The first ever Fischer Transnordic

After our guide Poppis Suomela gave us a first overview of the route the evening before, we take a closer look at the equipment in the morning. The big packing begins and already turns out to be our first challenge. As much as necessary and as little as possible is the rule - after all, we have to carry the luggage ourselves, or pull it in a pulka, which we each share with a partner. For food, cooking utensils and tents we fortunately have two dog sleds that accompany us. At 3 p.m., after a little refreshment, we finally set off. The bright blue sky of the morning has turned into a wild gray and the wind whistles around our ears. With full motivation we tackle the 15 kilometers. It goes along the lake of Kilpisjärvi. Apparently flat, the headwind makes us work hard and the -3°C feel much colder. The end of the lake comes closer only very slowly, but we reach it nevertheless. After a short up and down everyone is happy after 5 hours when we arrive at our first destination, the cosy Kuohkimajärvi Wilrdernes Hut. With making fire, melting snow and cooking food, we let the first evening end.

Distance: 15 km - Height gain: 170m - Duration: 5 hours

The morning welcomes us with -8°C and bright sunshine. The Pältsa mountain massif offers an incredible backdrop and turns out, today without fog, as an ideal photo spot. The time difference between Finland and Sweden confuses our schedule a bit - but until the late departure, we enjoy the sun at a windless spot to the max. Always the Pältsa in the view, off we go. The Fjäll develops into an endless snow desert. The vastness is impressive - and so is the emptiness. In the afternoon, the snow clouds slowly move in and the previously bright blue sky offers us an impressive play of light and clouds. The wind, our faithful companion, sets in again and brings the cold with it. Our destination today is in the middle of nowhere. We do not aim at a hut, but build, after 7 hours on tour, our tent camp - in the meantime on Norwegian ground. Above Signaldalen, with an impressive view to the fjord, we get warm again while shoveling out and building up the tent camp. In the end we cook ourselves on our gas stoves - never before has a risotto tasted so good as here. Full and tired, we crawl into our warm sleeping bags and hope for a restful night.

Distance: 14.5 km – Height gain: 360 m – Duration: 7 hours

The wind shakes the tent walls for getting up, but it has blown away all clouds and our tent camp shines in the sun. The overwhelming panoramic view with the endless snow desert of Sweden on one side and the rugged mountains of Norway on the other, makes us forget the cold. When we take down the tent camp, we get warm again anyway. Everything is stowed away for the last time and we set off on what is supposed to be the easiest stage with the largest downhill section. But how wrong you can be. First, we climb a few meters to the top of the pass. The headwind does its part so that we have to work really hard to pull the pulkas up. On the other side the descent into the valley of Tamok is waiting, which is however peppered with some short counter ascent. Not only we, but also the dog sleds are again properly demanded. On the last steep descent some of us reach their limits when navigating with the pulka and find themselves in the snow. Nevertheless, the powder snow paints a broad grin on our faces. Along the river, overcoming the one or other snow hill, we reach our destination after a demanding 24 km.

Distance: 24 km - Height gain: 290 m - Duration: 8 hours

Civilization is with us again. You can see on the tired, wind-blown, but happy faces that the tour has left great impressions. Significantly, Kimmo from Finland says, "I definitely wouldn't want to go back today. But who knows - maybe tomorrow?" Over a cozy Swedish beer in the Finnish sauna, on Norwegian land, we review the Transnordic and our experiences. Of course, the bath in the ice hole is a must - of which, understandably, there is no photographic evidence.

One thing is certain: The premiere of the Transnordic was a success and calls for a repeat!