After a month of being back at work I thought it would be good to get out for another weekend hike. This was a lot smaller than our big Sörmlandsleden hike in July, but ended at one of our favourite spots: Paradiset. We started off Saturday morning at the season finale for Johanna’s garden café, then hiked into the forest. It is unusual to have such great weather so late in the season, and since this campground has a parking lot nearby it was very full of families. All the wind shelters were full, so we found a ‘backwoods’ campspot on the far side of the lake.
Kopparödling or copper skink 
A new trail circuit in Huddinge 
Anice wild camping spot overlooking the lake 
Warm and golden morning light 
A ‘Hug dog’ (kramhunden) by a trail marker. 
This wind shelter wasn’t full, but maybe because it is a loooong way from a parking lot or road (pretty close to the snake sighting though!)
We saw salamanders and frogs and toads and the copper skink, but most memorable was a GIANT HUGGORM (Black Adder)! It was sunny and dry as we hike home and we were along a stony ridge on an old gravel road with lots of tall grass growing in between the tire ruts. As we walked I heard some dry slithery rustling in the ditch and then suddenly a great thick snake woke up and came out of the grass in a real hurry. Graham hopped over her and she slid over the edge of the road into a rock slide. Cool to see, although maybe a little too close.
This has been a year with lots of camping! If we get out in October it will be 5 consecutive months with camping. It has certainly gotten a lot colder and darker, so we’ll see.