We initially planned to have a rest day once we arrived at our cabin in Karasjok in Norway, but our host at Engholm Husky Lodge suggested a trip that we just had to take up: a ride out on a snowmobile-pulled sled to the Finmark Plateau to see the reindeer herd and have a traditional Sami experience.
First thing in the morning we got kitted out with warm gear provided to us – many many layers – big boots, mitts, hats, ponchos etc. Another couple from Denmark came with us on this trip, and we were all packed into a sled and then literally tucked in with blankets and deer skins.
The snow mobile pulled us through the winding tracks in the trees and out onto the frozen river, which we drove along for about 15-20 mins. It was very cold while we were driving! We saw some moose and reindeer on the journey but the best was yet to come.
We came to our place of rest where our tour guide started a fire and we kitted the place out with reindeer skins on the ground to sit on around the fire. Our second tour guide pushed off on his snow mobile with his dog to go and round up the reindeer herd! After a long time trying to lure the heard out onto the frozen river, he had to put down grass as a last resort. Before too long we could hear the bells around the reindeer necks and sure enough a huge herd of them were making their way to us until finally they were only 50m away happily eating all the grass on the ice.
Once the fire was crackling away nicely our tour guides brought over a big wooden box and out came the food – hot black coffee first, then we were each given a sharpened stick and a hunk of smoked reindeer meat to heat up in the fire (no they didn’t shoot one then and there!) and then sausages and bread. It’s incredible how hot food can really warm you up! On our ride out, it was so very cold and our toes and fingers were getting more and more numb and sore as time went on, but this meal warmed us almost enough to get to our toes, but not quite! The best thing is to just ignore the painful ache in the toes and keep moving!
It was starting to get quite dark by the time we left although it was only about 2:30pm. We saw the dark outline of a moose on the way home again. Our feet were painfully frozen by the time we got home – I’m glad we have a warm cabin to sleep in.
Tomorrow we are up early for breakfast and then dog sledding! We’ll be away for two nights.
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