Distance Average Speed Max Speed 27.0 11.8 km/h 24.4 km/h Got up at 07:00 and only then thought that perhaps the missing axe might be in the wood shed – Duh! Given a lift to the farm, Old safari house completely gone following October fire and now just an area of snow. The guides managed to find most items I needed except snow shoes – which was a pity as they might have come in useful later. I was allocated
Category: Sledding
2019 Trip – Day 1
Due to early flight I spent Saturday night at the Heathrow Radisson Blu hotel. They did a deal with 8 days parking which was very reasonable. At a most unpleasant hour I caught the bus to the terminal for the uneventful flight to Stockholm. The plane was only about 1/3 full. Whilst in Stockholm airport I tried to make use of their free WiFi. Now, I know that my travel laptop is old and weird, but it has worked fine
2017 Trip – Day 8
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 13,2 km 13.5 km/h 25.7 km/h Just time for a short run before going for the bus. Managed to leave by about 0945 and headed N up old Marco route to forest road, then back to main trail and S via Finn-Jann laavu. Dogs seemed a bit reluctant, particularly Max who kept stopping and trying to turn back and I didn’t take Selimo as she had not been running too well yesterday. I think they
2017 Trip – Day 7
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 42.2 km 12.4 km/h 25.4 km/h The day started early when I was woken at 0400 by strange noises coming from the veranda. I tried to solve this problem by hiding inside my sleeping bag, but when this didn’t work I was forced to get up and investigate. It seemed unlikely that it was a wild animal as the dogs would have been going wild and indeed it turned out to be the very un-wild
2017 Trip – Day 6
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 43.4 km 12.4 km/h 25.7 km/h Noticed strange object on trail leading from hut where it passes in front of sauna. Turned out to be a wooly hat presumably dropped by a guest as they were starting. Hung it up in hut and sent text to inform guides. After starting got a reply asking if I could take it with me, so collected it at lunchtime. Dogs definitely a bit tired after two very long
2017 Trip – Day 5
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 65.2 km 13.9 km/h 29.4 km/h Slept in a little later and managed to get away from Saija by 1030. Headed N to Kylmaluomajarvi. Met Saija guide from yesterday at snowmobile trail junction at W end of lake. Followed trail as far E as the edge of the map before returning to kota for lunch. Direct route from trail to kota not open down steep slope so had to continue to adjacent laavu and then
2017 Trip – Day 4
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 61.8 km 14.1 km/h 31.0 km/h A very long run from Jänisvaara to Saija partly due to wrong turnings. Weather excellent with clear skies and trees very picturesque with frost on them. Started OK on snowmobile trail and followed ski track S from power lines towards Hella and then on to army road. Got confused by trail near bottom of army road and turned back N. Eventually, after another couple of wrong turnings ended up
2017 Trip – Day 3
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 22.4 km 15.5 km/h 31.4 km/h Spent entire morning preparing kit, waiting for bag and then packing stuff from bag. Timo provided new sled with significantly larger sled bag (as it turned out this was essential). Lunch and food supplied in two huge bags was far too much, but could be cut down by discarding less vital stuff and some judicious decanting. Helped a couple of groups to depart and bag arrived just as the
2017 Trip – Day 2
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 34.5 km 13.6 km/h 32.4 km/h This year’s team is: Selimo Manta Suri Elvis Max Kattla No sign of bag in the morning, so borrowed some thick socks and ventured out without a map. Got away by about 1030 and headed off to left of main trail. Eventually re-joined trail but wasn’t sure where. Headed N and finally hit Janisvaara junction. Didn’t want to go to hut, so instead went to top of hill
2017 Trip – Day 1
Checked in OK for flight to Helsinki, but plane was late departing. Reason was unclear, but there seemed to be a very long queue just to get into the gate. Queue didn’t go away until boarding was already underway. Plane was new A350, so 3-3-3 configuration, but long haul experience with screen in back of seat and video on demand (including two external views of aircraft). Not clear if this is a permanent change or just the aircraft that was