MOST DESOLATE Mountain Pass in SAREK? Hiking in FREEZING RAIN for 5 days![2022][4K][SILENT][Sweden]

In mid-September of 2022 I traveled to the small village of Kvikkjokk in Northern Sweden to start my hike in Sarek wilderness. This is the cinematic story of my 8-day long trek in the valleys and mountains of Sarek.
UPDATE: A photostory now in my blog : exposedpaths.exposure.co/firs...
This was my second visit to Sarek, whose extraordinary scenery and ruggedness left a lasting impression when I hiked through the area in year 2019. This time I wanted to see the valleys in full autumn colors, and also see if I could manage the challenging weather conditions as the winter approaches.
I started my hike in beautiful sunny weather which soon transformed into five days of non-stop rain and fog just as I reached the deeper, more distant parts of the wilderness. Barren mountains and rocky high passes in Lullihavagge watched me with indifference as I slowly traversed them. Cold rain alternated with wet snow, and I had to deal with clothing and sleeping gear that slowly got damper as the hike progressed.
My route passed through several major valleys and landmarks in Sarek: Njoatsosvagge, Sarvesvagge, Luottolahko plateau, Lullihavagge valley and vast plains surrounding Gådokjåhkå river flowing from Bårddejiegna glacier.
00:00 Start from Kvikkjokk towards Prinskullen trail
02:32 Vallevarre upper plains and Vallevagge valley
03:30 Camp near Ruohnas mountain
04:14 Tjuoldavagge valley
06:30 Rock Ptarmigans and climb to Låptåvagge high valley
07:20 Lunch break at the Låptåvagge plateau with a curious stoat
08:00 Wade of Njoatsosjåhkå
08:44 Weather turns worse at Njoatsosjavvre lakes
09:51 Down to Sarvesvagge valley
10:54 Navigating to Luottolahko high plains at 1200 meters
11:20 Admiring the Pårte mountain massive
12:02 Desolate landscapes of Lullihavagge mountain pass
13:30 Gaskasktjåhkkå mountain (1865 meters) and Bårddejiegna glacier
14:19 Path next to Stuor Jiertta mountain and towards Pårek sami village
15:21 Last camp site near Kungsleden
16:14 Surprise farewell sunshine and return to Kvikkjokk
Soundtrack:
Hiraeth
Glow
Chasing Daylight
Miracle of Flight
by Scott Buckley - www.scottbuckley.com.au
Blind
Chalet
Tired of Life
by Meydän
Photo gear: Fujifilm X-T4, Tamron 17-70mm f2.8, Saramonic PMIC3 stereo hot shoe mic, Zoom H1N audio recorder, Google Pixel 5
#sareknationalpark #solohiking #kevytretkeily #fujifilmxt4 #tamron1770 #hikingadventures #cinematic #sarek

[@joostdemoor138]

Spent ten days alone in Sarek this summer and fellin love.comoletely. Your video has convinced me I need to go back to experience fall as well. Thanks for sharing!

[@exposedpaths]

Thanks! I'm planning an autumn hike to Sarek at the moment but perhaps I'll go a bit earlier this year... 😂

[@retireeinthewild-5905]

Beautifully filmed! 👍🏻 As a Scandinavian myself, I'm attracted to the grandeur of nature and 'tiny me' being immersed into it. And autumn brings both beauty & a sort of sadness - an irresistible mix 🙂 Your film inspires me, TQ 🙏🏼

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! Melancholic atmosphere is exactly what I want to do 🙏

[@chwb99]

The best video on Sarek. Excellent filming and attention for nature‘s treasures. It needs no words to witness that this was a tough and uncomfortable hike with all the rain. Thank you!

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! 🙏

[@xerxesafsharpour5752]

En otrolig vacker film. Tack för att du delade den med oss...

[@exposedpaths]

Tack så mycket🙏

[@tundra.runner]

Beautiful scenes, thank you for sharing.

[@durstongear]

Beautiful. Thanks for using our tents!

[@exposedpaths]

Thanks! I liked xmid so much that I upgraded to gen2, to get caternary cuts and other improvements 😂👍

[@hakan0176]

Hej. Väldigt snyggt filmat och presenterat. 👍🏻🙏🏼🥰

[@exposedpaths]

Tack so mycket!

