Halti

What's the game Finland? You're highest point is a 1325m on a slope that goes up to 1340m a further 100m into Norway and a further 1.5k away, again in Norway, is the proper top of Halti at 1361m. I think a wee invasion into Norway to get that border re-drawn is required. With all its 2000m peaks I'm sure Norway wouldn't object, in fact perhaps all you need is to ask nicely.

Anyway off at 8:15 to "conquer" (what a daft word conquer is in respect of climbing a mountain) Halti. We met a group of five Finns on their way down after staying at the neighbouring Halti hut and setting out earlier than us, the Finnish top being enough for them.

It was nice to be out with light sacs and an hour of easy skiing saw us on the Top of Finland after a few photos and an ascent of the cairn by Mick. Twenty minutes later we were on the Norwegian top of Halti. Today's photo is our group shot at the top of Halti, plus myself by the Finnish flag at the Top of Finland and Mick having "Skied" up the cairn.

Back to the Halti Hut for lunch then we continued down to Pihtsusjarvi where we met another group of five Finns. The hut system in Finland is quite strange to our way of thinking. There is a locked area that is reserveable and has mattresses and an unlocked area with just bare bunks. This reservation process in winter means that you are forced to travel to the hut on your reserved day. Given the vagaries of the weather in the Arctic mountains, this could be exceedingly inadvisable and given that so far on this trip we'd yet to arrive at the hut we'd planned to arrive at when we set out in the morning, it didn't quite suit our flexible travel arrangements!

After discussions with the Finns it transpired that neither of us were "legal" at Pihtsusjarvi - they were meant to be at Meekonjarvi, while we were meant to be at Halti (last night we were meant to be at Pihtsusjarvi!). They were heading on to Kobmajoki tomorrow, so their reservation was in the wrong direction, therefore they decided to stay put, while Meekonjarvi was in the direction we wished to go so we decided that with at least their five reserved places we'd clock up a further 10k today.

A very pleasant ski got us up to 25k for the day and to a deserted Meekonjarvi - there's definitely the feeling that this is turning into an exceedingly enjoyable holiday!

Rancidand's Version