| Distance | 31.7 km |
| Average Speed | 12.9 km/h |
| Maximum Speed | 27.0 km/h |
Slept well and got up at a reasonable time.
The guides were getting ready for some guests who were doing the shortest 12km trip so I busied myself locating as many of the items I would need to take as possible. Fortunately, having visited the kennels for very many years I now know where most things can be found.
There was much discussion about the state of the snow which – after a very cold start to the winter – has been badly affected by recent warm weather. Some parts of the trails were reputed to be icy, whilst many areas have a frozen crust which breaks even under the weight of a dog. I have experienced this before and it does indeed make the going more difficult. It also unnerves and slows down the dogs.
Timo also advised me that the river crossing is not considered safe as snow mobilers who use it have reported a layer of water on top of the ice. Passable with care on a snowmobile, but not to be attempted with dogs. As I hope to visit Saija and the only viable route is via this crossing, Timo suggested that he would have to take me and the dogs by truck to somewhere the other side of the river.
By the time everything was organised the day guests were returning. This was actually something of an advantage as it meant I wouldn’t run into them. I left almost as soon as they had returned.
I took just five dogs as Timo suggested that with possibly icy trails and a lighter sledge this would be safer. The team for the first day was therefore:
| Foxy | Pihla |
| Victor | |
| Nome | Valdo |
Milla had revealed that very unusually the Tilsa road was drivable. This is a major forest road which runs right across the middle of the explorable area. Unfortunately, most winters the logging companies sweep the road to allow access for logging lorries and this makes it difficult and dangerous to drive as their isn’t enough snow depth for the brake or anchor to work properly. It may well be ten years or more since I last drove it. I therefore took full advantage and used it to drive to Tilsa kota for lunch.
Tilsa has been getting steadily worse for years as the forest government don’t seem to do any maintenance on it at all. However, things have now reached a new low! All the wide benches which used to run right round the interior have been removed. The only things to sit on now is a large log. The metal support over the fire which had almost collapsed two years’ ago has also disappeared.
There was of course no wood at the kota but fortunately I had brought some with me. I was therefore able to heat some sausages.
After lunch I continued along the Tilsa road and turned left across the swamps and then left again along the snowmobile trail back towards Tilsa. Unfortunately, a few hundred metres before the junction back onto the Tilsa road there was an open ditch which I was unable to cross. I had noticed a new junction a little way back so I turned round and discovered that someone had made a short detour route back onto the Tilsa road.
My final plan for the day was to follow the new forest road which was only added a few years ago leading west from the Tilsa road. I had only driven part of it before and wanted to explore the full length. The surface was good and as I rounded a bend I saw what I think was a capercaillie sitting in the middle of the track. Fortunately I spotted it just before the dogs did so I was braced for the sudden acceleration as they tried to chase it!
Overall, the snow surface wasn’t too bad in most places but on less used trails there was definitely a frozen crust which the dogs were breaking through.