Northern diaries-4

[spri]

Day 9
15-16km, Jogasjärvi hut

Some rain in the morning, overcast and colder (than before) all day. Pretty sunset.
Leave after 11AM, stop at Mekonjärvi hut after 3PM, start towards Jogasjärvi hut before 5PM.
The hut is 85 years old, with a fireplace made of rocks (hard to lit without filling the hut with smoke).
Trail is a winter dog-sledding route, with dog parking (and a dog waste container) at the start.
Predictably - much less visitors here (I met one halfway from Meekonjärvi), many ski-touring in winter

Day 10
Drizzle and low clouds in the morning, shower past noon, calm and sunny otherwise.
I climb Saivaara, shortcut to Kuonjarjõki hut (see some reindeer midway), meet two Polish senior ladies there.
After a lunch and some talks about war, I continue to Sarijärvi hut. There I meet three Germans. Young couple I've met before at Kuonjarjõki, they are keen to descend to Kilpisjärvi today. Third one is staying - Clemens, around 50, walking from Nordkapp down to Italy.

Day 11

Down to Kilpisjärvi by noon. Both Metsähallitus luonnonkeskus and Retkeilukeskus (located on opposite outskirts of the village) have wi-fi.
Morning is cold (lots of frost), calm and sunny, some serious showers from noon to 3PM.
I ascend to Saajärvi kota, climb Saivaara, and meet a Polish father with adult son staying at kota. More tea and talks about the war before sleep

Day 12

Walk around Saajärvi, down to Retkeilukeskus and catch a coach back. Sunny, some showers miss me.