Drive up to the north started from Jyväskylä, and we had some 800 km and 8h30 to drive.
My part was quite easy as I was sitting alone on the backseat, sleeping and doing some remote work while the others drove.
The first pictures I took were in Rovaniemi and when we passed the Santa’s Village at the Arctic Circle.
I’ve driven this road so many times, as I did live in Rovaniemi at some point and have been up north few times, all the way to the Norway and North Cape.
We drove the national road number 4, also known as E75, that cuts through whole Finland from south to north.
Approaching the Saariselkä, UKK national park, and the Kiilopää.
Saariselkä is the more “commercial” place with shops, hotels, night clubs and adventure activities. The Kiilopää is a bit south from there and from there one can find the Kiilopää hotel, hostel and restaurant, operated by the Suomen Latu accociation.
The reindeer are a common sight in the Lapland and one needs to be always alert for those crossing the road or just chilling on the middle of the road. – As they are semi-tamed animals, roam around freely, and they aren’t that much of afraid of cars and people, but do keep distance and do defend themselves if threatened.
Some autumn colors…
Almost there…
Entrance to the Urho Kekkonen National Park in Kiilopää.
Welcome to the hotel Kiilopää, operated by the Suomen Latu.
Kiilopää peak in the distance, that I was to conquer again.
Distance about 2 km to walk uphill.
The path starts from here.
Recorded some clips while walking…
(The Meta smart glasses aren't really that good in a low temps, as at the halfway already they started to shut down because of the cold. Had to keep them inside of my jacket between shooting clips and at the top I was only able to take few second clips anyway. - Had them fully charged when started the climb and they basically died at the top.)
Weather was a bit wet and windy, temp maybe some +5 °C.
Took me about 45 min to climb up and some other 45 to get back down after chilling at the top alone for some time.
Didn’t see any people on my way up or down, as it was getting late, but someone had made this during the day.
A view from the hotel window at the next morning.
And then we drove again…
Tbc…
– – –
