Gear up for winter trips / Varustaudu talvireissuille

This is a bilingual post of good news for those who are about to participate on my ski expedition courses, tours or expeditions in winter 2013.
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Ja taas kahdella kielellä: Hyviä uutisia niille, jotka ovat osallistumassa hiihtovaelluskursseilleni tai -retkikuntiini talvella 2013.

All geared up in Sarek, March 2013.
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Viimeisen päälle varustautuneena Sarekissa, maaliskuu 2013.

Collaboration with Trekki! For winter 2013 I am working together with Trekki. This means that those participating on my courses, tours and expediton will get 25% discount from all normal priced items (10% on electronics). The discount is personal and I will inform the details personally to all participants later. This is a great way to get all the little things worn or missing (Bridgendale socks, Devold baselayers, gloves, Hilleberg snow anchors and so on) and provides a nice discount from bigger investments like:
- Therm-a-Rest SoLite L sleeping pad
- MSR Whisperlite Universal stove
- Garmin GPS Map 62s
- Hilleberg Keron 3 GT with snow valanches – The expedition tent! Rarely discounted item.

Group orders: In addition to the discount from Trekki webshop, there is also possibility to get gear for reasonable price via group orders. There is a possibility to purchase skis, bindings and boots and other gear via Vaiska KY. In addition there is possibility for discounted orders from Finnsvala (great baselayers, midlayers and balaclavas) and Sasta (the best shell clothing for Arctic expeditions!)

PS. There are still some vacancies for the ski tour to Sarek in Northern Sweden and for the ski expedition across Vatnajökull glacier. Both require previous experience but if you’re missing it, it can be arranged on a tailor-made course/tour if you are interested. Detailed information on the ski expeditions. Rememer also the dogsledding tours which will provide you the knowledge and skills needed to participate on the ski expeditions in addition to the experience related to traveling with dog teams.

Yhteistyö Trekin kanssa! Talvella 2013 toimin yhteistyössä Trekki OY:n kanssa, joka tarkoittaa kursseille, vaelluksille ja retkikuntiin osallistujille 25% alennusta normaalihintaisista tuotteista (10% elektroniikasta). Alennus on henkilökohtainen ja yksityiskohdat ilmoitetaan osallistujille myöhemmin. Tämä on loistava tapa hankkia puuttuvia ja kuluvia pientarvikkeita (Bridgendalen sukkia, Devoldin kerrastoja, käsineitä, Hillebergin lumikiiloja ja niin edelleen) tai säästää selvää rahaa isommissa investoinneissa kuten:
- Therm-a-Rest SoLite L -makuualusta
- MSR Whisperlite Universal -keitin
- Garmin GPS Map 62s gps-laite
-Hilleberg Keron 3 GT lumiliepeillä – The retkikunta teltta! Ja tätä ei usein alennuksessa näe.

Kimppatilaukset: Trekin verkkokaupan alennusten lisäksi varusteita voi hankkia kohtuuhintaan myös kimppatilauksien kautta. Suksia, siteitä, monoja ja muita varusteita on saatavissa  Vaiska KY:n kautta. Lisäksi kurssilaisten on mahdollista hankkia Finnsvalalta (loistavia alus- ja välikerrastoja sekä huppuja) ja Sastalta (parhaat kuoriasut arktisiin retkikuntiin!) varusteita kohtuulliseen hintaan kimppatilauksena.

PS. Arktisen hiihtovaeltamisen perusteet -kurssilla on vielä pari vapaata paikkaa ja yksi niistä on jaossa ilmaiseksi blogin lukijakilpailussa! Lisäksi jatkokurssille Sarekiin on vielä yksi paikka vapaana. Vatnajökull 2013 -retkikunnassa on myös tilaa parille osallistujalle. Lisätietoa hiihtovaelluksista. Muistathan myös koiravaljakkoretket, joilla on mahdollista oppia samoja tietoja ja taitoja talvioloissa liikkumisesta sekä tutustua koiravaljakoilla liikkumiseen!

Guided dogsled tours! / Opastetuja koiravaljakkoretkiä!

This is again a bilingual blog post about guiding services I am offering. / Tämä on toinen kaksikielinen tiedote tarjoamistani opaspalveluista.

This post serves also as a “commenting area” as the comments on pages are disabled. / Tämä tiedote palvelee myös kommentointi- ja keskustelualueena, sillä info-sivuilla ei voi kommentoida.

Which track you’d like to follow? Choose your favourite, both options now available!
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Kumpaa latua haluaisit kulkea? Valitse vapaasti, molemmat vaihtoehdot nyt tarjolla!

