Kåtotjåkka
1,986 m
Sweden
Also known as GodučohkkaAlso known as
Godučohkka
- Elevation
- 1,986 m
- Prominence
- 1,111 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1A rarely climbed, pathless ascent of the highest summit north of Kebnekaise: two days from Abisko along Kungsleden to Abiskojaure, east past Miesákjávri to the mountain's northern foot, then up snowfields and loose block terrain on the west side to a snow-capped summit ridge.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 33.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,143 m
- −539 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,989 m
- Time Up
- 12h 23m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 11h 19m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Walk from Abisko Turiststation along Kungsleden to the Abiskojaure huts, then continue up the valley towards Alisvággi and leave Kungsleden for the lake Miesákjávri, which one party had to ford at the outlet; camp on the heath east of it. A faint, little-used path heads east towards the northern foot of Kåtotjåkka. From the northern foot traverse at about 1,000 m towards the valley Bieggariehppi, cross the stream draining lake 1155 and climb south over large snowfields and steep, loose ground on the west side of the massif to the summit ridge. The main summit (Stortoppen) can carry a corniced or wind-slabbed snow crest well into August: in 2015 the north side had a frozen crust that could release, and the soloist crossed on the softer south side, step by step. A metal box holds the summit register, whose entries show few ascents. The same party descended the south ridge towards Visttasvággi, which the author found very loose with large blocks on its south-west side, then followed Mårmajåkka down to the Visttas valley and walked out to Nikkaluokta, making a two-day traverse. In one party's experience the summit took about six hours from a camp near Miesákjávri.
Start
Abisko Turiststation386 m
- Train (Kiruna–Narvik line) to Abisko Turiststation.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abisko Turiststation → Miesákjávri | 26.0 | 532 | 144 | 7h 31m |
| 2 | Miesákjávri → Kåtotjåkka | 7.2 | 1,614 | 395 | 7h 04m |
Waypoints
- Station: Abisko Turiststation386 m
Railway halt and STF mountain station; start of Kungsleden
- Hut: Abiskojaure Fjällstuga488 m
- Feature: Miesákjávri771 m
Lake below the north side; ford near the outlet; camping on the heath to the east
- Summit: Kåtotjåkka1,986 m
Key Passages
- Ford at Miesákjávri
- Snowfields and loose cliffs on the west side
- Snow-covered summit crest
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 35%Overview
The highest mountain in Sweden north of the Kebnekaise massif (about 1,986–1,991 m), a glaciated, pathless massif between Abisko and Nikkaluokta that sees only a handful of ascents a year.
Kåtotjåkka (Northern Sami Godučohkka) rises about 24 km south of Abisko, east of the Kungsleden valley between Abiskojaure and Alesjaure and north of Visttasvággi. Its main summit, Stortoppen, carries a permanent snow crest and is ringed by small glaciers: Norra Kåtotjåkkaglaciären on the north side, Goduglaciären to the west and the Mårmatjåkka glaciers to the south. Kebnekaise lies about 28 km to the south-south-west.
There is no marked path. The approaches use Kungsleden from Abisko or Alesjaure, or the Visttas valley from Nikkaluokta, and the last 1,000 m are loose block fields, steep snowfields and a narrow summit ridge. STF describes it as a demanding summit tour for advanced mountaineers, and the summit register shows few visitors.
Its height is uncertain by a few metres: Fjällkartan and OSM give 1,991 m, while Lantmäteriet's laser-scanned terrain model shows no point above about 1,985 m.
Climbing Notes
Allow at least three days for a traverse from Abisko to Nikkaluokta or an out-and-back from Abisko or Alesjaure, with tent and full camping kit. You need to navigate confidently off trail, move steadily on loose blocks and steep snow, and judge snow stability on the summit crest; an ice axe is advisable while snow lingers on the ridge, which can be well into August. Fords on the approach can be cold and strong after rain or in the melt. STF huts at Abiskojaure and Alesjaure are useful bases before and after; guided ascents specific to Kåtotjåkka were not found.
Season
Best Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Good
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Not advisable
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night
- Mar
- Ski touring for experienced, self-sufficient parties
- Apr
- Long days; ski touring; avalanche risk on the steep flanks
- May
- Melting snow and rotten fords
- Jun
- Much snow left on the massif; high streams
- Jul
- Snow may still cover the summit ridge; mosquitoes
- Aug
- Best conditions; a snow crest usually remains on the summit
- Sep
- Fewer insects; early snow possible
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No huts on the mountain. STF Abiskojaure and STF Alesjaure on Kungsleden are staffed in season; book through STF.
- Fees
- STF huts (Abiskojaure, Alesjaure) charge overnight fees
- Rules
- Kungsleden between Abisko and Abiskojaure runs through Abisko National Park; national park rules apply there
- The area lies in the Kebnekaise snowmobile regulation area: snowmobiles only with a permit
- Leavas Sami summer settlement near Alesjaure: avoid disturbing reindeer, especially during calf marking in early July
- Getting There
Abisko; Kiruna is the nearest town
Kiruna Airport (KRN)
- Train on the Kiruna–Narvik line to Abisko Turiststation, the start of Kungsleden
- Summer boat on Lake Alesjaure shortens the walk to Alesjaure by about 6 km
- Exit south via Visttasvággi to Nikkaluokta, which has a bus to Kiruna
Hazards
- Glacier
- Cornices
- Rockfall
- Avalanche
- River crossing
- Weather
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
1- 490 m
Abiskojaure FjällstugaHutStaffed