Ski touring.

In addition to day trips in April I did two longer skiing trips. 9 days in Lemmenjoki national park and 7 days in Hammastunturi wilderness area. Generally this winter we've had very decent skiing conditions. Way over one meter of snow, but not really powdery all the way through, which makes skiing much better. Here are some very random pictures from the trips.

Trip to Lemmenjoki started along snowmobile track of gold diggers. There's a gold digging area located in central area of the park. No road or such going there, so all the stuff needed during the season is transported there in winter. 

All the gear comfortably in a pulka.

Bridge on a hiking trail. With this much snow still we're not really close to hiking season yet. But it's the best time of winter for ski touring.

Stopped at a newly built hut along the summer trail.

And of the tracks we go for next 7 days.

On a nine day trip I stayed only one night in my tent. There was no one in any of the open wilderness huts along my route. I met only two persons during the trip, two skiers on the second last day. 

One simple way to get water from a creek running under a thick layer of snow.

 Fell scenery in nice weather.

 

 And in not so nice weather...

The old gold digging site of Morgamojan kultala , which now serves as an open wilderness hut.

 An interesting way to move forward? In April hunting season is over, so dogs need to be leashed.

Open wilderness huts with a wood stove are luxury for hikers in the middle of nowhere.

Last part of this trip was on the only marked winter route, along the Lemmenjoki river. 

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A few days after Lemmenjoki tour I started the trip to Hammastunturi wilderness area. Straight from home along non-plowed forest roads to the actual wilderness area. Snowing, like we wouldn't have enough already.

Also on this trip I stayed only one night in my tent, as all the wilderness huts I happened to visit were empty. During the whole week I didn't see any skiers, just few people on snowmobiles.

Time to take the tent down? Aha, ok....

 Moving across a fell area on a windy day.

 Ivalojoen Kultala, a historical site in the gold-digging area Ivalojoki river. This building serves as an open wilderness hut and other side is bookable.

Ivalojoki valley.

Rather steep hill to and from Ivalojoen Kultala, if you don't ski on the river. Skis and poles packed on the pulka when going up or down the hillside.

Hammastunturi wilderness area has quite many huts here and there. Some are open or bookable wilderness huts for skiers and hikers, some older buildings have already collapsed, and some like the one in this picture are locked reindeer herders' huts. 

Enjoying nice weather at one of the open huts. 

And a nice sunset.

Ice tea. Or melting snow for water....

Enjoying the silence.

A female capercaillie thinking hard if she has been seen....

Last week of April, still plenty of snow.

One of the open huts almost buried in snow.

White and blue moment.

White surroundings in the upper fell area.

And it's the end. Last few kilometers along a snowmobile trail.