The cottages are to be closed from Monday, March 30, according to the press release. The reason is that they do not want to contribute to increased stress for health and rescue personnel, and to avoid problems for guests affected by covid 19.
- It is advisable now to close STF's mountain huts for the winter season. So far, there have not been many guests in our mountain huts, but the closer we get to Easter and the more pleasant weather in the mountains, the number of guests is increasing, says Magnus Ling, secretary general of STF, in the press release.
However, eight mountain stations will be open as usual; in Grövelsjön, Saltoluokta, Abisko, Kebnekaise, Storulvån, Helags, Blåhammaren and Sylarna.
- There we have good conditions for continuing to be open and welcoming guests. The mountain stations have well-functioning routines for good hygiene and to avoid congestion, here there are staff who can act in case of suspicion of infection, good conditions for good hand hygiene for many and we also have the possibility of isolation if a guest should fall ill. In addition, we can spread the guests over considerably larger areas than in the mountain huts.
In order to avoid risks to the mountain guests who are already out on the trails, the shutdown will be successful over the next few days.
- We obviously think it's sad to end the season now, says Magnus Ling.