I hiked the Kungsleden trail southbound from July 30th to August 7th, 2024. While the scenery was undoubtedly stunning, the heat, mud, and mosquitos were far more than I bargained for. Unfortunately, the train ticket reservation system was a shambles, and I didn't want to be delayed any further. So mid-holidays it was.
My goal was to complete the trail in 12 days, fitting within my vacation timeframe. Please note I'm not a trained athlete – but even office rats can have some adventurous fun, right? To prepare for Kungsleden, I hiked the Skye Trail in Scotland.
Throughout my hike, I adhered strictly to the "unsupported" rules for the Kungsleden trail. This meant no resupplies, no littering or abandoned gear, no use of motorboats, rowing boats, buses, huts, or their facilities (or any similar establishments). Additionally, I didn't accept gifts or seek help or advice from other hikers.
These restrictions, while challenging, granted me considerable freedom. I never had to wait for transportation or rely on hut supplies. However, the increased risk was undeniable. The temptation to push forward without proper planning was strong.
Therefore, I would only recommend attempting the entire trail unsupported to someone who has already tackled the trail or a significant portion of it. Mistakes are inevitable, and the consequences with inadequate equipment or food can be severe. For example, lake crossings are delightful in calm weather (though I had to wait for calmer waters in Aktse). However, I wasn't aware that some lakes are shallow, with the risk of hitting rocks and damaging your boat. Thankfully, despite breaking my paddle (entirely my fault) after the fifth lake, I managed to cross the remaining two with a compromised paddle.
My packraft (Anfibio Nano SL) proved surprisingly capable. I even used it beneath my sleeping mat for added comfort.
Compared to the previous FKT, I opted for an ultralight approach. You can see my gear list here: https://lighterpack.com/r/4iyuxm
Looking back, an even lighter sleeping bag would have sufficed. However, I would definitely recommend adding a tarp with a mosquito net, more duct tape, additional band-aids, anti-chafing cream, and perhaps a half-size larger shoe. Although the Asics Trabuco Max 3 might seem like an unusual choice for the Kungsleden, they performed admirably and deserve much credit. My legs were bloated and I had some blisters, but no twisted ankles. I used pretty much all the gear except for the rain gloves (from Lidl).
I wasn't aiming for speed, but rather focused on long days with frequent, smaller meals. By the finish line, my food reserves were completely depleted. I filtered all my water and relied on just a single 0.6L bottle throughout the entire hike.
The weather, thankfully, cooperated for the most part. I did encounter one full day of rain wich caused significant problems for my feet. Aside from that, I remained healthy throughout the journey.
You can see the individual days on Strava and here:
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/VAdd…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/1DMe…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/RbQm…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/VW0f…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/ruTi…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/PSJY…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/1QdB…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/lAnU…
https://quantified-self.io/user/aBsr5l95ZbYPGgq88ZGwLp9gSnF2/event/iAJ2…
I have neither a blog, nor sponsors. Random photos posted on https://www.instagram.com/vojtech.vomacka/
Feel free to contact me should you need any advice to beat my time (which should not be that difficult).
Comments
Damn impressive and thanks for opening my eyes to sub 1kg packrafts!