Skiing trip to Halti, in Käsivarsi Wilderness Area

As the temperatures were forecast to get a bit warmer, with a friend we decided to go to the northern part of Enontekiö. Starting from Kilpisjärvi we wanted to ski through the northern part of the Käsivarsi wilderness area. Since there are only few tourists here at the moment, we thought we would try to ski up Halti, which usually is pretty crowded this time of the year ..

Continue reading “Skiing trip to Halti, in Käsivarsi Wilderness Area”

The Ruins of the Kilpisjärvi School Building

burned out camper and burned down building
Burned down school and caravan

Every year in May a huge ice fishing competition is taking place in Kilpisjärvi. During that time thousands of people are coming to the village. This year one caravan that was parked next to the school building caught fire, which then spread over the wooden building. The students and inhabitants of Kilpisjärvi will now have to wait about two years for a replacement. Continue reading “The Ruins of the Kilpisjärvi School Building”

Midsummer in Lapland: Traditional Kilpisjärvi Ski Race

frozen lake in front of mountain
Saanajärvi and Saana fell

Since the mid 1940s in Kilpisjärvi, in the northwest of Finland, close to the Norwegian border, a ski race is carried out during midsummer. While not participating, I visited this year’s edition of the midsummer ski race as a spectator, before continuing a “night hike” in the vicinity of Kilpisjärvi and the Saana mountain. Finally some snow again! Continue reading “Midsummer in Lapland: Traditional Kilpisjärvi Ski Race”

Kilpisjärvi & Malla Strict Nature Reserve

KilpisjärviIn August I took my bike, put a trailer on its end and went to Kilpisjärvi. After four days sitting on my bike, I arrived during heavy rainfall in Kilpisjärvi, where I then attended an almost two weeks lasting summer school. Within the school we had a lecture at the three border point (Finland, Norway, Sweden) and afterwards hiked back through the Malla Strict Nature Reserve. After the summer school was over Continue reading “Kilpisjärvi & Malla Strict Nature Reserve”

Skiing in Käsivarsi Wilderness Area – Exploring the Surroundings of Kilpisjärvi

Käsivarsi Wilderness Area - near Kilpisjärvi
Mountain range close to Kilpisjärvi, in Käsivarsi wilderness area

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”

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