STF Pältsa Mountain cabin

STF Pältsa Mountain cabin (Swedish: STF Pältsa Fjällstuga, also known as Pältsastugan) is a mountain lodge in Swedish Lapland, owned and operated by the Swedish Tourist Association (Svenska Turistföreningen, STF). It is the northernmost mountain cabin in Sweden, situated on the country's only tundra, at the upper end of the wide Kummajoki valley, close to Sweden's northernmost high mountain, Pältsa. The cabin lies just south of Treriksröset, the tripoint where Sweden, Norway and Finland meet, and about 14 kilometres from the boat jetty at Koltaluokta at the northern end of Lake Kilpisjärvi on the Finnish border. It is within the Könkämä Sámi community area. The cabin was built by STF and Lappväsendet and was completed at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, as Sweden's northernmost building. During the war years it saved the lives of many refugees from Norway. From autumn 1944 to May 1945, Pältsastugan served as the northernmost base, codenamed Mons, for the Norwegian resistance operation Operation Sepals, housing about ten Norwegian soldiers from Milorg. A escape route was dug through a floor hatch and a tunnel to a nearby ravine 30–40 metres south of the cabin. It was only opened to tourists in 1949. Today the cabin consists of two buildings with up to 25–26 sleeping places. The larger cabin offers accommodation for 18 guests, with two four-bed rooms and one ten-bed room, plus a combined kitchen/dining room and a drying room; dogs are not allowed in this cabin. The older Pältsastugan, built in 1941, has two rooms with a total of 8 beds, divided into a cabin host room and a security room with an emergency telephone; during the season it serves as reserve space and as a room for dog owners. Nearby there is a sauna, wood shed and outhouse. There is no mobile coverage, but on a small hill three kilometres south of the cabin it is possible to make mobile calls via a Finnish mast. The location offers the midnight sun from mid-May to the end of July. The landscape is characterised by tundra with a distinctive flora due to the harsh climate. Visitors can hike along mile-long eskers close to the steep mountain peaks on the Norwegian side, and take a summit trip on Pältsa. The area is rich in birdlife, especially passerines and waders, and there are many fish-rich lakes and streams a short distance from the cabin. The cabin is on the Nordkalottleden trail, and the shortest summer trail to it is from Gappohytta in Signaldalen in Storfjord municipality, Norway (eleven kilometres). As an STF mountain cabin, it offers simple self-catering accommodation in multi-bed rooms with bunk beds and wood stoves. Guests can book through STF's booking tool. The cabin has a guest rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on 64 reviews.

Pältsastugan was built by Svenska Turistföreningen (STF) and Lappväsendet and was completed at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, becoming Sweden's northernmost building. During the war years it saved the lives of many refugees from Norway. From autumn 1944 to May 1945, the cabin was established as the northernmost base, codenamed Mons, for the Norwegian resistance operation Operation Sepals, where about ten Norwegian soldiers from Milorg stayed. At that time an escape route was dug through a floor hatch and a tunnel to a nearby ravine 30–40 metres south of the cabin. The cabin was only opened to tourists in 1949. The older cabin, Gamla Pältsastugan, was built in 1941 and has two rooms with a total of 8 beds. Today there are two buildings with up to 25–26 sleeping places. The larger cabin offers accommodation for 18 guests, with two four-bed rooms and one ten-bed room, plus a combined kitchen/dining room and a drying room; dogs are not allowed in this cabin. The old cabin serves as reserve space and as a room for dog owners during the season. The cabin is located on the Nordkalottleden trail, just south of Treriksröset, and is operated by STF as a self-catering mountain cabin.

• 1949

  The cabin was opened to tourists.

• 1944

  From autumn 1944 to May 1945, the cabin served as the northernmost base (Mons) for Norwegian Operation Sepals.

• 1941

  The older cabin, Gamla Pältsastugan, was built.

• 1939

  Pältsastugan completed at the outbreak of World War II as Sweden's northernmost building.

Remote, historic mountain cabin for self-catering hikers on the Nordkalottleden trail, offering basic accommodation in Sweden's northernmost tundra setting.

• STF Pältsa Fjällstuga (main cabin)

  Accommodation for 18 guests, with two four-bed rooms and one ten-bed room, combined kitchen/dining room and drying room. Dogs not allowed.

• Gamla Pältsastugan (old cabin)

  Built in 1941, two rooms with a total of 8 beds, including a cabin host room and a security room with emergency telephone. Used as reserve space and for dog owners during the season.

• Sauna, wood shed and outhouse

  Facilities located in close proximity to the cabin.

1. 1STF Pältsa Fjällstuga - Svenska Turistföreningensvenskaturistforeningen.se
2. 2Pältsastugan - Wikipediasv.wikipedia.org
3. 3STF Pältsa Mountain cabin - Wikidatawikidata.org