My Northern Home

Sodankylä, June 2020 I was waiting for it many days. In the news they promised it would come. I almost lost my hope. But then, the spring flood finally started. It was a time for a flood adventure I have always loved to experience the power of the nature. And the running water is one of the most powerful ones. It will make it's way. Where ever it want's to go. Now it didn't fit anymore in the riverbed. And started to take over the forests and fields around it. And houses of those wanting to live (too) near the river. With our bicycles we went to look for the familiar places around our city, now taken over by the rivers Jeesiö and Kitinen. It was exciting to cycle in the water. Feeling how the strong stream tried to catch our tires. Wanting to takes us with it. At some point the water went so deep That it was hard to cycle fast enough to avoid falling down. And my fatbike tires actually started to float like a pontoons. Finally, but not surprisingly, we end up swimming in th...

In these times of isolation and uncertainty, the social contacts we can have, come more valuable. I feel, that one can't survive without any. Sure you can phone your sister the other end of the country, or Whatsapp your friends around the globe. But it can't give the same, as a shared cup of tea. As many other, I have minimized my social contacts. And I have come more grateful for them. And for, that it is still possible for us to go outside to share that cup of tea. And laugh away all the agony of the world situation. This time me and my most dear French friend went to explore Hirviäkuru canyon at Pittiövaara hill. I have been here many times (here is the link to my previous adventure in this place) , as the place is literally on my backyard, but still this was my first time down in the canyon at winter time. The snow cover made everything look totally different. We wondered everything around us. T...

For a some time now I have had this idea to write about the backyard adventures. How people too often want to travel far away to experience exotic things, which they feel they can value. So they can have a feeling of getting something better (than ordinary) out of their life. Now, due the exceptional times we are living, it feels like there wouldn't be better time for this topic. I collected here some pictures from my backyard adventures. And don't get me wrong. Some of the pics are literally from my backyard, but all of them are from my hometown, as I count my hometown and it's forests as my backyard. I have said it already before and will say it again. Why go further into the sea for fish? Sure it is sometime nice to see exotic places. To have some perspective. To experience the high mountains and moist fertile forests, which we don't have here in Finland. But all this fuss about foreign places, ...

Due the big snow amount, we have had this winter in Lapland, snow surfing has been the thing to do. As many people I know, has been snow surfing, as many people has been asking me "What is snow surfing?" This always little bit confuse me. For first because it is weird that somebody doesn't know at least one person who has done it. And for second, What can I say to explain it? It is just what it sounds like, snow surfing a.k.a surfing on the snow. You know surfing right? Big influence for snow surfing coming so popular here at my living zone, is my dear friend, who taught himself to build a snow surf board and then helped all of us who wanted to build our own. The man is genius with his DIY skills and the most kind person I have ever met. So, before heading out to my next adventure, I built my own equipment, like a hardcore adventurer would do. And I'm so proud of myself! Plus it was super fun to de...

"Why go further into the sea for fish?" We had a lot of expectations from our adventure. As it was our only common day off during seemingly a long time period. We bought one-way tickets to the top, as always. I was happy I didn't need to stay on the slopes today either. The lift station was packed with Finnish winter holiday tourists. We heard one of the staff members guiding a group of tourist where they would find the best powder near the lifts. That was our usual spot. But obviously not today. There wouldn't be too much powder left. So we took a risk. And would head out to the more open areas of Luosto. There would be steeper hill sides and the snow would be more exposed to the wind and sun. And there would be a higher risk of avalanche. This would be definitely an adventure. Arriving to the far back side of Luosto, the wind was hard and sun was warming our skin. The view was spectacular. This was goi...