Study site
Our study focused on a 40-km stretch of the Rallarvägen trail starting
in Abisko (68°21’N, 18°49’ E) at the Abisko Östra train station, and
ending in Riksgränsen, the Swedish settlement near the Norwegian border
(Fig. 1). The Rallarvägen was built to serve as a transport road for the
construction of the railroad connecting Kiruna (Sweden) with Narvik
(Norway) and since then has been used as a hiking trail. The trail
follows the railroad track through the mountain valley, with a minor
elevational gradient ranging from approximately 368 m a.s.l. near Abisko
till 522 m a.s.l. near Vassijaure. Along the Rallarvägen are numerous
small settlements, some with train stations: Abisko (with the Abisko
Turist Station), Björkliden, Låktatjåkka, Kopparåsen, Vassijaure,
Katterjokk, and Riksgränsen. The E10 highway between Kiruna (Sweden) and
Narvik (Norway) parallels the Rallarvägen and the railroad (Fig. 1).
Not every part of the Rallarvägen trail is equally popular. Some parts
near Koppårasen are overgrown and in bad condition, while other parts,
such as the stretch between Abisko and Björkliden, are easily accessible
and extensively used. Between Abisko and Björkliden lies the Abisko
National Park (1909), which attracts many tourists in both summer and
winter. Most summer tourism is focused on hiking, resulting in extensive
use of hiking trails. Especially through this park, many hiking trails
follow the Rallarvägen before diverging to different parts of the area.