Any pilgrims or future pilgrims in the far North of Sweden, Norway and Finland? ... Or even Scandinavia in General

[Arctic_Alex]

As I myself am living in Europe's least populated larger areas, the far North of Scandinavia, I wonder if there are any individuals or local groups dedicated to the topic? I know of one or two form members who happen to be on my geographical latitude. But are there any more?
I know spontaneous local meetups are more than unlikely, as we are probably few and travelling across the North takes days – but it would be interesting to know of like-minded (or not-so-like-minded) people up here who are either experienced or have some sort of interest in pilgrimage routes (for whatever motivation).
I myself are located in the Swedish municipality of Jokkmokk at the Arctic Circle.

 

[alexwalker]

Tromsø.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Tromsø.

I was aware of you. 560 km from here if you take the road via Kilpisjärvi/Finland

 

[KariannNor]

35km south of Oslo, going late august for 4 weeks, first time

 

[Icacos]

I like to tell myself I have some affinity with you Arctic Circle dwellers, having driven - or rather been driven - up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik NWT and on the Mackenzie River ice highway almost to Tuktoyaktuk. Not much of an affinity, I admit, but I keep trying to convince myself … at least in winter.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

35km south of Oslo, going late august for 4 weeks, first time

Buen Camino

 

[Arctic_Alex]

I like to tell myself I have some affinity with you Arctic Circle dwellers, having driven - or rather been driven - up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik NWT and on the Mackenzie River ice highway almost to Tuktoyaktuk. Not much of an affinity, I admit, but I keep trying to convince myself … at least in winter.

We do have ice roads, but no large highways in the far North of Europe. Actually, we do not have proper large highways here at all .
Well, you can always follow your affinity and resettle. I was born and raised in central Europe, in Germany and only later decided to make the move North.

 

[Icacos]

We do have ice roads, but no large highways in the far North of Europe. Actually, we do not have proper large highways here at all .
Well, you can always follow your affinity and resettle. I was born and raised in central Europe, in Germany and only later decided to make the move North.

Yes, I know there are ice highways/roads in Europe too; I checked that out before my friend and I went north ourselves. Actually, the impetus for our going north when we did (March 2017) was due to our understanding that that was the last winter the MacKenzie ice highway was going to be maintained, as a road was being constructed and was nearing completion.

As to the possibility of my resettling in the north, alas, as yet, my affinity doesn’t stretch so far.

 

[benny aumala]

My beloved wife and 2 other ladies made the long CF 2016.
I served them with a camping car and Airedale Terrier.
Later, 2019 I found mysef on the Napoleon Route.
We live in Rovaniemi, Arctic Circle. And we are not here alone.
BTW, a distance of 300 km here is much closer than in south!
Benny

 

[Arctic_Alex]

My beloved wife and 2 other ladies made the long CF 2016.
I served them with a camping car and Airedale Terrier.
Later, 2019 I found mysef on the Napoleon Route.
We live in Rovaniemi, Arctic Circle. And we are not here alone.
BTW, a distance of 300 km here is much closer than in south!
Benny

Ah, a neighbour in Finland I totally agree that distances up here feel much shorter. The nearest IKEA is in Haparanda, which is 2x250 km there and back again.

 

[howardd5]

As I myself am living in Europe's least populated larger areas, the far North of Scandinavia, I wonder if there are any individuals or local groups dedicated to the topic? I know of one or two form members who happen to be on my geographical latitude. But are there any more?
I know spontaneous local meetups are more than unlikely, as we are probably few and travelling across the North takes days – but it would be interesting to know of like-minded (or not-so-like-minded) people up here who are either experienced or have some sort of interest in pilgrimage routes (for whatever motivation).
I myself are located in the Swedish municipality of Jokkmokk at the Arctic Circle.

I have read about a long hiking trail in Sweden called the Klunsledden. It heads south from the Artic circle and is remote and exposed

 

[Arctic_Alex]

I have read about a long hiking trail in Sweden called the Klunsledden. It heads south from the Artic circle and is remote and exposed

You are talking about the Kungsleden, the King's Trail. Part of which is actually also pilgrimage route.
It is very beautiful and mostly far away from any road and electricity so in case of an emergency you need to be evacuated by helicopter. Last winter I did part of it by dogsled.

It heads North or South, depending which direction you chose and i extends far North of the Arctic Circle. About 100km of this trail run through my municipality. During several winters I have been helping transporting provisions and firewood to the remote cabins – but this before I lived here. In fact, the Kungsleden has been one of the reasons I left my city life in Germany and moved up North

Click here for my old post on the pilgrimage part of the Kungsleden: Dag Hammarskjöldsleden / Kungsleden

 

[Reija]

says hello.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

View attachment 164717 says hello.

Hei!
So you also walked in Germany? Strangely enough I never did that although I spent most of my life in Germany. Now I regret it a bit actually! I guess it was a case of the grass is always greener on the other side ;-)

 

[Reija]

Hej! You should have! Germany is so full of well marked, easy to follow "Jakobswegs". I used to live in Ulm and on one Saturday morning in crispy October weather I basically just opened the door and started walking towards Santiago. All the way to the Swiss boarder I did only weekend day trips using the RE-trains to get back and forth. It was fun, I'm glad I did it!

 

[Arctic_Alex]

Hej! You should have! Germany is so full of well marked, easy to follow "Jakobswegs". I used to live in Ulm and on one Saturday morning in crispy October weather I basically just opened the door and started walking towards Santiago. All the way to the Swiss boarder I did only weekend day trips using the RE-trains to get back and forth. It was fun, I'm glad I did it!

Sounds really fun
But now, from the far North of Sweden, that is a bit far away. Also to start a Camino from here would be a very big project ;-)

 

[Corned Beef]

Also to start a Camino from here would be a very big project ;-)

You can start in Tallinn if you can get to Helsinki. Just turn right at Poland.

Estonia - Romea Strata

The route in Estonia is 330 km long and divided into 13 stages.The starting point of the Route is the Tallinn Dome Church, where the pilgrim credential can be purchased....

www.romeastrata.org

Romea Strata - Romea Strata

www.romeastrata.org

 

[Arctic_Alex]

You can start in Tallinn if you can get to Helsinki. Just turn right at Poland.

Estonia - Romea Strata

The route in Estonia is 330 km long and divided into 13 stages.The starting point of the Route is the Tallinn Dome Church, where the pilgrim credential can be purchased....

www.romeastrata.org

Romea Strata - Romea Strata

www.romeastrata.org

For me, from here to Helsinki is roundabout 900-something k walking .. first walking east for a while, then turning right (south) towards Helsinki (which we call Helsingfors) ... certainly interesting but it will be hard to force enough time off ...