Rogen Nature Reserve
2024_9 - 5 days
Deja vu. This was an attempt to connect our footsteps to our 2022 trail into Töfsingdalen, which in 2022 was an attempt to connect our footsteps to our previous trails in 2016 an 2017. In 2022 we failed to do that, due to the rough terrain and physical limitations, but instead we ended up on the most gorgeous spot ever on the deepest point of our hike. Now, in 2024, exactly the same thing happened. We never reached Töfsingdalen, but instead ended up on the shores of Lake Rogen in the best of circumstances. Warm clear weather, a perfect campsite, utter silence. The night before I had fallen ill, after we had to skip our original camp due to signs about bear danger. The trail was hard and stony, and the predicted rains would make it too dangerous. Instead of our intended 7 day hike to Töfsingdalen we made it a 5 day adventure in Rogen Nature Reserve. Like in 2022, this also was a bit of a challenge for me to not see that as a 'failure' of the original plan due to mental and physical weakness, but as adapting and optimising the experience. It feels a bit of both.
Trip Report
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The Movie
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The Map
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Image GalleryClick to see the photos of the hike. The first batch is taken with my Samsung Galaxy S20 phone, followed by a series with by Canon G15 digital camera. |
Camp 1Wild and rough. We had to hike a bit further because of a 'bear warning' sign. (surprising, I've never seen that in Sweden). I fell ill at the end of the afternoon and was just able to make camp before crashing in the tent. I didn't eat anything crazy, and I think it must have been the heat. After dark I started to feel slightly better, but the tent was attacked by a fox a few times. After an unquiet night I still didn't feel very good. We decided to change the plan and head for Lake Rogen, only a few kilometers ahead, instead of doing the strenous day of climbing out of the valley onto the open 'fjell'. 
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Camp 2A perfect camp. On the shores of the quiet Lake Rogen, on the property of the Rogenstugan mountain hut. We didn't have to pay anything, because we didn't use any facilities, but we could still use one of the prepared campsites. This was our water supply and our camp is in the yellow birches. It was warm and humid, 23 degrees, too hot to hike for me. And this spot was so perfect that we decided to stay 2 nights, base camping and day hiking. 
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Camp 3A second night at lake Rogen. 
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Camp 4We could have hiked the whole distance back to the car on day 4, but we chose to stop early so we could stay one extra night in the wilderness. The weather was changing, a cold wind started to blow and from time to time it rained. This confined us to what we started calling 'The Great Indoors'. We actually don't mind that, the so familiar 'inner world'of our tent is also always a bit of a reprieve from 'The Great Outdoors'. It is impressive and awesome to live outside in the wilderness, but retreating into the safety of our tent is always a great relaxing comfort 
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The Hikersyeah, we're still out there! 
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