The Hetta region is a cross-country skier's paradise thanks to its extensive network of tracks and the remnants of wilderness still found in the area. Were it not for the systematic trampling of the skiing tracks by snowmobiles, this place might well be in the top three in the world for long-distance skiing.
The maintenance of the tracks ended on 28 April this season. Those tracks that have been spared from snowmobilers have remained in good condition or at least passable until yesterday. But there hasn't been much need for them over the last month - at least from a skier's point of view - because what happened again is the best ever that the snow has to offer: the snow completely carries (in finnish: hankikanto). Early in the morning after the cold nights, and often in the middle of the day also, the hard surface has even carries a walker without skis. This hankikanto makes skating skis into hiking skis, and the whole vast area becomes a cross-country skiing open to anyone who doesn't mind the occasional bumps and roughness under the slide. I encourage you not to mind, because these slides are the most exhilarating thing the terrain has to offer!
The photo above is from about a month ago from Maateri, on the northern side of Lake Pöyrisjärvi,
where in these conditions it was a mere three hours skate from the village of Näkkälä.
PS. In the spring winter (around April), remember to be careful not to disturb nesting birds, reindeer and other wildlife in the wilderness.
PPS. There are fluoride-free ski waxes available that do not compromise water purity (hopefully more on these on the blog at the beginning of the next ski season).
