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.