Šalmmečohkat
1,603 m
Sweden
- Elevation
- 1,603 m
- Prominence
- 1,043 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Approximate line — not for navigation
An automated check found that parts of this line could not be matched to mapped trails, so it may stray far from the real route. Use it for planning only, with a map and a guidebook.
Why? 8 check notes
- danger scan: Skadjoaijávri → Sánjavárri: straight line 8515 m (limit 200 m)
- ascent 2220 m is 1.9× the net gain 1155 m: the line probably detours down and back up (not a traverse)
- 100% approximate geometry
- low confidence 0.35
- Altevatn dam car park (Innset) → Skadjoaijávri: dem (snap_failed, 15.1 km)
- Skadjoaijávri → Sánjavárri: straight (snap_failed; DEM rejected: no path below 35° between the endpoints, 8.5 km)
- Sánjavárri → Šalmmečohkat: dem (snap_failed, 12.3 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Salvasskardet, Skadjoaigaska, Vaddejohka, Šalmmečohkat west ridge
A trackless two-day wilderness approach from the Altevatn dam at Innset in Norway: up Salvasskardet, across the Skadjoaivvit plateau to a camp near Sánjavárri, down to the Vaddejohka valley, then up the west ridge on about 500 m of boulder field to a small cairn. Roughly 40 km each way, almost all off-trail.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 35.9 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +2,220 m
- −1,066 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,603 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 14h 01m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 12h 58m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
There is no marked route to Šalmmečohkat and no road on the north side of Torneträsk. The one published ascent found (kugo.no, September 2018) started at the car park by the Altevatn dam at Innset in Bardu, Norway, about 38 km from Setermoen. Follow the track and path up Salvasskardet towards Lappjordhytta for about 7 km, then leave the path and head for Skadjoaigaska, the col between the 1,356 m and 1,327 m tops of Skadjoaivvit, over easy plateau ground and mild boulder fields. Pass Skadjoaijávri and continue east across the plateau to camp near Sánjavárri (about 27 km and 1,200 m of ascent from the car). On day two descend south-east past Ullandarasjohka to the Vaddejohka valley (about 5 km), then work up through scrub and bog on the south side of Stuora Botnjegorsa until the ground opens out below the west ridge of Šalmmečohkat, on the Swedish side of the border. The last 500 m of ascent are on stable boulder field to the summit cairn, about 13 km from the camp. A small glacier lies on the east side of the col beyond the summit. Return the same way. The 2018 party were trail runners travelling light and combined the summit with eight other tops; walkers with full packs should allow at least three days for the return trip and carry everything, including a tent. Streams on the high ground can dry up in a warm late summer.
Start
Altevatn dam car park (Innset)448 m
- Not verified; the trailhead at Innset is normally reached by car from Setermoen (Bardu).
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altevatn dam car park (Innset) → Sánjavárri | 23.7 | 1,158 | 458 | 8h 18m |
| 2 | Sánjavárri → Šalmmečohkat | 12.3 | 1,064 | 613 | 6h 19m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Altevatn dam car park (Innset)448 m
Paid parking (50 NOK per day in 2018, card payment)
- Feature: Skadjoaijávri910 m
- Feature: Sánjavárri1,152 m
Camp on the plateau (Avvrut) below this top
- Summit: Šalmmečohkat1,603 m
Key Passages
- Skadjoaigaska col
- Scrub and bog below Stuora Botnjegorsa
- 500 m boulder field on the west ridge
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 35%Overview
A remote 1,603 m fell north of Torneträsk in Swedish Lapland, one of only about fifteen Swedish summits with more than 1,000 m of prominence. No path, no hut and very few recorded ascents: the top is a boulder-field ridge reached after a long trackless approach.
Šalmmečohkat stands in the roadless country between Altevatn in Norway and Torneträsk in Sweden, a few kilometres from the border and south of the lake Geavdnjajávri. Lower tops ring the main summit, and a small glacier lies in the col to its east. Its prominence of about 1,040 m places it among the handful of Swedish mountains above 1,000 m of prominence, and its isolation (13.7 km to Rohkunborri) gives wide views over the Torneträsk basin.
The mountain is very rarely climbed. There are no marked trails nearby and the summit cairn is small. The one documented ascent approached from Innset at the Altevatn dam in Norway, crossing about 40 km of plateau, valley bog and boulder field each way. Technically it is a walk, but navigation, self-sufficiency and the sheer distance make it a serious wilderness objective rather than a day hike.
The peak is for experienced fell walkers who are comfortable camping wild, navigating in fog and dealing with river crossings far from help, typically in July to early September when the snow has gone.
Climbing Notes
Plan for at least three days with full camping kit from Innset. Expect long sections of boulder field (the final 500 m of ascent are entirely boulders), bog and willow scrub in the valleys, and no waymarks. Carry a map, compass and GPS; mobile coverage is patchy, though the 2018 party had Swedish 4G on the plateau near Sánjavárri. Water can be scarce on the high ground in a dry late summer, while snowmelt in early summer can make streams awkward to cross.
Snow usually lies on the plateau well into June, and the best window is roughly mid-July to early September. Mosquitoes are heavy in the valleys in July. Reindeer graze the area in summer: keep dogs on a lead and give herds space. Leave a route plan with someone at home and consider a satellite messenger.
Season
Best Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Not advisable
- July: Good
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Not advisable
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Polar night; serious winter expedition only
- Feb
- Deep winter; very cold and remote
- Mar
- Long ski expedition for experienced parties only (estimate)
- Apr
- Spring ski touring possible for self-sufficient parties (estimate)
- May
- Snowmelt; rivers high and snow soft
- Jun
- Lingering snow and high streams
- Jul
- Snow mostly gone from the approach; midnight sun; mosquitoes
- Aug
- Best conditions; fewer insects later in the month
- Sep
- The documented ascent was on 8 September; streams may run dry; first snow possible
- Oct
- Early winter; short days
- Dec
- Polar night
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Parking at the Altevatn dam at Innset was 50 NOK per day in 2018 (card payment)
- Rules
- Reindeer herding area on both sides of the border; avoid disturbing herds, especially during calving in late spring
- Wild camping is permitted under the Swedish and Norwegian rights of public access, subject to the usual rules (no trace, away from dwellings)
- Getting There
Setermoen (Bardu, Norway); Abisko is the nearest Swedish village but lies across Torneträsk
Bardufoss Airport (BDU)
- By car: from Setermoen follow the Innsetveien about 38 km to the Altevatn dam at Innset; paid parking near the dam
- No road reaches the north shore of Torneträsk near the mountain
Hazards
- Remoteness
- Weather
- River crossing