Mojo Andersson is concerned that an increasing number of hikers come to hike while it is still winter in the mountains. The picture to the left is taken at the end of May in the mountains near Hemavan. Foto: Jonas Berglund & SVT

Hikers must turn back

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It has become increasingly common that hikers come to hike Kungsleden – while it is still winter. On Thursday came probably the first hiker of the season to Hemavan. – You can not walk in the mountains now, says Mojo Andersson, Vindelfjällen Mountain Security Committee.

In recent years it has arrived more hikers who want to walk along Kungsleden before winter even been completed. Last Thursday an English-speaking mountain tourist arrived to Hemavan, and made an effort to start hiking up the mountain along the trail – but fell to the waist in the snow and had to cancel and return to the village.

The problem has become increasingly common – mainly the mountain tourists from other countries who have planned and prepared for a holiday hiking along the internationally renowned trail Kungsleden – without knowing that there is lots of snow in Lapland at this time of the year. Historically, it has been difficult to hike in the mountains before midsummer.

– You can not go in the mountains now. It is full winter and several meters of snow. There is no hiking season yet. A good simplification to say that it is winter from the tree line and up, says Mojo Andersson, living in the mountain village Hemavan and president of Vindelfjällen Mountain Security Committee.

Vacationing Germans

However, it is a nice time to go skiing in the mountains yet. But many who begin arriving this time of year are Germans and Englishmen and other nationalities, who have received vacation and want to hike Kungsleden. Even the Swedes are arriving earlier, says Mojo Andersson.

– They have prepared, planned and dreamed for years. But they have not thought of that we still have snow. There are more and more coming earlier and earlier. They have Googled and knows everything about Kungsleden and cottages, but have not thought about what the weather looks like, says Mojo Andersson.

– Earlier never started hiking season until July , not in June.

Spring tide to wait

And now comes the snowmelt and spring flood, too?

– Yes, the first few weeks of June you can become stranded in the mountains of the spring flood. Now the snow has started to fall together. If it will not rain now, then there will be an explosion of spring floods, says Mojo Andersson.

The solution to the problem with too early hikers must be information from the tourism operators, says Mojo Andersson. This applies to both Swedish Tourist Association (STF) and the county administrative boards along the state-run Kungsleden, as the tourism industry itself. Information in several languages must become clearer.

– There is much to everyone involved who have websites that meet tourists. If they can not find the guest information, it is not easy for them to know, says Mojo Andersson to SVT.

May 19, STF wrote this on the Facebook page for Kungsleden: ”Planning a hike along Kungsleden? Note that there is still lots of snow out on the mountains, if you are thinking about starting your tour already in June, bring equipment suited for walking in snow; snow shoes and gaiters.”

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