FINNMARKSVIDDA 2025 - WITH CARO
Follow Prokop, Clare, Nicolas, Paul, Giacomo, Tom, Louise Andree, Franz, Angus & Caro on their journey Across Finnmarksvidda
The Adventure Begins: Alta, Day 0
Everyone trickled into Alta and met up with Caroline. Her husband, Vince, was also around after finishing 1:1 polar training. This year, we welcomed Angus to our team. He has guided at Børge’s stunning island north of Bodø, Manshausen, but now aims for the polar world. Together, we formed a great team eager to make the most of this trip.
The conditions have been wild. Vince reported that during another 1:1 polar training last week, temperatures dropped to -32°C. That’s seriously cold for this close to the coast! Yet, within hours, the temperature soared to -5°C. It’s just so unpredictable.
Outside, where we prepared, it rained and turned to pure ice. But tomorrow, the cold returns. It looks promising for our crossing. Stay tuned!
Day 1: Wednesday, Iešjávri Lake
Miracles do happen! After some rainy, warm, and unusual days, Finnmark turned the weather around just in time. Gone were the warm temperatures; we welcomed -4°C, a clear sky, and a good breeze from the Northwest.
After driving to the starting point, we saddled up and got going. We settled into a rhythm and covered 13.5 km on our first day, getting close to Iešjávri Lake. With no blisters and high spirits, we were all happy at camp. The wind picked up a bit through the night, but conditions seemed fine for Thursday.
Diary from the team:
Strong wind bit at our faces as we set ourselves at the start point in a whiteout. As soon as we were ready and started to ski, the weather cleared. Blue skies and stillness greeted us, hopefully a good omen for the trip ahead.
We made steady but efficient progress as we traveled as a team across the endless white. During lunch, we watched three husky teams zoom past. We all felt blessed by such a beautiful day.
As an orange moon graced the horizon, we set up camp after a very successful first day on the snow. A team full of energy gathered inside our tent for dinner before heading for an early night.
Day 2: Thursday, Mollisjohka - Happy Happy Happy
Our team is doing exceptionally well, covering more than 20 km. We passed the Mollisjohka Fjellstue (mountain cabin). This is better progress than usual, and everyone is hanging on easily. We marvel at the frictionless snow, which invites gliding and practicing our ski technique.
However, there is a concern. The snow base is only about 10 cm, which is quite rare. January saw huge storms, followed by an unusual heat period just before we started. This may explain the lack of snow. We need to be clever to secure the tents.
Today looks like another great day, but snow is expected tomorrow.
Diary from Angus:
We woke up to silence, not a breath of wind in the morning air. The good weather stayed with us all day, allowing us to marvel at the size of Lake Lešjávri as we skied across. Our pace was good, so we spent time over lunch practicing putting up the tent. We huddled inside, and Giacomo surprised us all with Italian cheese and sausage from his hometown.
In the evening, after setting up the tents and boiling water, we were lucky enough to watch the Northern Lights dance across the skies. It was the cherry on top of another perfect day on the skis.
Day 3: Friday - Facing the Elements
Our morning routine has become a ritual. We wake at 6:00 AM, boil water, take down the tent, and start skiing by 9:00 AM. Today, we started slow and steady, climbing to the top of the plateau. The trees disappeared, and the landscape opened up, just white as far as the eye could see. Our legs definitely felt the climb, so we adjusted the weight between the sleds to make it easier.
Once on the plateau, the wind picked up. We had been lucky so far, avoiding strong winds, but today the crosswind cut across our faces. Our breaks were spent huddled behind any mounds we could find for shelter. For lunch, we set the tent up again for some protection.
Day 4: Saturday - Embracing the Challenge
The day looked harsh. The morning was colder, whiter, and windier. Many of us chose to start with more layers. Yet, as soon as we began, our luck with the weather continued. The day cleared up, and we quickly removed the extra layers.
We made fantastic progress. Everyone's technique improved over the days, and we grew stronger as a team on climbs and downhills. The final part of the day was spent weaving down through a beautiful pine forest, marking the end of our trip. We set up one last camp between the trees in knee-deep powder. Tomorrow, we set off one last time for the final leg of our journey.
Day 5: Sunday - A Bittersweet Farewell
We woke to a magical morning in the forest, surrounded by our perfect winter wonderland. We packed the tents away for the last time and finished the final part of the downhill before crossing the road and joining the frozen river. A moose and her calf overlooked us as we continued toward Karasjok.
We cherished our last moments on skis together. We had done it! We completed the crossing of Finnmarksvidda from Alta to Karasjok and arrived at Engholm Husky. Now, we would unpack and sort all the equipment before dinner, as our expedition came to an end. We finished the day around a wood fire, enjoying homemade Bacalao and reminiscing about the last five days. It was a perfect end to a perfect trip.
