As I wrote in the last entry, with the beginning of May the poles for marking the skiing tracks were removed, signalling the end of the winter – and the way too short skiing season. This fact however, let my girl friend and me decide to cross the lake Ounasjärvi for the last time this winter and to go on a small skiing trip into Pallas-Ounas national park, to stay over at the autiotupa Sioskuru. Continue reading “Sioskuru – The Last Skiing Trip This Winter”
Rautujärvi Again – The Quick Retreat of the Snow
The day before yesterday – or presterday, as I would call it – the poles marking the skiing tracks unfortunately have been removed; the unmarking of the tracks is marking the end of the skiing season, leaving the (ex-)pistes open for (noisy, smelly and polluting) snowmobiles to ruin the rest of the tracks even quicker than the warm spring sun is doing it. This altogether leaves some icy and rough traces in the snow, that still shows you, where once the tracks have brought comfort to the cross-country skier. Continue reading “Rautujärvi Again – The Quick Retreat of the Snow”
The Night Has Gone – Dinner at Rautujärvi
Recently I was feeling like having a late dinner at the Rautujärvi laavu. Since I usually enjoy it pretty much to ski (only) in the atmospheric night light, I was wondering how much night there still is at this time of the year. In the cities and villages this is always a bit tricky to figure out, since the light pollution even in small places are interfering quite much with the natural light situation. Continue reading “The Night Has Gone – Dinner at Rautujärvi”
Skiing to Pahakuru – in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
On the Easter weekend we took advantage of the warm spring weather and well maintained skiing tracks, to carry a pulk with our backpacks and some food to the open wilderness hut Pahakuru, to stay there for one night. On the next day – on the way back – it was much more windy, though still sunny at the beginning. However, after Sioskuru there was no sight anymore, so heavy winds and strong snowfall kept me away from taking more pictures .. Continue reading “Skiing to Pahakuru – in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park”
Skiing from Hetta to Pyhäkero
The wonderful weather in late February definitely needed to be used for skiing; so I decided to take my camera for a short trip from Hetta to Pyhäkero and back. The tracks were in wonderful condition, the fresh snow from the days before allowed a gentle skiing trip up to the open wilderness hut Pyhäkero, on which I met hardly any people .. Continue reading “Skiing from Hetta to Pyhäkero”
Laavu on Jyppyrävaara in Enontekiö / Hetta
Just a short walk from the Fell Lapland Nature Center – and thus close to the center of Hetta, is a Laavu on the hill Jyppyrävaara. From up there, you have a nice view on the lake Ounasjärvi, as well as on Pyhäkerö and the surroundings, while you can enjoy your semi-delicous makkara in the warming, springlike sun … Continue reading “Laavu on Jyppyrävaara in Enontekiö / Hetta”
Skiing in Käsivarsi Wilderness Area – Exploring the Surroundings of Kilpisjärvi
In April I kind of felt like needing some mountains around me, especially because I really wanted to go skiing. Alpine Skiing! Rovaniemi and its surroundings is really great for cross country, but suffers from a total absence of mountains – like Finland in general (I’d say, even if not everybody agrees). However, close to the Norwegian border, in the very North-West of Finland, there are some (the native Austrian would say: almost) mountains, that looked inviting for skiing when I passed by there in January, on my way to Tromsø.
So it was pretty easy to make a decision. Continue reading “Skiing in Käsivarsi Wilderness Area – Exploring the Surroundings of Kilpisjärvi”
