Kebnekaise Mountain
The greatest panorama view in Scandinavia
Of the highest peaks in Scandinavia, Swedish Kebnekaise offers the toughest ascent at 2104 metres above sea level. However, the peak tour is not insurmountable. About 3000 people take the tour each summer. A mountain guide, good physical condition and strong determination are all you need to reach the greatest panorama view in northern Scandinavia's subarctic mountain world.
Two trails wind their way up to the southern peak – the Western Trail, which is simpler but longer and more exposed to the weather, and the Eastern Trail, which is much more direct and thereby safer. The latter trail follows a steep rise up towards jumbled rocky terrain. There is then a short hike over Björling's glacier followed by an airy lateral crossing to the Gudjohnsen shelf. Here, you clip your carabiners to the steel cable and climb up to the top plateau. A so-called via ferrata route at 150 metres that is right at the boundary of what a beginner can handle. All that then remains is a 30-minute difficult ascent up to the windswept cauliflower snow of the peak glacier. The view provocatively hides until the last step before it finally explodes into view. Sweeping glaciers behind vertical cliff walls that flow down to a jumble of gently sculpted U-shaped valleys. Vast eternity in the south. Insistent drama in the direction of the slightly lower northern peak. There, you can continue with climbing irons over narrow, snow-covered mountain ridges that are half a kilometre long and just a few metres wide, with a free drop on each side. A visit to the northern peak is considered overkill by most peak visitors since there is a 1420 metre different in altitude and the entire peak tour takes ten hours.
Kebnekaise climbs start from the Kebnekaise STF mountain station and are booked in advance via Internet. A mandatory safety briefing is held the night before you start out. Since everything is weather-dependent, you should plan in at least one extra day. Necessary equipment is included in the mountain guide fee. If you are interested in even higher altitudes, we recommend a guided tour at the Esrange missile base in Kiruna on your return trip.
Follow E10 to Kiruna. Continue southwest to Nikkaluokta (66 km). Hike or take a helicopter to Kebnekaise mountain station (19 km).
FOUR-C (CONTINUOUSLY CONTROLLED CHASSIS CONCEPT)
Volvo XC70
Beautiful roads are not always comfortable to drive. But, with the help of Four-C you can maintain comfort even on a challenging road surface.
Choose between three different driving styles – Comfort, Sport or Advanced. The chassis then monitors the car, driver and road 500 times per second in order to optimally adapt shock absorption to suit the conditions.
Four-C also works with the DSTC system, engine, brakes and steering to support the set driving style.
No 41 SCRAMBLING / KEBNEKAISE
GOOD TO KNOW
- Activity: Hike and climb to the top of Kebnekaise.
- Location: Kebnekaise Mountain, Sweden
- Season: The guided peak tour generally departs daily in July and August, depending on the snow conditions and weather.
- Degree of difficulty: In order to participate in STF's peak tour, you must be a member of Svenska Turistföreningen (STF - Swedish Tourist Association), be in good physical shape and be at least 16 years old.
- Other facts: The southern peak of Kebnekaise is made up of Sweden's only peak glacier, which means that the altitude varies depending on the growth or melting of the glacier. The peak has melted in recent decades and has become lower and lower. Once you have reached the peak of Kebnekaise, it is said that on a clear day you can see 1/11th of Sweden.
Pocket-sized guide
Download the XC Travels app to check in for the adventures you visit and share the experience with friends.