[@federicafabbrin383]

Il silenzio, la natura con paesaggi fantastici, parlano all'anima di chi ha la fortuna di fare questi meravigliosi itinerari. 🙋‍♀️🇮🇪

[@alexandraacreator-art]

This is the most beautiful video I've ever watched, so elegantly filmed. It spoke to my soul. The nature is mindblowing, stunning. It must have been a journey deep within as well...

[@exposedpaths]

Wow, thank you! Indeed on solo hikes there is time for contemplation.

[@alexandraacreator-art]

​@@exposedpaths I do silent hiking in the south of Sweden but the north seams so mysterious.

[@exposedpaths]

@@alexandraacreator-art yes, and especially when the weather is gloomy like this...

[@Mindprobe]

I honestly can't believe how beautiful it is in September!

[@exposedpaths]

It's unreal if you happen to be out there when the colors peak!

[@Geoluchs]

sehr schön gewandert und es war nicht leicht bei den Temperaturen und Regen.

[@fadekill]

Gorgeous area, wow. Great work putting the movie together. It's very soothing with the music and all. =)

[@exposedpaths]

Sarek is just magnificent, it's hard to NOT get great video footage from there! Thanks for your feedback!

[@HejBedrup]

Thanks for this beautiful video! I visited Sarek in September 2023 and can recognize some of the some of the places in the video, where I also been to.

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! Did you catch the storm winds in early September?

[@barrykimber]

Simply wonderful film….👍🏻❤

[@sarukravitz4981]

Live long and prosper. (Seriously though, lovely.)

[@exposedpaths]

😂 Thanks!

[@tonybarcelo6956]

Butiful film. Was in Sarek the first 2 weeks in september and it was still pretty green, the nature colors you got was amazing.

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! I started September 10th and the colors were not yet peaking like you say. But when I got back a week later, the surroundings of Kvikkjokk were completely yellow-orange.

[@stefanalpi1483]

Beautiful !

[@stigfloberghagenphotography]

Beautiful video. Like the style. 👌 Subbed to your channel 👍🙂

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the feedback!

[@stigfloberghagenphotography]

@@exposedpaths 👍🙂

[@KlaasdeJong]

The best video I have seen of Laponia so far❤

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you!

[@Otzifin]

Hieno video ja propsit videokuvaamisesta vaikka olosuhteet eivät näytä kovin ruusuiselta. Tuttuja maisemia myös aiemmin tältä kesältä!

[@exposedpaths]

Kiitokset! Onneksi ei tullut saavista kaataen (koko aikaa) ja kalusto kesti kevyen sateen, niin pystyi jonkin verran kuvaamaankin. Kertasin instasta teidän reitin, ja samoja laaksojahan siellä oli tallattu 👍

[@ScenicPaddler]

Beautiful video, and very nice photography as well! I've been to Sarek twice, last time in September 2021 and am planning a new trip arround Parte in September 2024. Your video is perfect inspiration, Thanks a lot.

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! I'm maybe heading there also next year, let's see...

[@JohanNormanssonIntoNature]

Fin film

[@tommiahtola6317]

Upea video. Kiitos!

[@exposedpaths]

🙏

[@andreasheddini]

Fantastic!

[@exposedpaths]

Many thanks!

[@svenskbibel]

Really good! 👏 But why you don't have at least 75,000 views is beyond me.

[@andreashokenschnieder4003]

Thank you so much for these nice pictures … it is awesome!

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you very much! There's now also a photostory in my blog, if you want to see more : exposedpaths.exposure.co/first-days-of-winter-in-sarek-story

[@harald_brettfeld]

Thanks for the beautiful video 👍🔥👍

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you 🙏

[@BlueDragon00]

Glad that there are still remote places on earth

[@karimandraspinter721]

Super nice! Thanks! 🙂Well done! 👍

[@exposedpaths]

Thanks Karim!

[@rolflundin6204]

Amazing film and so inspiring

[@exposedpaths]

🙏

[@hazayad]

Thank you.

[@exposedpaths]

You're welcome!

[@KelojaLuonnosta]

Oli kyllä taas pysäyttävän hienoja maisemia, musiikki ja luonnonäänet hyvässä tasapainossa tuomassa tunnelmaa!