Dogsled tours, in English

As I’m working at Husky Center Kolmiloukko this winter I’m able to offer also guided tours with dogsleds in addition to my other guiding services. The tours combine learning vital winter skills to enjoy the Nordic and Arctic winter with dogsleds and skis and/or snowshoes.

For the winter 2013 I offer two one-week programs with fixed dates but tailor-made trips with dogs are available through January, March and April:

- Deep-winter wilderness; 13.-19.1.2013; Taivalkoski, Finland.
Learn “expedition style” winter skills in the dead of the Nordic winter. Makes also a great introduction for Advanced Course in Arctic Ski Expedition in Sarek!
- Sunny spring crust; 7.-12.4.2013; Taivalkoski, Finland.
Enjoy the sunny days and crusty snow of late winter season driving dogsleds and on skis or snowshoes.
- Tailor-made trips in January, March and April 2013; Southern Lapland, Finland.

For tailor-made tours please inquire availability and prices via e-mail!

Ps. Remember also the ski expedition courses and trips for winter 2013:
- Basics of Nordic and Arctic Winter Travel; on request; Southern Finland or Finnish Lapland
- Basic Course on Arctic Ski Expeditions; 25.-27.1.2013 and 6.-8.2.2013; Lappeenranta, Southern-Finland
- Advanced Course on Arctic Ski Expeditions; 1.-9.3.2013; Sarek, Northern Sweden
- Vatnajökull 2013 – Expedition Across the Largest Glacier in Europe; May 2013; Vatnajökull, Iceland

Koiravaljakkoretket, suomeksi

Työskentelen tällä talvikaudella Husky Center Kolmiloukossa ja tarjoan muiden opaspalveluideni lisäksi myös opastettuja koiravaljakkoretkiä. Retkillä opit tärkeitä talviretkeilytaitoja liikuttaessa koiravaljakolla ja suksilla ja/tai lumikengillä arktisissa talvioloissa.

Talvelle 2013 tarjoan kaksi valmista retkeä kiinteillä päivämäärillä ja lisäksi räätälöityjä ohjelmia on tarjolla tammi-, maalis- ja huhtikuussa:

- Sydäntalven tunnelmia; 13.-19.1.2013; Taivalkoski, Suomi.
Opi “retkikuntatyylin” talviretkeilytaitoja sydäntalven pakkasessa. Kurssilla opit myös tarvittavat taidot osallistuaksesi Arktisen hiihtovaeltamisen jatkokurssille Sarekiin!
- Keväthankien kimallusta; 7.-12.4.2013; Taivalkoski, Suomi.
Nauti kevättalven auringosta ja hankikeleistä koiravaljakolla ja suksilla tai lumikengillä.
- Räätälöidyt ohjelmat tammi-, maalis- ja huhtikuu 2013; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa/Etelä-Lappi; Suomi

Räätälöityjen retkien saatavuutta ja hintoja voit tiedustella sähköpostilla!

Ps. Muista myös hiihtovaelluskurssit ja -retkikunnat talvelle 2013:
- Arktisen hiihtovaeltamisen perusteet; 25.-27.1.2013 ja 6.-8.2.2013; Lappeenranta, Etelä-Suomi
- Arktisen hiihtovaeltamisen jatkokurssi; 1.-9.3.2013; Sarek, Pohjois-Ruotsi
- Vatnajökull 2013 – Retkikunta halki Euroopan suurimman jäätikön; toukokuu 2013; Vatnajökull, Islanti

Guided trips available! / Opastettuja vaelluksia tarjolla!

This is a bilingual blog post about guiding services I am offering. / Tämä on kaksikielinen tiedote tarjoamistani opaspalveluista.

This post is also to serve as a “commenting area” as the comments on pages are disabled. / Tämä tiedote palvelee myös kommentointi- ja keskustelualueena, sillä info-sivuilla ei voi kommentoida.

Templet, Svalbard. Would you like to go there? I can help!
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Templet, Huippuvuoret. Haluaisitko sinne? Minä voin auttaa!

Guiding, in English

Since I have graduated and qualified as a Wilderness Guide and it is my big dream to help people achieving their own outdoor dreams, it is time to get started!

I have added a page about Guiding including general information on my guiding services on and also detailed information about guided courses and expeditions for the winter 2013.

