X’FINNMARKSVIDDA 2026
FOLLOW ANDRZEJ, ARTUR, DENNIS, ELLIOT, VICKY, KAREN & INE LILL
Day 6: ENGHOLM HUSKY 🤗
Today we got up after another cold night, but with high motivation for the last day. The birch forest was beautiful and the frost on the trees lit up the sunrise.
We walked a few sessions in hilly terrain before the landscape opened up and we could look down at Karasjoka. We whizzed down the five-kilometre-long hill to Assebakte. There were a few bumps and falls, but everyone came down unharmed.
Furthermore, we walked the last 6 kilometres on the Karasjoka river. It was cold in the river valley, but the thought of a warm cabin and a good meal kept the momentum up.
After two and a half hours on the river, we started hearing dogs barking and walked up the pine forest. In the forest we heard birds chirping and saw traces of both moose and deer. The last part in narrow, winding snowmobile tracks was demanding, but suddenly we glimpsed some cabins between the trees, and soon we could take off our skis and celebrate a successful trip with dinner and accommodation at the fantastic Engholm Husky.
Before dinner we got to come in to Sven and look at his workshop, we petted dogs and gathered the whole gang in the boy's cabin for a toast to the trip.
Thank you very much for a fantastic experience across the plateau. Karen and Ine-Lill would like to thank the team for sharing this experience together!
Enholm Husky is the end station for this journey. It is goodbye to the cold, but at the same time, this seems to be the most stunningly beautiful crossing we have ever had. This is the real Finnmarksvidda – and when you understand that you have been exceptionally far north.
Now they will enjoy the cozy comfort of the warm and friendly Engholm before heading home.
So we leave you to the last little series of photos – dream on – and join us next year?
Day 5: LUNCH INSIDE Ravnastua
Today we got up after the coldest night so far and couldn't stand still for a second, but had to move and jump around to keep warm. But in the end, we just managed to stand still enough to capture the whole gang in a group photo.
The trip continued across the plateau. It was completely silent. Not a breath of wind. We think about how lucky we are. Even though it is cold, we escape the wind. And the plateau is absolutely beautiful with frozen trees and snow poles.
Further on during the day we saw lots of reindeer tracks, we came down again in the birch forest and had lunch inside Ravnastua.
A couple of hours after lunch we set up the last camp of the trip. We camped in the loose snow in the birch forest. It is hard to walk outside in the deep snow, so the evening is spent around the primus inside the tent, while we recharge for the last leg.
Day 4: STILL STUNNING AND COLD
A very cold day! Woke up to the thermometer readings at -32° this morning! But it was another beautiful sunrise. We are quicker out of the tent now, and the routines are starting to sit a lot better.
We are lucky with little wind being weak and coming mostly from behind, though sometimes there is a gust that makes it a lot colder. Then we have to cover ourselves with masks and hoods.
We chose to have lunch at Mollisiok Mountain lodge today. The friendly staff served us served freshly baked waffles – yummy :-)
After a fairly long stop inside in the heat, we walked uphill, but tomorrow morning we’ll reach the highest point of the trip on the first leg and then just walk downhill.
Day 3: Tackling the cold!
After melting snow and a good warm dinner, we hustled into our sleepingbags and fell asleep in the cold tents. For those of us who were unlucky enough to have to go out to pee at night, we got to enjoy even more of the fantastic Northern Lights!
Everyone slept well and managed to stay warm through the night, which we estimate was -35°C. It was worse to get out of the bag today early. But after a good breakfast and some delays, we packed up the camp in a beautiful sunrise and continued our journey east.
The first few legs went through hilly terrain before the last part of the day, when we skied over the great majestic Lesjavri lake. It seemed like time stood still as we moved slowly over the frozen water.
Just before darkness, we reached our goal and made it across the water. Luckily, we had little wind and were treated to another fantastic sunset.
We set up camp under the Northern Lights. It feels a little colder tonight, but we have gotten more used to the cold and are better at keeping warm.
With a hot water bottle in our sleeping bag and dinner consumed, we have now gone to bed for the second night of the trip.
Day 2: HEADING INTO THE COLD
We started from Tutteberget on an icy morning and skied for an hour and a half before we had lunch at Jotka mountain lodge. After a short stop, we continued into the plateau at sunset, followed by blue hour. We met a dog musher on a trip with his big dog team.
After a couple of hours, 7 frosty faces were ready to set up camp. In camp we measured the temperature to -31°C, so it was a rough start to a trip that probably won't get any warmer.
Apart from melting snow, we have been out and spent the evening under a stunning starry sky that welcomed us with strong northern lights and bright stars.
We have some cold feet in camp, but otherwise we are warm and good and in good spirits. Looking forward to continuing into the plateau and Lesjavvri tomorrow!
Day 1: Prep day in Øvre Alta
Our wonderful team arrived in Alta on Tuesday afternoon and had a hectic evening with taping tent poles, preparing equipment, testing primuses and making breakfast porridge. It gets cold on the trip with weather forecasts down to -38 degrees Celsius, so we prepare for how to keep warm on the trip.
Last night we visited Sami Siida and had a traditional Sami meal, before it was finally time for bedtime in a warm bed for the last time in a while.
Now Wednesday morning we have packed everything completely ready and are on our way to start at Tutteberget. From there, the plan is to ski 8 kilometres/a couple of hours before we set the first camp of the trip.
It is -24 degrees at the start, sun, wonderful weather and a great atmosphere!
ALTA, DAY 0
Today the team is off! Yesterday they all arrived and the evening was all about getting to know each other, preparing, controlling equipment quality, packing information, and getting ready.
It seems the trip will be a great polar experience with the temperature hovering around -20°C.
There re two good things about that: 1. With temperatures like that, there are very seldom any serious winds. That makes it all sooo much easier to handle. And 2: There is no doubt that you learn much more when it is cold. Routines are sharpened. Everybody becomes more transparent and aware. But first of all, you understand that tackling the cold is all about understanding and thinking ahead. – We are pretty sure they will have broad smiles on their faces pretty soon.
Bon Voyage