Snow, frost and of course skiing

It has snowing a lot in Äkäslompolo. I was able to enjoy it by skiing, walking and admiring the snowy nature. 

The last week of January began with the frost and the sun was already visible in the sky after polar nights time. Couple of days there was over -30 degrees in the morning and the evening. At the daytime the temperature was higher just a few degrees in the Äkäslompolo's village. But this, of course, did not stop my skiing hobby. Up in the Fells the temperature is more than ten degrees more and the skiing track about 3 km was very well maintained. However, I did not enjoy many rounds on the short track and after a couple of warm-up rounds, I had to continue towards the Tunturijärvi, and finally to Ylläsjärvi and I returned back through the same route. This was a nice ski route and the frosty were only in the lower places just before Ylläsjärvi. A double of wool clothes was surprisingly warm, and the wool helmet protected the faces well. Skiing is the most effective and versatile exercise, so the well-dressed body stays very warm also in the frosty weather.

After a couple of days of frost, it began snowing heavily and it was less cold. Every morning on the ground there was new snow about 10-20 cm. The skiing tracks was maintained early in the morning and now it was possible to choose other ski routes.

One day I went skiing late in the afternoon and I was in the Latvamaja before 4 pm. I was too warmly dressed, and the new soft snow made skiing heavier. Luckily, the LatvaMaja was still open and I got in to take off extra clothing. I chatted with the host of the Latvamaja, and I told him than I'm planning to continue skiing through Hangaskuru towards the Kotamaja. I had a head lamp with me, so it that makes easier to ski in darkness. I continued my skiing trip from the Latvamaja and it was dark already. I have been afraid of the dark earlier, but now in the forest I felt me safe and I didn't even put the head lamp on. I felt like I was skiing in a fairy tale forest and the silence was just perfect. The eyes were used to the darkness and the dark figures of the snowy trees were very nice to look at. However, I didn't see any gnomes in the forest 😊

Near the Hangaskuru's hut, the host of the Latvamaja reached me with a snowmobile and he asked is everything ok or do I need help? I replied that everything is just perfect, and I thanked him for the care. The host suggested, however, if I should not continue to the Kotamaja in dark , should I continue the faster route back to the village of Äkäslompolo. I thanked again and said that this is probably the best and I decided to shorten my skiing route. To the end of the route I was enjoying skiing in the dark, because there was no no charge left in the head lamp. Despite that my skiing was going smoothly, easy and slowly downhill. 

In the following days, skiing was great, despite of the new snow and wind. I checked from my fitness watch my skiing load and I noticed that skating skiing was very efficient in the soft snow. I even kept a couple of days break from skiing within 8 days and this has never happened before. 

I will return to huge amount of snow. I heard from the locals in Äkäslompolo that there is usually half the amount of winter's snow in the end of January. Now it was already about one meter or more, so will we have about two-meter snow record in this year? In any case, the village of Äkäslompolo has an enormous amount of snow and in the forests, too. Many trees look as if they have a half-meter snow hat. This amount of snow strains the trees for sure and might break them also. But the snowy trees are very beautiful and let's hope that all trees will survive. 

There has been no winter in southern Finland in this year and snow has been seen occasionally and then it has melted quickly. There has been rain and dark for several months. Visiting in Äkäslompolo is like coming to the totally different world, when there are so much snow. Snow brings light both in day and night, and snow glows in the dark and makes landscapes so incredibly beautiful. Every time when I'm in the forest, I notice how powerful impact forest has on me. When I get into the forest, I feel to be completely different person, relaxed, good-minded and positive thinker. My imagination flies and new ideas are coming out easily, and I am excited to plan everything possible. Only sky is the limit, maybe it not either...