Some rain is visible on
the horizon towards the east.
Mosquitoes have not
woken up yet, I can leave alone. The cabin is cleaner than when I arrived, that
much I can do for the Norwegians.
After a kilometer I’m
in Finland that looks exactly the same as Norway. Same rocks, same crowberries.
The border is marked with piles of rocks, painted yellow, that for the birds
probably look the same as all other rocks.
Before the first
Finnish hut a river had been spread out on the landscape. Kuopmajoki hut is
small, clean and nice. Soon a long and hot rocky desert starts. Heat rises from
the ground. Mosquitoes have woken up. That does not make it easier. I have a
choice between sweating in rain jacket or itching without it. I try both to get
the full experience. There’s a sound of a bell but the reindeer who likely goes
with it, is nowhere to be seen.
I reach Pitsusjärvi,
the Halti basecamp. Have lunch in the cabin together with some Finnish hikers.
They either have already been to Halti or are going there tomorrow.
A big dark cloud
rises when I leave. A short break at Pihtsusköngas. Too short to marvel it as
the place deserves. Approaching thunder makes me a bit nervous. It would be
nice to be as close as possible to today’s destination before it starts to
rain. But the colors in the sky are more spectacular now.
Meekonjärvi with
Saivaara behind it and its surroundings looks really nice. I’d like to see the
place in autumn. The trail goes slowly up, it rains in most directions. A
rainbow appears behind me. It starts to rain about three kilometers before
Kuonarjoki and it’s only a short shower then.
The cabin is almost
full and smells heavily of wet socks so I opt for my tent. Drizzle stops and the
mosquitoes are back. I’m fast asleep by the time it starts to rain properly.
35 km, the longest
day so far.
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