In Äkäslompolo before Christmas

We traveled to Äkäslompolo about the week before Christmas. We boarded to the train from rainy Helsinki and arrived a very snowy Seven Fell's village on the next morning. 

Of course, we had to go skiing at first, because this would be our first time in this season. So, we changed the skiing clothes and took skis out before unpacking the baggage. 

We planned for the first skiing route to the Kesängin Keidas and from there to the Hangaskuru hut. It had been snowing for a long time and ski trails were snowy and soft as the temperature was zero or a little on the plus side. Our skis were last waxed in previous spring and the gliding was not the best possible. We understood the skis needed new waxing. 

But, in any case, the skiing felt really, really good. We stopped several times to admire the snowy trees and to listen the silence of the forest. We breathed fresh air and enjoyed the beauty of nature. This was exactly what we needed!

When we were back in Äkäslompolo, we went to wax service and asked for as much gliding as possible for our skis. As the peak season was not yet started, skis were ready within two hours. After the waxing our skis were in excellent skiing condition. 

To our vacation week included several ski tours, either to Kotamaja and Kesängin keidas and back to Äkäslompolo, or to the opposite direction, from the Isometsä's rise to Tunturijärvi and from there through Luosujärvi back to Äkäslompolo. There were only a few hours light time between 11 am and 2 pm. Until 9 am and after 2 pm it was dark and before 9 am and after 3 pm it was completely dark. The sun was not visible at all during the day and this time is called to Polar Night. 

We had purchased the headlamps and them were very usable. The headlamp illuminates the skiing trails surprisingly well, so skiing was possible also at the dark time. This made easy to schedule skiing tours, and we were able to sleep longer in the mornings.

In addition to skiing, we went to local ski cafes, restaurants and shops throughout the week and there was plenty of free space everywhere. We enjoyed well-maintained but almost empty ski trails, as well as other places where there were no queues. It was a great timing to come to enjoy the peace of nature and avoid the of peak season.

In the same time, there were many foreign tourists around the village, and the joy of children was able to hear all the days, when they had snow fun. It was very nice and I think these kids will miss snow for a long time after visiting Äkäslompolo. 

There were also a couple of frosty days and then we had a break for skiing. It is said that it is good to have a day or two to rest, but I wish I could ski every single day and then rest at home.

Again, the week passed very quickly and then it was time to pack our skis for the return trip. On the last day, we enjoyed 25km of skiing and after that we drove towards Kolari train station with sad minds. It was snowing a lot again and trees were bowing along the road because of the weight of the snow. These trees were very beautiful. 

We were the just few ones who drove in the direction of Kolari and there were lots of cars driving to direction of Äkäslompolo for Christmas time. Oh, those lucky ones! 

When we woke up in the morning and looked out from the train window, there was only a darkness. For us it took long time to get used to black landscape without snow. At home, skiing tours to the snowy and quiet forests were beautiful memories.