During the Polar Night to Hannukuru: Skiing, Sauna, Full Moon, and Northern Lights in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

Northern Lights in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Northern Lights and Full Moon at Hannukuru

After a very busy December the idea came up, to find some relaxing days in the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park – or more precisely – to visit the Hannukuru area for a decent sauna turn in the middle of the wonderful nature, and in the middle of the polar night. The plan was to take our (borrowed) forest skiers to go to Hannukuru for a relaxing sauna evening, and to return back home the same way. Fortunately (I have to say), a heavy snowfall made us stuck in the beautiful Hannukuru valley, where we experienced a most wonderful night under the clear full moon sky – topped with some northern lights, just after the snowfall ended. Continue reading “During the Polar Night to Hannukuru: Skiing, Sauna, Full Moon, and Northern Lights in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park”

Moonlight Skiing to Pahtajärvi

Pahtajärvi
On the summer hiking trail with forest skiers to Pahakuru

The clear ski on Friday revealed the strong brightness of the moon just a few days after it was full. With such an amount of light available, I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather and decided to go to the Pahtajärvi laavu for some late night dinner. Since the sun is almost gone anyway, the moon will be the only light-ball shining from the sky in the next few weeks. Of course the clear sky came along with cold temperatures (down to -30°C), but that shouldn’t keep me off from a short skiing trip. Continue reading “Moonlight Skiing to Pahtajärvi”

Between Arctic Sand Dunes and Colorful Autumn Vegetation – Ruska in Pöyrisjärvi Wilderness Area

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Kalmakaltio
Scenery in Kalmakaltio

When I joined some friends for the hike from Pallas to Hetta, ruska (the Finnish word for autumn) just started in Lapland, and the first trees changed their colors. I took note of that fact with lots of satisfaction, as in the first half of September a long planned hiking trip through the Pöyrisjärvi wilderness area was laying just ahead of me. Or actually of us, as we were a group of 4 people all together, who jointly wanted to walk from Kalmakaltio (via Pöyrisjärvi) to Hetta. Approximately 150 km on foot, Continue reading “Between Arctic Sand Dunes and Colorful Autumn Vegetation – Ruska in Pöyrisjärvi Wilderness Area”

Skiing to Pahakuru – in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

On the Easter weekend we took advantage of the warm spring weather and well maintained skiing tracks, to carry a pulk with our backpacks and some food to the open wilderness hut Pahakuru, to stay there for one night. On the next day – on the way back – it was much more windy, though still sunny at the beginning. However, after Sioskuru there was no sight anymore, so heavy winds and strong snowfall kept me away from taking more pictures .. Continue reading “Skiing to Pahakuru – in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park”

Flak Towers in the Augarten (Vienna)

G-Tower, AugartenFor years I was taking the tram line no. 5 on the way to the university, and I was always amazed by the contrast, that the Jewish private school to the L-tower in the Augarten is producing. This is especially true for the winter time, when the day light is rather low, and lights inside the school are turning the painted windows into a sea of life, where behind the school the monstrous tower is standing. Unfortunately, though several attempts, Continue reading “Flak Towers in the Augarten (Vienna)”

Hiking in the Khibiny and Lovozero Mountains (Russian Lapland)

Khibiny MountainsMy friend Andi and me made a long planned hiking trip into the Khibiny mountains, on the Kola peninsula in summer. For me it was the first part of an almost three months lasting trip. First we went by train to Moscow to visit a friend before we went on by train to Apatity, from where we took a taxi to Kirovsk, visiting another friend for a few days. We used this time there to get some better maps for the region, since there are no marked trails Continue reading “Hiking in the Khibiny and Lovozero Mountains (Russian Lapland)”

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