VÄLLISTE IN THE FOG
It was our first summer in Åre, and Marcus, Petter, and I were eager to get out on the trails. Even though it was only early June and still a bit early for mountain hiking, we couldn’t resist heading up over the Pentecost weekend. We left Thursday evening, excited for three amazing day hikes ahead!
We quickly realized that the southern Åre mountains were a bit drier at this time of year, so we focused our hikes on Vålådalen and Edsåsdalen. Our first hike was the Välliste loop (trail 240). To the right is a photo from the beautiful Ytterstvallen, just a couple of kilometers from Trillevallen, where we started. Apparently, they serve waffles here in winter—another great reason to return this winter!
The trail started through the forest with little elevation gain as we made our way to Ytterstvallen, but soon after, the climb became much steeper. Once we reached the mountain plateau, mist began to roll in, and about a kilometer from the summit, we stopped for a break with delicious sandwiches from Åre Bakery. A real treat!
The mist grew thicker and thicker, and as we made our way toward the summit, we could barely see a few meters ahead. It was a bit eerie, yet still incredibly beautiful. Summer was just around the corner, but the buds hadn’t yet started to bloom.
At last, we reached the summit of Välliste, 1,025 meters above sea level. The fog was incredibly thick! Inside the cabin, we read about a tragic story from years ago, of a young girl who had become lost and passed away on the mountain.
The last stretch down was quick and easy, eventually leading us into the Trillevallen ski area. Satisfied with our hike, we made our way back to Åre, eager to rest our legs before tomorrow's adventures.
