Ia.23    Section Kilpisjärvi - Gappohytta   28 km

Together with other guests I waited for breakfast to start in the morning. Luckily I had noticed yesterday that Finland is on Eastern European Time. After breakfast I immediately started walking as I wanted to catch the boat at 10:00 a.m. across Lake Kilpisjärvi to Pältsa at the other shore. The boat starts at the other end of Kilpisjärvi. I arrived at the boat in time. When leaving port it was completely filled up. At Pältsa there is a well trotted trail to the border stone between Finland, Sweden and Norway. This big yellow painted concrete marker is in a lake and can be reached on wooden boards. Soon thereafter following Nordkalottleden I was back on my own. At Goldahytta I prepared my lunch.

Following the lunch break I continued along Lake Golddajávri before heading up to the fjell. All day long I had sunshine. Towards evening I had to cross several short valleys with almost vertical walls. Getting down and back up required some careful navigation. At the bottom a creek had to be crossed. Shortly before reaching the Gappohytta I filled up my water for later filtering at the hut. Several other hikers were at the hut. Late in the evening a DNT member who was responsible for several huts came by the check it up.

Boat Malla on Lake Kilpisjärvi

Border Marker between Sweden, Norway and Finland

View from Goldahytta back to Finland

Nordkalottreden / E1 leading through light birch forest

Small pond alongside the trail

Sunset at Gappohytta