Peurakuru - The Fight to Get There

Peurakuru canyon (Deer Canyon) is a magical place.

So I heard many years ago.

It is located at Pyhätunturi fell area

between the lesser peaks

Peurakero and Laakakero.

The most beautiful canyon of the region,

they say,

and far away

from the touristic easy-access places.

So it came a must-visit place for me.

It turned out

to be almost an impossible place to reach.

It actually took me two years

and three different adventure entourages to finally get there.

So let's go back to the year 2018,

when it all started.

Our first attempt to visit Peurakuru

was in April 2018.

Our adventure entourage,

me,Viking and Mr. Patzi,

started from Luosto

and the plan was to ski

all the way to Pyhä.

It was a three day adventure

and on the third day

we reached Peurakero peak.

It was total whiteout.

The clouds were hanging so low,

we could not see two metres ahead of us.

We didn't know where was up and down.

Only whiteness.

everywhere.

The GPS showed us,

the Peurakuru canyon would lay somewhere ahead.

In fear of skiing accidentally down to the canyon,

we needed to through our pole

and see where it lands

for having some perspective.

Viking was skiing first

and suddenly he just vanished.

We had found the canyon.

Luckily only the end of it.

Viking had dropped down

two meters to the bottom.

We entered to the canyon.

The visibility was still poor.

We could see the canyon walls

growing both side of us,

only were there were some rocks

bare from the snow.

Huge snow cliffs were hanging both sides

on the canyon edges above us.

Couple of them had already come down

creating an avalanche.

We all sensed how dangerous and stupid

it was to go deeper in to the canyon.

Especially, when you couldn't even see anything.

But the creepy atmosphere draw us deeper.

We skied apart from each other

and discussed in whispers.

Lucky for us

we came out from the canyon,

all of us.

And it truly was a cool experience.

Even though I can't say

I saw the canyon.

The second attempt

was in May 2020.

This time the adventure entourage

was formed from me and my dear Mr. AK.

We left the car on the nearest point we could

and start skiing towards the canyon.

The weather was better.

Even though the sky was grey

and everything was white,

the clouds were higher

than the peaks of the fells.

We made it all the way

to the top of Peurakero peak.

So close, that I already yelled

"I can see the edge of the canyon!"

And then Mr. AK's

knee gave up.

We couldn't continue further.

He could ski carefully

back to the car,

but that's it.

We were both disappointed.

Mr. AK to his unreliable knee

and me for not reaching the canyon.

And then,

finally,

I made it!

And now,

I have actually,

finally,

a story to tell you

with a climax.

November 2020

was the time for the success.

Our adventure entourage,

me, Ms. S and lady S,

drove to the nearest point.

And start walking.

At first the hiking path was nice,

then it turned in to a river

and then the river froze.

So using the hiking path

was out of the question.

It was a grey day again

and the wind was strong and cold.

But the visibility was great.

We encountered

on the way

three MTB guys

and three hikers.

I wouldn't want to try

to drive a bicycle

on that icy path.

We found the entrance

of the canyon.

The start of the canyon

is small and kind of cute.

But it definitely doesn't give away,

what lays behind the corner.

There was a lot of snow

on canyon bottom,

which turned out to be

a really good thing.

The snow was somewhat

carrying us,

which made the walking more easy,

as there is no path in the canyon

and the bottom is covered with

huge rocks and cracks.

Exceptional for me

in the canyon is,

that it is weaving left and right,

so it keeps up your interest and excitement,

as you can't see the whole place at once.

And after couple turns,

the bottom of the canyon takes a deep down hill.

Same time,

as the canyon walls grow higher both side of you,

you actually walk deeper down yourself,

and that is a cool and exiting feeling.

And then little by little,

the view to the other side

starts to open ahead of you.

The magical view

draws you closer and closer.

You want to see more.

So you continue deeper in the to canyon.

Not minding the rocks growing bigger and bigger

on your way

and old reindeer skeletons

lying in the cracks.

Finally we arrive on the edge of the view.

It is magnificent.

The kaamos sun starts to already set

and it colors the grey clouds pinkish.

This is the place for sandwiches and tea.

The canyon would continue

all the way through the fells

and from here it would take a deeper

turn down hill.

But as the day light is growing short

and lady S has some troubles walking between the rocks,

we decide to turn back.

The other end of the canyon

could wait for the next time.

Walking back

under the pink blue sky,

I feel happy.

Finally I made it there,

finally I saw the canyon.

Compared to here and now

the first visit feels so surreal.

Was it really the same place?

I really don't know.

Often it happens to me

in the wilderness,

that for a moments or even for hours,

I feel like vanishing

into a totally different dimension.

To some kind of personal Narnia,

the nature is offering to me

for adventure in.

Here we are definitely coming back some day.