Lapland: Winter and Summer in the Swedish Pole

In Sweden, Norway and northern Finland, there is such a large expanse of land. Its proximity to the Arctic Circle and untouched wilderness make it one of the most untouched places on the European continent. This is the hometown of the Sami people, and the polar nights in winter and the polar days in summer add a lot of magic. I have been fortunate enough to set foot on this magical land twice.

As a remote village, Abisko is not only famous for its name of aurora, but also because it is the starting point of the northern end of the famous King's Walk (Kungsleden). This famous hiking route with a total length of 440km traverses the most uninhabited areas in northern Sweden. The clear route system and the unique polar scenery all the way make it highly respected. In fact, during my short stay in winter, I could be considered to have walked a short distance of one ten thousandth of them. At that time, I walked on the snow for more than ten minutes and then came back. I never thought that I would actually set foot on the King's Promenade after half a year, and I would walk with heavy equipment. I started from the intermediate station Kvikkjokk and went all the way north. After a long journey of four days, I finally saw the real Lapland land under the snow.

It is said to be the King's walk. I don't know who translated such a relaxed name. Anyway, I don't believe that the King will walk along this route all the time. Although the altitude along the way is not high, even the highest peak in Sweden is only more than 2,000 meters, but all kinds of road conditions from gravel to rock to forest and even swamp are all experienced once, and walking for about ten hours a day is indeed A test of endurance and willpower. There were only a few short hikes in the south before, and the load and intensity at that time were completely incomparable. With almost zero field experience, I set off so excitedly, but fortunately, the weather was taken care of along the way, and there was no strong wind and rain to cause trouble. It was the only rain in the past few days that night, hiding in the tent and listening to the sound of the rain hitting the tent cloth without worrying about how to pack and set out the next day, I felt very comfortable.

Since the night fell, the temperature in the room plummeted, and it was useless to put on fleece and huddle in a sleeping bag, but I was unwilling to leave the house and set up a tent again, so I shivered like this and barely slept all night. The next day I wondered why it would be colder in the house, until I opened the map and saw the contour lines nearby. It turned out that this was an alpine lake with an altitude of more than 700 meters. It was completely different from the previous camp of 300 to 400 meters. In addition, the cabin was not well insulated, which made me learn a lot of knowledge.

Along the way, in addition to the long-distance hard work, the deepest feeling is the calm and magnificent beauty of this land. That feeling is a bit of the awe of a small individual in front of nature. From Kvikkjokk to the north, all the way through the swamp, coniferous forest, birch forest, tundra wetland and other landscapes, every time you cross the mountain, it is the most in-depth experience of the vertical distribution of vegetation. Each of the several lakes passed on the way has its own characteristics, which also makes the sometimes monotonous scenery a little more lively. Since the landscape of Lapland always exists in pieces, you may get bored after walking on the coniferous forest all morning, but after walking over a mountain, there may be a canyon scenery waiting for you. So never complain. When you are tired from walking, think about the wonderful things ahead, and you can always regain your strength.

On the other hand, apart from the unique natural landscape, it is also special because it is inhabited by the Sami people. After returning for a while, I was particularly interested in the Sami culture, their costumes, customs, relationship with reindeer and associated Joik chants are endless treasures. The unique nature and culture make them irresistible charm. Moreover, the rights and interests of the Sami people in their own land also seem to be a sensitive topic that has been controversial for a long time. This is an inevitable conflict between nomadic civilization and industrial civilization.

Finally, I must mention the movie "Into the Wild" that gave me a huge shock. If the wilds of Alaska are somewhat similar to Lapland, then I have truly embarked on a journey into the wilderness. I clearly remember the emotion of the protagonist Christopher shouting on the top of the wasteland in the film, and I can feel it even more after this journey. This film gave me a whole new perspective, courage and thinking. No matter where the final road leads, everyone should have a journey in the wilderness, thinking about the present while walking, and being firm in the future.