Laavu – Page 3 – Gerald Zojer's Blog

August 19, 2012August 10, 2014

Pahtajärvi Again. And This Time Without Mosquitoes!

Finally, the mosquitoes are gone!

Summer seems to be over, some birch trees and a number of shrubs and grasses already changed their colors, signaling the arrival of autumn. It was time; the mosquitoes really took away a lot of the fun that’s supposed to accompany bike trips through the forest. Nevertheless, there are still tons of other annoying, biting midges, but at least they are not as quick as their bigger brothers and sisters. Continue reading “Pahtajärvi Again. And This Time Without Mosquitoes!”

August 11, 2012February 4, 2013

Rautujärvi in Summer – Without Getting Wet Feet!

In Winter it’s easy and comfortable to get to Rautujärvi from Hetta, by just crossing the lake Ounasjärvi and having a short distance skiing trip up to the lake. In summer however, reaching the very same destination becomes a bit more tricky: The trails that can be found in various hiking maps are all winter tracks (that cross different lakes and mires). In order to avoid getting wet feet, the idea was Continue reading “Rautujärvi in Summer – Without Getting Wet Feet!”

August 1, 2012November 21, 2012

Pahtajärvi – The Secret Shelter of the Mighty Mosquito

Just a few kilometer North of Hetta is Pahtajärvi, a worthy detour on the foot- or bike way to Näkkälä; or also a possible round trip via the Fell Lapland Nature Center Skierri – or Jyppyrävaara respectively.

In winter an easy skiing track, in summer mainly for hikers; but it is also possible to ride a mountain bike (most of the way), even though the trail is very demanding! Continue reading “Pahtajärvi – The Secret Shelter of the Mighty Mosquito”

June 4, 2012December 13, 2012

Walk to One of the Oldest Buildings in Lappi: The Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church

The polar day has arrived, and yet the amount of mosquitoes can still be counted easily on one hand. Being for a short visit in Inari, a walk to the Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church seemed very inviting. Not because of visiting a Christian sanctuary of course, but because the walk there is really nice and can also be managed if you don’t have much time. Continue reading “Walk to One of the Oldest Buildings in Lappi: The Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church”

May 23, 2012November 23, 2012

Kuninkaanlaavu: Ounasjoki Valley With High and Low Water Level

This week I joined some friends to the Kuninkaanlaavu (see picture at the bottom) with the goal to end-process some semi-delicious makkara over the open fire. This laavu is located on Santavaara, which from Rovaniemi is just a few kilometers upstream the Ounasjoki river.

The water level of the river was still unusually high, on the way there, the fields and forests next to the road were still flooded. Standing up on Santavaara I got interested in comparing some images from last year’s autumn (first picture), when I have also been up there for some makkara-processing …

Kuninkaanlaavu at night ..

May 7, 2012February 23, 2013

Sioskuru – The Last Skiing Trip This Winter

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”

May 4, 2012November 23, 2012

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”