I woke with a raging headache which I think could be due to the dry air and possible slight dehydration but I felt a bit better after a couple of paracetamol but not well enough for a dip in the frozen lake which I had planned! Heidi did not seem too keen on it either which was worrying.
We managed to get to the gift shop as soon as it opened and then back in time for our 12.00 pick-up by ‘Due North Safaris’ which I booked a number of months ago for a trip by snowmobile to a reindeer farm. Vill turned up perfectly on time and instantly reminded me of a friend back in the UK - he could have been his doppelgänger! We picked up a few other people and headed to the office to be kitted out in suitable kit as temperatures can get very low with the wind chill factor. I had (on top of my thermals and polo top) under trousers, salopettes, a thick polar jacket, balaclava, helmet and goggles. We were given a brief lesson on how to drive the machines (we had a two seater Pantera) and then Colin went first as he has driven a motorbike before so we thought it might be more familiar for him.
The machines were really powerful and despite being automatic with just the gas and brake to master, it was quite a challenge. Colin got us all the way to Hannu’s Reindeer farm in one piece through amazing snowy scenery but then it was a change of pace as we met the reindeer and we both squeezed into a hand made sleigh and were tucked in with reindeer skins. It was beautiful passing silently through the forest as the reindeer are a lot quieter than huskies. Ours kept stopping to eat snow but again like the huskies Hannu explained that he was not thirsty but too hot and he was trying to cool down. The reindeer pulling the sleigh behind took a liking to us and insisted on resting his head on our shoulders and nibbling our ears - his burpy breath smelt a little of pickled onions so I think he may eat food other than reindeer moss all the time!
After our trip we had some time with the deer and fed them reindeer moss which they love. Hannu invited us into his yurt with a roaring fire in the centre and told us about his herd and then brewed up blueberry juice over the fire which we all drank from traditional silver birch wooden cups. I could have stayed much longer but it was time for the second part of our journey and this time I rashly took over driving the snowmobile. I thought I was doing pretty well until I slightly over-steered to avoid a branch and somehow impaled the snowmobile into a drift. We were still upright but Colin had to hang onto the silver birth branch to prevent us toppling over. Luckily Vill returned quickly to us and with little effort got us out and we continued on our way - me still driving!
The snowmobile was really powerful but I was getting the hang of it despite some mysterious regular ripples in the snow that caused massive bumps! All of a sudden I recognised where we were - at the sledging slopes we had been on yesterday. The ski gondola was closed again as the weather at the top of the mountain was too bad for skiers which, I suppose should have given us an idea of the conditions we were heading up to. Vill thought we could still manage the journey over the top of the mountain but warned us to keep the speed up if we started sinking and to keep an eye on the lights of the machines in front. At this stage I suggested Colin take over again which he did and we set off. Only a few minutes after we started the blizzard caused pretty much a white-out and it was a struggle simply to see where the markers (covered in ice and snow) were that we needed to pass in between. The vehicle in front speeded up probably as they were sinking in the snow and it it was at this point that the white-out reduced visibility to about 4-5 feet and at the very last moment I realised we were heading off the track and basically the machine turned over with us underneath. I have no idea how I managed to free myself as I was at the back by somehow I did and it took me three attempts to hit the red button to cut the engine.
Colin was trapped underneath the machine which was on its side sinking in deep snow. I tried to push it up but I had nothing to brace against. Luckily the man on the snowmobile behind saw what had happened and managed to get to us. Between us both we shifted the machine enough to get Colin out from under it. I was very worried that he had broken his leg which would have been bad enough but even more worrying was how we would get him down of the mountain in those conditions. The rule is to stay with your machine and the leader will always come back to you. We were very relieved to see Vill appear from the blizzard. He checked us over and then the machine... it was now that I remembered the €1,500 cost if there damage to the snowmobile but luckily As the snow was so soft it was in one piece and so were we!
I took over driving to give Colin time to recover which was rather scary. I knew there was only one way down and it was steep. Instructions were to pump the brakes to keep control of the machine and follow Vill’s ruts for extra stability. I haven’t concentrated that hard for a very long time but we made it down to the lower level and all regrouped. It was hugs and high-fives all round as everyone had done very well to make it. I think Vill hadn’t quite realised how bad it was on the peak and he too was very happy! Time for a few snowy pics as the light was fading fast. It was now that I realised what a good investment the hard camera case had been as I had been wearing it when we crashed. Camera all in one piece!
After that we leisurely (well I went a little more quickly now) got back to the office and parked up. I realised I didn’t know what anyone looked like without their winter clothes on!!
Vill drive us back to the hotel and was chatting on route - he is a really nice guy and is off to New York in May so we gave him some tips on what to see - he is going to have such a culture shock after the white silence of Lapland!
We were shattered but managed to do some packing before heading to Orso restaurant for our last meal in Lapland - I love this place and despite NOT seeing the Northern Lights it has been brilliant.
It had to be a reindeer image for today but here are some more as it was a difficult choice, also some of us on the snowmobile if you are really interested!
More reindeer pics:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/EmmaDurnfordPhotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1752060394846634
Snowmobile in a white out:
https://www.facebook.com/emma.durnford/posts/10155993769744088?pnref=story