[@exposedpaths]

Kiitos paljon! Tunturin soundimaailma on välillä vähän haastava, kun siellä on joko tuulta tai sitten ihan hiljaista :)

[@KelojaLuonnosta]

@@exposedpaths hehehe joo mut sen mitä nyt oli luonnonääniä ni toi eloa😊

[@UdoKellner]

Very nice film, well edited! A special treat for me, because last year I hiked with a friend 2 weeks later than you did the Tour in the opposite direction. Our weather was first bad and with new snow, but also very impressive.

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! Late September is often a gamble with snow...but fresh snow makes the scenery beautiful.

[@UdoKellner]

@@exposedpaths That is true!!! If you like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp_Yep-Fe8l-mpo Udo

[@exposedpaths]

@@UdoKellnerI think I have seen your movie some time ago already 😁 thanks for the video!

[@UdoKellner]

@@exposedpaths sorry and thanks

[@exposedpaths]

@@UdoKellner np lol 😂

[@Raroruma]

Absolutely fantastic video

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you very much!

[@TorterraX1]

It's almost like an alien world. Beautiful video!

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@NorthernAdventures99]

Really a beautiful video, it was a joy to see familiar landscapes as you followed an interesting route across the southern part of the national park! The weather... typical Sarek, beautiful at the outskirts and rain/drizzle/fog/snow in its heart... have experienced that many times! 🙂 Keep up the great work! Cheers, Tomas

[@exposedpaths]

Thanks! At times I wondered if it was sensible to map the route to go up and down every valley and plateau 😂 But I surely got to climb. Last time I was in Sarek, weather was all blue skies, so now I feel that I got the more typical Sarek experience lol. Btw I used your blog as one source for info... thanks for that!

[@e2zippo]

Beautiful, would love to go to Sarek some day!

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! Sarek is really worth visiting!

[@walbec1]

Great video and excellent choice of appropriate music. Certainly top 3 in my list of best Sarek-video's. This really shows how small we are as humans and how great nature is in Europe's last wilderness. The colors are truly breathtaking.

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you, I appreciate!

[@LongLiveKingCharles]

outstanding

[@exposedpaths]

🙏

[@headbangerstrail]

Erinomainen video! 🙌

[@exposedpaths]

Kiitos ja mukava kun löysit tänne tuben puolellekin 🙏

[@alexarna]

Stunning video - the effort you put into this really comes through. This is also helping with my own upcoming Sarek plans so thank you :)

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! Good luck with the planning :)

[@natkamen1384]

Magiskt. 👏🏻

[@exposedpaths]

🙏

[@Baten407]

Lovely video. Really enjoyed reading your blog too! Wife and I are planning on going this path in august.

[@exposedpaths]

Thanks and nice to hear that you discovered the main blog also! I'm sure you will enjoy the scenery, hope for a better weather though :)

[@FlorianBleser]

Absolut awesome video. No words, only stunning pictures of the outstanding landscape combined with Beautiful Audio Tracks. Its so nice to Watch. Thank you very much 👌👍✌️

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! I like calm atmospheric videos so that's what I try to create myself also. 🙏

[@chrlmlln9018]

Hello, dear, sir! I just needed to watch your absolutely one of the most beautiful captures from Sarek, I have so far seen, so please receive my warm and big THANKS, to you, for sharing your beautifully captures hike through the lovely nationalpark and wilderness of Sarek! Wishing you, sir, all the best, and stay safe and immensely richly blessed! Now, subscribing to your fine channel here on YT and also, of course giving your video thumbs up! Best regards from Sweden!💯❣👍

[@exposedpaths]

Many thanks!

[@markusjasaaraatula]

Hei erittäin hieno ja taiteellinen video! Uskomattomia maisemia ja eläimiä olit saanut kuvattua. Hauskaa, että lähes törmättiin tuolla 😄 On tuo kyllä aivan mykistävän hieno paikka! Ja oli hauska nähdä myös Lullihavagge, koska se oli meidän alkuperäinen reittisuunnitelma ennen kuin päätettiin kiertää Rapaseletin kautta. Karun näköistä, kuten arveltiinkin 😅

[@exposedpaths]

Kiitos! Teidän videota odotellessa :D Kiirunoita tuntui olevan joka mutkan takana, ja kärppä oli kyllä reissun huvittavin kaveri kun se puski naamansa esiin vuorotellen kaikkien lähistön kivien takaa :) Lullihavagge oli hitaampi kävellä kuin mitä odotin...olin melko finaalissa tultuani sieltä alas ja vielä etsittyäni kahlauspaikkaa Gådokjåhkån yli illan päätteeksi. Mutta sumuinen keli teki solasta kyllä mahdottoman makean näköisen, sieltä kuvattu videomatsku on ihan lempipätkiä. Oliko muuten videollani vilahtanut kivimuuri Stuor Jierttan (kohta 14:37) vieressä se paikka jossa telttailitte? Olin ihan tyytyväinen että vietin yön alhaalla laaksossa enkä tuulen riepoteltavana ylätasangolla :D

