To Halti and back, 2010

Kilpisjärvi to Halti and back again. Nights are numbered. Map (c) Metsähallitus.

Tiiti and Timo Kellomäki hiked alone once again. The terrain and the flora in the 'arm' of Finland are completely different from the rest of Finland, and we thus went there for a change.

We reached Halti and managed to come back, but no more. The intention was to continue towards East to see a ridge called The great wall, and some interesting swamps. However, Tiiti twisted her knee in the rocky terrain, and we had to give up those plans. The whole trip sums up to 110 km.

Timo enjoyed the view and Tiiti the flowers. The fells in the 'arm' are younger than the rest of Finland, and there are many special alpine plants in the limestone soil. We carried a flora (a book containing plant pictures and descriptions) which turned out very useful.

It was always horribly windy, except the day we climbed Halti. There are no forests in the open fells, and the gorges between fells act as wind-tunnels. It poured on the midsummer night, but otherwise it was quite dry and the water level in rivers low.

Every day we saw some people, but there was always room for us in the huts. There's usually a bunk for 8 to 10 people (and more can sleep on the floor), a table, and a gas cooker. The people were nice and the huts in mint condition. A couple of hikers from Tampere lent Tiiti walking poles for the last day.

Instead of the planned ten days, we only spent seven (Monday to Monday), and during those we did not walk as much as expected, and so we ended up carrying excess food back. Besides, it is unpleasant to cook in the breeze, and usually we made food only in the hut in the evening.

By the way, the knee was fixed with ibuprofen and went to play football the next week.

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Tiiti Kellomäki 2010. Back to Tiiti's hiking page.