The bridges of Tärnasjö

Day 3: Syter - Tärnasjöstugorna (14 km)

Back-blipped once I was back from the trail, with a power outlet and reliable internet access.

The trail starts out by giving a grand view over the Tärnasjö lake, and then drops down to the lake itself. Hikers then cross over several small islands, connected by seven bridges like this one (wooden or steel).

After a few kilometres in lush birch forest, I arrived starved at the cabin: I’d left my spork behind in Syter, and only discovered it at the 6 km mark when it was time for lunch. Fortunately the Tärnasjö cabin has a small shop, and I could have bought a new spork had it not been for one left behind by another hiker.

The Tärnasjö cabin has a wood-fired sauna right next to the lake, which is just a perfect way to clean up after a long day in the trails. As it turns out, everyone in that sauna sitting was heading the same way and at roughly the same pace; one cabin every day. So we sort of joined up for the rest of the journey.

First extra: view of the lakes, from above.

Second extra: Vitamin C! There were plenty of cloudberries to be found, but most were still ripening. This one was absolutely perfect. Not even the nectar of gods can compare to this little wetland berry.

Third extra: a small beach, where a pair of Dutch mother-daughter hikers were having lunch. If only I hadn’t forgotten that spork…

Fourth extra: Birch forest trail. Full of mosquitoes, of course - this is northern Sweden! - and horse flies, which netted me at least one large bite.