Backpack to Sundejavri in Finnmark

Introduction

I walked this just by exploring a bit, and just deciding where to walk on the day, so I can't be too descriptive unfortunately, but you start at Nyelv, in Finnmark, Norway, at a trailhead signpost just a little bit off the E6 road.

The turning to the trailhead is to the left before the river in Nyelv, if you approaching it from the Kirkenes (East) direction. If you have a 4x4 you can go up the mud tractor track, which will find you with an ample amount of parking space! But if you (or your car) doesn't feel up for it then you can park a little way up the track before it gets smaller and a bit muddy, and walk up.

Walk to the lake

The first bit of the trail is signposted, and is an easy 4km amble into the wild. You'll come across a fork in the track. You can take the left fork which takes you up to Sundejavri, which is a huge body of water, or you can continue straight which brings you to this gorgeous emerald lake. If you persevere a little bit further past the first lake you see and through the forest slightly, a clearing will appear with another lake in it, with a small sandy beach shore.

I camped there for the evening. The lake water is perfect to drink, I made a fire with dead wood that was all around me. The trees seemed to have suffered from a disease of some sort, meaning some of them were rotten inside out. Some of them were fairly dense still though. 

If you go in the summer time and it's a warm day, take a swim in the lake for sure. The bottom is unusual because its not rocky or muddy black tar, its big smooth rocks and open in some spaces too, and crystal clear all the way throughout, making for some gorgeous bathing (and staring into!)

The morning after, the walk

We spent the evening there and had a lazy morning, reading, fishing and relaxing. We started to walk at around 11am. We followed the trail up to Sundejavri, which is this gorgeous big water that seems to be not a popular place at all (we didn't see another soul in the two days we were out there). The walk to Sundejavri is on a fairly well walked trail, but keep your eyes open. On the way you walk past a stream with a small waterfall which is stunning, before coming to the waters. 

We walked along the water's edge for a few kilometres, before scoping out the tallest peak around on the map and then going up it. There isn't a trail for this, just a compass (or GPS) and a bit of determination! I was puffing by the time I got to the top but the views were totally worth it. 

At this point, a storm of heavy rain and high winds was rolling in, so we walked down much quicker than we had come up, and headed back towards camp where we had left the tents. It was pretty easy to navigate yourself because from the top of the peak you could see the Varanger Fjord, meaning you could put yourself in the right direction really easily with a compass and map.  The descent is fun as you get to personalise and choose whichever route you want to take!

We got back to the tents just as the storm truly began to fall, so we spent some time taking shelter and eating a bit, before the rain subsided and we packed away, taking the trail back to the car. 

It was a gorgeous trip filled with many beautiful views, of the bodies of water, the views of the fjord, and the true greenery of the forest and the wild.