have heard great things about the trail. Not as well signposted, by all accounts, but still easy enough to negotiate. And you'd avoid that very stoney and rather boring journey down through the valley from Tjäktja to Sälka. That's a good alternative. You can also get to Nallo from Tjäktja, correct ? Pretty sure I remember seeing a signpost somewhere between the cabin site and the pass itself. There is a bucket load of people around Kebne, and I wouldn't make it a "must see". Unless it was important to you. It's a bit of a tourist trap. We went during the height of the Swedish tourist season and we saw, at most, maybe 20 people each day while we were hiking between cabins. We timed our days to arrive into the next site around 3 or 4pm, to be sure of a bed space. As it turned out we didn't need to worry as there were always empty beds at every site. Except at Kebne, of course. There was probably an even mix of people at the sites who were sleeping in the cabins, and those who were sleeping in tents. So while the kitchens could get a little crowded, the bedrooms seldom were.

Thanks for picking up on the typo. You're exactly right, of course.

[kuuipo]

Yes you can get to Nallo from Tjäktja, but if you're coming from Alesjaure going to Vistas and then up to Nallo and to Tjäktja then that's a bit of a back track on Kungsleden. When we where there in 2009 the trail was pretty easy to follow and there where adequate signs. We have a map and pics of this on our website:
http://web.comhem.se/aisbellweb/Sweden_2009.html

Some parts of Kungsleden where very crowded, we saw way more than the 20 a day that you averaged. In some of the huts mattresses had to be gotten out and laid on the floor for people to sleep on. One of the hut care takers said that there where organized tour groups coming from Abisko going to Keb and we saw a leader from a group run ahead of their tour to claim beds in a couple of cabins. It was pretty irritating. But once we got off the Kungsleden and also on the south side of Keb it was noticeably less crowded.

[futureishere]

Since this thread was mainly about midges, can someone recommend a good mosquito repellent brand? Last year when I went to Kungsleden, I got a spray from Apoteket (Mygga) and it was not that effective. I also had a lotion from my home country (India) and it was much more effective. I have run out of that lotion and looking for a repellent which will keep me bite free in mountains.

[kuuipo]

We use Jungle Juice 100. It's 98.11% DEET. I don't know if you can get it here or if you can get it online. We buy it when we go to the other side of the pond. A little goes a long way so a small bottle lasts a long time. It's the only thing we've found that seems to work.

[TheMoose]

Best time to go is 2nd half of August. Few if any mozzies, and fewer other walkers.

I once (in four trips) encountered clouds of biting gnats. So best to carry mozzy net just in case.

[Localer]

Hi,

I'm planning to do the trek as well, do you need a companion ?

[redblue]

According to this test, the best (Swedish) mosquito repellent brand is US622.

http://www.testfakta.se/Mediaarkiv/Dokumen...NARY/177995.pdf