My first Impressions from a one week trip in Finland’s largest National Park and packrafting down one of it’s most iconic rivers.
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This trip was spontaneous. I posted online, looking for a ride to Lapland, and Olli replied. Turns out, Olli and I got along really well, and I think this was just the first trip we went on together. Well, sort of together, as I went to Lemmenjoki National park, hiking south through it, to the Repojoki river, which would join the mighty Ivalojoki river a bit later, while Olli continued to the impressive Kevo National park and it’s amazing canyon. I have 190 gb of Video to go through and edit, so for the moment please enjoy these photos from the trip, where also the weather was really fantastic (though there were too many Mosquitos and Black Flies for my liking).
Lemmenjoki National Park was surprisingly busy. You only can get here with an own car, but the Parking Lots were full and there was a steady flow of people using the shuttle boats from Njurgulahti to Kultahamina and back. I spent 3 days here, and had a great time - even though I had to wear my Alpine Start Hoody almost all the time because of the Mosquitos!
After crossing Lemmenjoki I inflated my packraft at the Repojoki bridge we had passed three days earlier by car, and started to paddle. First I had some headwind and safety concerns (paddling on your own in big, wild rivers is not recommended) but after the first rapids, lots of sunshine and warm weather my mood turned and I was able to enjoy the packrafting for this and the following days.
Gear of the trip is by the way the Sea to Summit Nano Mosquito Headnet. I was SOOOOOO Happy I had this along, as it meant together with my cap (and sometimes the hood of the Alpine Start Hoody) Mosquitos and Black Flies couldn’t get to me - and try they did! A detailed trip report will follow in August, together with a Video or two. If you have questions in the meantime, you can chat with me on one of the Social Media websites linked below 😀
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