These gulches, or "kuru" in Finnish, are potential death traps in the winter. Snow gets packed into thick and heavy patches on the sides, and when a skier enters, they might collapse on top of them. I always avoid these like the plague, though they are very pretty to watch. I once met two ski tourers who claimed that they always ski through these and their granny taught them to do so. In my opinion, it's just a disaster waiting to happen.

#sonyalpha #tamron #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #skitour #winter

More windy fjells in the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, Finland, during my six-week solo ski tour. I was hesitant to leave the safety of the wilderness hut where I stayed during a blizzard that had winds over 20 m/s and lasted three days. (I’ve posted a pic earlier of that same hut in the storm. https://pixelfed.social/p/JakeHikes/791183662872251330) Once the storm wound down, I left but was still on alert that it might gain more power again.

#sonyalpha #tamron #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #skitour #blizzard #finland #skitour #käsivarsi

It’s funny how the worst weather, the one that causes the most stress, also gives you the most photogenic shots. This one is from my six-week solo ski tour to the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area in Finland, spring 2023. It’s always a difficult decision—whether to set up camp or push a bit further. The winds can pick up fast, and they can get so intense that setting up a tent becomes almost impossible, especially when you’re solo hiking.

#sonyalpha #tamron #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #skitour #weather #solohiking #finland #winterhiking #storm #visibility

On a break, trying to figure out where we actually are in the Kemihaara Wilderness Area, Finland, during Christmas and New Year's Eve 2023/2024. We got pretty badly lost on this hike and for five days, we only had a vague idea of where we were. But since we always pack food for a few extra days, we didn't have any other emergency except that it started to become mentally exhausting. I would say I'm pretty good at navigating, but in forests, sometimes my inner compass just gets overwhelmed, or I get lost in my own thoughts and forget to be on alert for landmarks.

#sonyalpha #tamron #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #kemihaara #finland #xmas #newyear #skitour #navigation #maps #compass #winterhiking #forest

Can’t quite remember the exact spot where I took this, but it’s somewhere in the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area during my six-week solo ski tour. Fun fact: Käsivarsi means ‘arm’ in Finnish—because if you look at a map of Finland, it kind of looks like the country has one arm reaching out. We used to have two… but then WWII happened.

#sonyalpha #tamron #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #skitour #solohiking #winterhiking #winter #finland #käsivarsi

Landing strip marks left by either a Willow Grouse or a Rock Ptarmigan. These marks are quite common in Lapland. Willow Grouses typically inhabit lower areas with downy birches, while Rock Ptarmigans are usually found higher up in rocky areas. They are close relatives and can be easily confused, as can their tracks.

#sonyalpha #tamron #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #wildlife #birds #skitour #winterhiking #birdwatching

Sometimes you end up at a murder scene. This reindeer was likely killed either by a storm with winds over 20 m/s that lasted for days, or it was hunted down by a wolverine or wolves. Both predators will eat dead animals as readily as they hunt live ones, making it difficult to determine what killed this reindeer. I spotted the carcass because of two ravens having a leftover lunch and went to investigate. Taken during my six-week solo ski tour.

#sonyalpha #tamron #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #wildlife
#skitour #winterhiking

Another photo from our 12-day excursion to Varangerhalvøya National Park, Norway, in April 2024. We enjoyed stunning vistas and fantastic weather throughout the trip. As seen here, the partly cloudy and snowy conditions, combined with the sun peeking through, created a very photogenic environment with incredible lighting.

#sonyalpha #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #varangerhalvøya #skitour #norway #finnmark #winterhiking #tamron

My friend acting as a pathfinder in the Kemihaara Wilderness Area, Finland, in January 2023. When hiking with multiple people, it's always nice to take turns opening the tracks. If it's really deep snow and conditions are difficult, we take very short turns. This way, you can preserve your energy, focus on your well-being, and avoid frostbite or other injuries.

#sonyalpha #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #photography #teamwork #skitour #forest #finland #kemihaara #winterhiking

Windy fjells in the Valtijoki valley in the Käsivarsi Wilderness Area, Finland, during my six-week solo ski tour.

#sonyalpha #nature #mountains #fjells #hiking #landscape #lapland #outdoors #adventure #wilderness #skitour #photography #solohiking
#winterhiking