Hiking in Finnish Lapland

[forest_brother]

Hi,
I'm an English hiker with a specific interest in Arctic and Subarctic wilderness travel. I've hiked in Finnish and Swedish Lapland and the thing which I always find the most difficult when planning these trips are the logistics of actually getting to the trailhead. It's getting near to the summer now so I think this year I will probably just return to Urho Kekkonen National Park again because it's relatively convenient.

But there are two other areas that interest me as candidates for future trips. One is Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park and the other is Kilpisjärvi. I know that it's possible to fly to Enontekiö or Kittilä airports. But what are the onward connections like when you come out of the airport? Is it possible to just hop on a bus? Or do you have to reserve in advance?

I know there are some Finnish guys on this forum so maybe someone can help me. There are other more remote areas that interest me but I am a little bit afraid to hike them alone.

 

[addo]

Hi try here http://bushcraftfinland.atfreeforum.com/international-forum-f5/

The international part is english speaking and they should help out ok.

Welcome btw

 

[PRKL]

Forest brother,id be glad to assist on your questions,ive been doing a lot of lapland hiking thru my life.send me a pm,and well sort it out.

 

[susi]

Hope I'm not stepping on PRKL's toes, but here some information in case someone searches this topic on the future.

We did Kilpisjärvi last summer, thoroughly recommend it. If you have the slightest interest in military history, I can point out a couple of off-track places to check out, by PM. There is still some ordnance remaining from the Lapland War ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_War ). The day after we left someone found a live shell on Saana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saana)


Travel from Enontekiö to Kilpisjärvi is possible by bus, check here in English:

http://matkahuolto.fi/en/

"Kilpisjärvi retkeilykeskus" is the destination to choose. Here a link to the centre: http://www.kilpisjarvi.info/EN/main.html

It's a perfect place to start out, you can sleep under a proper roof and eat a warm meal to put power in your legs.

It's only 1:50,000, but we did ok with this map:

http://www.varuste.net/en/tuotetied...-Kilpisjauml;rvi+1:50+000,+ulkoilukartta+2008

 

[susi]

PS, just noted you're hiking alone. You might be best sticking to the trails. The remote areas are truly remote, you might not see anyone for days. Take care, stay safe.

 

[PRKL]

Hope I'm not stepping on PRKL's toes, but here some information in case someone searches this topic on the future.

We did Kilpisjärvi last summer, thoroughly recommend it. If you have the slightest interest in military history, I can point out a couple of off-track places to check out, by PM. There is still some ordnance remaining from the Lapland War ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_War ). The day after we left someone found a live shell on Saana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saana)


Travel from Enontekiö to Kilpisjärvi is possible by bus, check here in English:

http://matkahuolto.fi/en/

"Kilpisjärvi retkeilykeskus" is the destination to choose. Here a link to the centre: http://www.kilpisjarvi.info/EN/main.html

It's a perfect place to start out, you can sleep under a proper roof and eat a warm meal to put power in your legs.

It's only 1:50,000, but we did ok with this map:

http://www.varuste.net/en/tuotetied...-Kilpisjauml;rvi+1:50+000,+ulkoilukartta+2008

No youre not steppin on my toes,susi,ei hätiä mitiä.

Järämä is a great place for those who are interested in finnish warfare.

 

[forest_brother]

Hope I'm not stepping on PRKL's toes, but here some information in case someone searches this topic on the future.

We did Kilpisjärvi last summer, thoroughly recommend it. If you have the slightest interest in military history, I can point out a couple of off-track places to check out, by PM. There is still some ordnance remaining from the Lapland War ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapland_War ). The day after we left someone found a live shell on Saana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saana)


Travel from Enontekiö to Kilpisjärvi is possible by bus, check here in English:

http://matkahuolto.fi/en/

"Kilpisjärvi retkeilykeskus" is the destination to choose. Here a link to the centre: http://www.kilpisjarvi.info/EN/main.html

It's a perfect place to start out, you can sleep under a proper roof and eat a warm meal to put power in your legs.

It's only 1:50,000, but we did ok with this map:

http://www.varuste.net/en/tuotetied...-Kilpisjauml;rvi+1:50+000,+ulkoilukartta+2008

Thanks for the reply Susi. This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I'm very interested in off-track places so I will PM you later about that. The historical and cultural aspects give purpose to my hikes and in spite of the language barriers and the obscurity of the subject I spend alot of time researching local history and culture in the areas that interest me.

I figured I could do Kilpisjärvi to Halti as a there and back trip with, as you say, a place to get a good meal and a shower before the journey home.

Can you get the bus from right outside Enontekiö airport? Or do you have to travel into town first?

 

[forest_brother]

PS, just noted you're hiking alone. You might be best sticking to the trails. The remote areas are truly remote, you might not see anyone for days. Take care, stay safe.

This is a bit of a source of frustration for me. Hiking alone prevents me from exploring the more obscure places so there is always a conflict going on within me between the desire to explore and the fear of getting into trouble or lost. Even in Urho kekkonen I rarely saw anyone on the trails during the daytime. Something like a Spot satellite tracker could mitigate the risk but I’m still uncertain about whether I really want to be alone out there.

PRKL: I sent you a PM but I don't know whether you received it or not. Let me know if you didn’t get it.

 

[susi]

Can you get the bus from right outside Enontekiö airport? Or do you have to travel into town first?

I'm not sure, but here you might be able to ask:

http://www.finavia.fi/airports/airport_enontekio?pg=1091633

It's a tiny airport and buses are infrequent, so maybe your flight won't tie in with a bus.