Some pictures from Tarfala Valley in the Kebnekaise massif, north Sweden.
The trail to Tarfala is sort of a side trail off of the Kungsleden trail between NIkkaluokta and Abisko. In summer the first part of this trail is ridiculously green and lush. It follows a river with blue glacial water, so pure, you can just scoop it up and drink it. I find that a strangely satisfying action.
The world changes from colour to black & white once you near the upper part of the valley. Black rock, white ice, not one but two glaciers. Stong fallwinds coming down from the high mountains that guard the valley, making it hard to step forward at times. I cannot begin to describe how overwhelming it feels to just walk here, on your own little self, surrounded by this big Nature. A feeling to never forget, because it so much represents that fascination for the arctic that I"ve had since I can remember.
The red buildings in the first picture are from the research station of the University of Stockholm. They pop up kind of out of nowhere somewhere in the middle of the trail. A nice colourful intermezzo in gloomy world.
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