Dog Sledding Adventure in Lapland: Living Off the Grid in Finnish Wilderness

Hey guys, welcome back! Today, I’m excited to dive deep into our daily routines and share what it was like to live in the cottages of Finnish Lapland—truly a journey back to the roots. And, I will tell you secrets about how to pee in an overall suit and fix a broken sled with nothing more than a branch…(yes, I managed to break my sled🤭) ⬇️❄️

Living Off the Grid: The Rustic Life

As mentioned in my previous posts, we were on a 4-day tour, sledding from one quaint cottage to another, each offering a unique shelter for the night. Our accommodations were humble, devoid of heating, electricity, and running water. The sauna stood as our sole luxury, a cherished Finnish tradition that swiftly became a necessity amidst the freezing temperatures. We cooked our meals over an open fire, each flame teaching us the art of patience and simplicity. Washing dishes with ice-cold water from the lake was brisk and invigorating, a constant reminder of the conveniences we often take for granted back home.

To keep our clothes dry, we hung them on lines strung above the fire, where the heat helped to chase away the dampness of the day. The rooms were snug, usually equipped with six beds and an extra mattress laid on the floor. Despite the close quarters, or perhaps because of them, a sense of camaraderie blossomed among us as we all slept in the same room, sharing stories and warmth in equal measure.

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⏰ Daily Routine ⏰

❄️ Morning Rituals❄️

Our mornings started early. First, breakfast had to be cooked and eating. While we as a group were preparing the food and packing all the stuff together our guide went out to feed the dogs. We also prepared hearty sandwiches and brewed tea, fortifying ourselves for the day ahead. Luggage packed, house cleaned, and ready for take off we went out to make our sled ready and harness the dogs.

❄️Ready for Take Off❄️

With the dogs harnessed and eager, we set off into the endless expanse of snow. The only sounds were the crunch of our sleds and the panting of our loyal companions. The landscape was an unbroken white canvas, painted occasionally by the fleeting shadows of wildlife. Our lunch breaks were unique—no amenities here, just the privacy of endless snow and the challenge of staying warm. In other words: we just stoped somewhere on the road, sat in the snow and ate our sandwiches.

I, a girl which has to pee rather often (😉), faced a big challenge every lunchtime: Where should I go so that nobody sees me? How do I pee in this overall suit?
More difficult than you might think, because you can’t just walk through the snow… it’s so deep that you sink in up to your belly button.

The solution: just walk far, far away and hope that no other sled dog group passes you by. About the suit problem…well…try and error.

❄️Afternoon❄️

Arriving at our rustic cottage each late afternoon was like stepping into another world—one dictated by nature’s rules. Our first task was to care for our dogs, removing their harnesses and feeding them. Then, we divided our chores (Ämtli), essential for our survival and comfort:

1. 🩺 Health Checks: Ensuring the dogs were healthy and safe.
   🐾 Check their paws for fissures. They will get shoes for the next day if they are hurt

   

   🐾 Check their chest for blisters
   🐾 Check their scapula for injuries

2. 🦴 Food Prep: Chopping meat for their next meal.
3. 🍽️ Dinner: Cooking over an open fire, a primal and grounding experience.
4. 🔥 Warmth: Lighting and maintaining the fire that would keep us warm through the night.
5. 🧖🏼‍♀️ Sauna: Heating up our rustic sauna, which doubled as our shower.
6. 💦 Water Supply: Fetching water from a nearby lake, chiseling through the ice.
7. 🧊 Safety: Clearing icy paths to prevent accidents

(We distributed the weight of the dog meat and ingredients for our meals evenly among the sleds, ensuring each of us carried a fair share of the load.)

Late Afternoon: Rest and Recreation

Post-Pre-Dinner (which was always a soup) our evenings were our own. We thawed in the sauna—a cherished ritual—and bonded over the crackle of the fire. Some evenings were spent repairing sleds or simply embracing the silence of Lapland’s untouched beauty. On the end of this article I will tell you how to fix a sled.

Evening – Dinner

As the evening settled over the Lapland wilderness, we gathered around the fire to cook our dinner, a task that became one of the day’s highlights. Our menu varied each night, reflecting both the local cuisine and the hearty needs of our group. We savored dishes like elk with mashed potatoes, meatballs with noodles, and a warming curry, each meal bringing comfort and a sense of accomplishment after a long day of mushing.

After dinner, the task of washing up was an icy challenge, yet strangely invigorating. Using the frigid water from the nearby lake, we scrubbed our dishes clean, the cold water making our hands numb but laughter and teamwork kept our spirits high. These moments, simple yet profound, underscored our journey’s theme of embracing the basic, raw elements of life.

Night

As night descended upon us, we retreated to our shared sleeping quarters, a cozy room that brought all of us together under one roof. Lined with beds and an extra mattress on the floor, the space was snug and communal, fostering a unique bond as we ended our days sharing the same air and warmth.

However, the close proximity had its challenges, particularly when it came to sleeping soundly. Snorers were met with groans and nudges, as their nocturnal symphonies were less appreciated in the confined space. Despite this, the shared room was a place of rest and recovery, essential for replenishing our energy for the adventures that awaited us with each new dawn.

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🛷 How to fix a broken sled 🛷

One eventful day, as we navigated through the winding snowy trails of Lapland, I faced a sudden mishap. I didn’t manage to negotiate a sharp curve and ended up crashing straight into a tree. The impact was significant enough to break my sled, though, fortunately, no one was hurt in the accident.

The wood thing (don’t ask me the correct name of it please) in the front broke into two peaces ➡️ see picture. Consequently, the dogs were unable to pull the sled evenly. I managed to keep driving, but it became much more difficult for the dogs to pull from one side only. Steering also became tougher than it already was.

In the true spirit of wilderness adventure, our guide sprang into action to repair the broken sled. She skillfully used a branch from a nearby tree and some cord to piece together the damaged parts. To ensure everything held securely, she heated the cords by the fire, which allowed them to bind more tightly when they cooled.

I would love to say that I managed to fix my sled…but that would be a lie 😂 I was responsible for the entertainment…also an important part in such a situation.

Personally, I think the branch made my sled look even cooler, don’t you agree?
And, sledding with it posed no problem whatsoever.😇

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Check out my other Posts about my Mushing Experience:

• A Mushing Adventure in Finnish Lapland (Video)

• Meet the Sled Dog Stars: The Remarkable Companions of Our Arctic Mushing Adventure

• Winter Wonderland: Mushing and Magic in Finnish Lapland

• Ultimate Guide to Mushing Gear: Essential Tips for Staying Warm in Finnish Lapland (Video)
• Explore Finnish Lapland: How a Dog Sled Team Powers Through the Arctic

📽️ Check out my Videos on YouTube: 📽️

• Summary of my Blog
• Essential Tips for Staying Warm in Finnish Lapland