For the winter 2013 I will be offering:

- The Basics of Nordic and Arctic Winter Travel; on request; Southern Finland or Finnish Lapland
- The Basic Course on Arctic Ski Expeditions; 25.-27.1.2013 and 6.-8.2.2013; Lappeenranta, Southern-Finland
- Advanced Course on Arctic Ski Expeditions; 1.-9.3.2013; Sarek, Northern Sweden
- Vatnajökull 2013 – Expedition Across the Largest Glacier in Europe; May 2013; Vatnajökull, Iceland

For more information on the aforementioned courses and expedition see Winter 2013 page. For other guiding services please inquire availability and prices via e-mail!.

Opaspalvelut, suomeksi

Koska olen valmistunut erä- ja luonto-oppaaksi ja eräs suuri unelmani on auttaa ihmisiä toteuttamaan heidän omia ulkoilmaunelmiaan, on korkea aika aloittaa!

Olen lisännyt blogiini sivun Opaspalveluista, jossa kerron taustatietoja tarjoamistani opaspaveluista ja myös yksityiskohtaista tietoa opastetuista kursseista ja retkikunnista talvelle 2013.

Talvelle 2013 tarjoan:

- Arktisen hiihtovaeltamisen perusteet; 25.-27.1.2013 ja 6.-8.2.2013; Lappeenranta, Etelä-Suomi
- Arktisen hiihtovaeltamisen jatkokurssi; 1.-9.3.2013; Sarek, Pohjois-Ruotsi
- Vatnajökull 2013 – Retkikunta halki Euroopan suurimman jäätikön; toukokuu 2013; Vatnajökull, Islanti

Tarkempia tietoja edellä mainituista kursseista ja retkikunnista saatavilla Talvi 2013 -sivulta. Muiden opaspalveluiden saatavuutta ja hintoja voit kysyä sähköpostilla!!

Ultima Thule 2011 trip report – in pictures!

Now, about a one month after the three-week Ultima Thule skiing expedition to Svalbard I have finally scraped together a trip report!

As I wrote live updates from the ice during the expedition I didn’t feel that a traditional trip report would be necessary. I will still post a bunch of posts related to the expedition when I find the time but there will be no traditional chronological trip report. Instead you can read the six updates I wrote during the trip. You can find the updates from my blog or by clicking the links below

- Post 1: Greetings from the Arctic!
- Post 2: Days of storm and whiteness!
- Post 3: One miss, one hit, one to go!
- Post 4: Perriertoppen and Pyramiden
- Post 5: Summer has arrived!
- Post 6: From the arctic to the Southern spring

Click yourself to the gallery!

But the new thing is a trip report in the form of pictures! I took a big bunch of pictures during the expedition. I don’t know how many pictures I actually took but after deleting failed ones and duplicates I ended up with 1330 pictures. After some hard time with selecting pictures to be published I ended up with 256 pictures, which was clearly too much. Then after some more time I ended up with 173 pictures. It is still a bit too much but I didn’t feel that a smaller amount would have made justice for the great trip. To give some more content for the pictures I wrote short captions for each. The slide show viewer of the gallery doesn’t show captions so I recommend manual clicking instead.

So, grab of cup of coffee and try to forget the summer and enjoy the three weeks skiing on the high arctic of Svalbard. When you are mentally prepared, click yourself to the gallery.

Later on I will make a very selected edition of the pictures with only some of the technically and aesthetically most pleasing ones but there will not be too many if any new ones in that set.

Please, feel free to leave comments to the blog or straight in the gallery.

Huom! Kuvatekstit on kirjoitettu myös suomeksi! Kommentit suoraan blogiin tai galleriaan ovat tervetulleita myös suomeksi!

Pictures from Svalbard – Teaser set

I promised some pictures from the Ultima Thule 2011 expedition by the end of this week. Unfortunately I had some other things to do so I’m not quite finished with all the post processing but I made a randomly picked teaser set for you to take a look at. The pictures are uploaded into my kuvat.fi gallery and you can get there by clicking the picture below!

Click the picture to see the whole set!

As I mentioned previously, in addition to our twelve man expedition, there was another Finnish expedition in Svalbard at the same time with us. They skied basically the same route but faster so we didn’t meet but crossed and followed their ski tracks occasionally. They have also uploaded some photos online and you can find them from Kari Kossila’s album. (Psst! When we visited the bar few days after the guys, there was also beer and vodka for sale on the shelves – in addition to water and soft drinks. Lucky us!)

I’ll try to get a better set of pictures online at some point in addition to the promised aftermath posts. But it is quite summerish already and I’m more in a mood for planning new adventures than writing about past ones. So please, be patient.

Oh, and if you can guess what I’m planning you can win a free meal with dessert! Give a guess here!