[@markusjasaaraatula]

@@exposedpaths Ei näyttänyt siltä. Laskeuduttiin sieltä Stuor Jiertan satulasta niiden kahden puron välistä alaspäin ja yövyttiin siinä kohtaa, missä maasto alkoi loiventua. Siinäkin oli tuulista, mutta toisaalta kondensaation kanssa ei ollut samanlaista ongelmaa kuin aiempina öinä 😄

[@exposedpaths]

@@markusjasaaraatula joo, nyt tajuankin paikan! Eipä ollut kurjat maisemat ollenkaan siitä rinteen alta 😁

[@blogpackinglight]

Great video. Terrible weather

[@exposedpaths]

Tell me about it 😂 but it makes for a great story...type 2 fun 😊 Thanks!

[@martindohnal55]

Absolutely stunning video. How are you happy with the X-T4? Is that Tamron lens better than XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS (some models get this as a kit lens).

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! I'm very happy with my X-T4, I got it to replace my X-T2 because the list of improvements especially for video was a long one (10bits, separate flick dial for switching between still/video...etc) I have not used XF18-55, but I can say that Tamron image quality is very, very nice and it also helps that it has constant f2.8 throughout the focal range. IQ is certainly better than what I get from my XF18-135 superzoom although I lose a lot in focal range.

[@martindohnal55]

what software do you use for editing? and do you shoot in 4K? Thanks

[@exposedpaths]

@@martindohnal55 I have been using Davinci Resolve now for about a year. My earlier videos were edited in HitFilm Express. I always shoot in 4K (10bit for X-T4).

[@christianf6786]

Fantastic. Absolutly stunning video. May i ask if you were not worried about strong winds with the tent?

[@exposedpaths]

Thank you! About the tent, X-Mid can take surprising amount of wind if it's staked and pitched correctly. Of course, some of my camp sites (like the first one) would be bad choices on high winds with a high profile tent like X-mid. On this hike, wind was not really strong so the tent held up just fine. I did use extra guylines though. I've been in winds of approx. 16-17 meters per sec in XMid and while it was not fun, it was stable.

[@christianf6786]

@@exposedpaths Thanks for the feedback. I own the Hilleberg Unna, and hiked in sarek/kungsleden 2022 in september. I had seen a lot of different tents there, most of them were lighter than mine ;)

[@exposedpaths]

I have Hilleberg Enan, and while it's a quality tent - it is small, condenses a lot and you really cannot see much out from the single narrow door. In hard winds it is a beautifully strong shelter, but all the other good qualities of X-mid make me pick it almost every time , unless I anticipate mandatory camping on exposed windy terrain. I contemplated taking Enan to Sarek, but then thought about living in it during constant rain...

[@christianf6786]

@@exposedpaths I absolutly agree. Enan or Akto are good for stormy overnights, but its to opressive for me. Next time, maybe i give the x-mid a try :)

[@centonuovimattini]

i like your video, it would be nice if you make a video about the equipment you use. For example, that kind of skirt you wear when it rains, what brand is it?

[@exposedpaths]

I have been thinking about making a short presentation of gear that I mostly use, thanks for the encouragement! BTW the rain skirt is ULA Rain Kilt, a very simple thing. (For this summer I got a bit longer skirt from northernlite.fi , though.)

[@centonuovimattini]

@@exposedpaths thanks!

[@exposedpaths]

@centonuovimattini Bit late, but I just posted "Gear for 2023" article in my blog which lists some of the gear I used. There are also similar stories from previous years. exposedpaths.exposure.co/gear-for-2023

[@levb.7338]

Very nice! You met anyone during your hike? We met at least one person every day, during a similar route.

[@exposedpaths]

A single person in Sarvesvagge, and he was far away on the other side of the river, so we did not chat. The next time I saw humans it was after I had passed Pårek sami village, and met with people that had arrived at Kvikkjokk on the evening bus. In fact surprisingly many people were still heading to Sarek even it was getting to be late in September.