Distance Average Speed Max Speed 38.0 km 6.7 km/h 31.3 km/h Note: Max speed may actually be erroneous recording made whilst travelling in truck. Gad, what a difficult day. Jussi used his huge lorry to drive me to Timo’s mother’s cabin which certainly seemed very nice. Jussi and Mrs Jussi headed off to open a trail across the lake, but just as I was about to set off and follow them they returned to say that there was too much
2011 Trip – Day 4
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 30.4 km 9.1 km/h 24.4 km/h In the morning I saw an animal walking across the lake. I speculated that it might be a fox and Timo later confirmed that this was the most likely. I managed to leave Kÿlkeinen by 0930, but attempts to go South across Hämeenvaara proved impossible. Eventually I returned to the kennels and dumped my bag. I then headed to Jänisvaara for lunch and at about 1500 drove North to
2011 Trip – Day 3
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 46.2 km 8.5 km/h 22.8 km/h Left Jänisvaara at 1000 and headed for Kÿlkeinen. The going for the last 2 km was extremely difficult. The dogs went round the edge of the lake in deep snow and were all very tired by the time we arrived. At 1600 I left towards Tilsa and then up the snow mobile trail which was firm but very rutted. I returned down the Old Tilsa canyon. The last few
2011 Trip – Day 2
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 35.8 km 9.9 km/h 32.5 km/h Conditions very poor. The base of the snow has melted and the surface of many trails is prone to collapse. I chose a trail through the forest and going was very slow. I must only stick to the main trails when the sledge is heavy. Lunch and siesta at Jänisvaara. Timo dropped off a new gas cylinder. The afternoon running was better, but the dogs were getting tired. I
2011 Trip – Day 1
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 36.3 km 12.5 km/h 37.6 km/h Limited sleep on train. I had the compartment to myself until midnight and then they let some other bloke in. There also seems to be a party in the adjoining compartment until 0200. The Bus was OK and shortly after arriving I met Alan Kiff who had dropped in to see Timo. Apparently they are now living in Lower Woodford. Fixed up sled and sorted out dogs. Timo predicted
2009 Trip – Day 8
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 54.1 km 11.0 km/h 27.2 km/h My team was changed to allow dogs needed next week to rest. Mellon Paz Homerun Trefun Fang Gunner Drove to Kÿlkeinen and then south towards Kello. I followed a snow mobile track West to the bend in the river near Parviainen. Fang was very unhappy on the way back at about the 30 km mark but seemed to recover later. Returned to Kÿlkeinen and finally got back to kennels as
2009 Trip – Day 7
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 38.3 km 11.1 km/h 26.0 km/h A very difficult start with dogs reluctant to leave Jänisvaara towards power lines. Storm was particularly bad and eventually I returned to the hut and left Storm. The other dogs then went 200m and stopped before the Valtion-Metsala. They could not be persuaded to go on. Finally I returned to the hut and tried to make for the farm. At this, the dogs started to run fine and so
2009 Trip – Day 6
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 54.5 km 11.6 km/h 26.0 km/h Weather warmer, but with snow. Headed NW from Saija and then down to Hepokangas. After driving around I tried to get to the Laavu for lunch. As usual there was no trail leading to it and when I finally arrived by walking and leading the dogs along the edge of the river there was no wood. Fortunately I had brought some from Saija. I painfully cooked the frozen sausages
2009 Trip – Day 5
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 67.4 km 13.1 km/h 36.9 km/h Left Jänisvaara at about 1030 and decided to take Northern route towards Saija. I followed the snow mobile trail and had lunch at Harjajärvi. Pressed on along the ridge by Kylmäluomajärvi and after several false turns found myself at Ahveninen. One interesting trail looked very promising until it passed a reindeer pen whereupon I decided to turn back. Several other turnings looked interesting but I had already had a
2009 Trip – Day 4
Distance Average Speed Max Speed 45.1 km 12.4 km/h 26.1 km/h Woke at 0630 to find hut still quite cold. Clearly, I haven’t got the hang of the fire yet. I managed to get away by about 1100. I met a group of snow mobiles and on re-starting nearly lost the team. I also found my way to a lake last visited many years ago. I arrived a Jänisvaara at about 1440. The fire was already alight (presumably Sonja had