Green woodworking group gathering

It was the monthly gathering of our green woodworking group again today. The day started very well with me being given an old picture of a Finnish Skolt Lapp woman making cordage out of Reindeer sinew, by rolling it on her cheek. This is a method I have never encountered before.

If you look closely at the picture you can actually see the cordage the cordage vibrating as she rolls it.

Then I was asked to make a fire in a creative way, so decided to see whether the winter sun was strong enough to make fire using a condom and crampball fungus (as mentioned here). My friend filmed this piece of film for me and if you look carefully you can see the smoke starting to appear as the fungus is ignited.



This is my friend Will, turning out a Alder bowl on his pole lathe.

and here the children are also learning to use a pole lathe.

Everyone enjoyed the day, especially with the beautiful spring-like weather.

Activities in the Nattavaara community

For the last day of my trip I was invited by one of the leaders of the Nattavaara community to experience what they can offer visitors to the area.

In heavy snow, with my friend Merete we drove to Nattavaara village. First we visited the old school house

where you can stay in a cabin, take part in organised hunting trips, traditional cooking courses and much more. Nattavaara Lapland

From Nattavaara you can travel the Iron Ore Trail to the Arctic Circle.

Here they have a monument which marks the Arctic Circle

and when you pass through the monument and cross the circle you are given a certificate.

There are also some beautiful little log cabins here, part funded by the state , so they are open for anyone to use.

There was only a small stove inside, but incredibly efficient and soon the cabin was warm and water was boiling for our coffee.


For further information about activities in the area, have a look here

This si my final post from this Lapland trip and for my next post we will be back in the UK.

Ice fishing

I spent one day ice fishing with the other guests staying at the camp. The ice on the lake was one metre thick and had to be first drilled through to access the water.

I have spent several hours ice fishing in Lapland and never caught anything and this occasion was no different. reindeer skins to sit on for insulation make the experience much more bearable.

After fishing I demonstrated how to make fire without the use of a lighter or matches, using a firesteel and Birch bark. Then we enjoyed hot soup and drinks around the fire.



Once back at the dog camp I taught one of the instructors how to make fire using flint and steel and true tinder fungus.

Making a snow shelter or quinzee

Step One

Clear a circular area in the snow about 8 feet across.

Step Two

Using a shovel or snow shoe make a large pile (about 6 feet high) of snow on top of the clearing (the snow should be heaped, not packed.) Mixing snow of different temperatures will facilitate the hardening process.

Step Three

Allow the mound to freeze and so harden for 1 to 12 hours depending on weather and snow composition. Push sticks 20 – 30cms long into the snow heap, as this will help you to maintain an even thickness over the whole of the shelter when hollowing out. When you find the end of a stick from inside the shelter, you know you have a thickness of 20 – 30cms.

Step Four

Begin to hollow out the mound once it has hardened sufficiently. Dig straight in at first to create your initial opening, and then dig upward slightly in order to make an elevated sleeping area. This will allow cold air from inside to flow down and out of the shelter.

Step Five

Use the snow you dig out to make a windbreak in front of the entrance, or heap it onto the exterior of the shelter to thicken its walls and increase the available interior space.

Step Six

Smooth the interior surface of the walls and ceiling to prevent any melting snow from dripping on you.

Step Seven

Poke a ventilation hole through the top of the dome using a ski pole or long stick. Make sure this hole stays clear of ice and snow.

Step Eight

At this point I usually reduce the size of the entrance hole by packing snow around, but the snow was so powdery, it was impossible to do this. Use your pack or reindeer skin to block the entrance of the shelter once inside, but leave space for air to flow in and out. Keep your shovel inside while you sleep in case you need to dig your way out.

Building a shelter is hard work, so wear the minimum clothing necessary, to reduce the risk of sweating. When you are working you should be cool enough to feel that you need to put another layer of clothing on. Excessive sweating can lead to hypothermia. Once the shelter is completed put all your layers of clothing back on.


Personally, I find this type of shelter hard work and time consuming to construct. The locals just dig a trench in the snow and line it with reindeer skins and sleep in the trench in a sleeping bag. If the air temperature is very cold, they use a stick to prop a reindeer skin over there face to reduce the effect of the cold.

Dog sledding

Working with my own dog team was a new experience for me.

Lotti has 100 Alaskan huskies, but only one Siberian husky.

Having been shown how to harness the dog team I had to gather my dogs and harness them, starting with the lead dog and working my way back. Running a team on my own, I had four dogs and when two of us used a team, we had 6 dogs. Below is the sled.

You control the speed and movement of the dogs and sled using the break located between your legs where you stand.

The dogs are so friendly and extremely keen to work. If the sled tips over it is vital that you hold on otherwise the dogs will continue to run with the sled and leave you behind!.

It really is a fantastic way to travel, but when travelling up hill, you have to run behind the sled to reduce the work for the dogs.




The sun has only been appearing over the horizon for the last few days and doesn't currently get much higher than this.


Dog sledding is also a great way to see and meet the locals.

My next post will be about constructing a snow shelter.

Snowtrail Dogcamp AB

For the first few days of my trip I stayed with Lotti Anderson and her crew at the Snowtrail Dogcamp and wilderness lodge, between Kiruna and Gallivare.


http://www.kirunadogcamp.com/

Lotti owns 100 sled dogs and provides a variety of courses and activities in winter and summer, including;

Husky ABC
Snowmobile and sled dog experience
Sled Dog Expedition
Reindeer herding with the Sami
and much more


For more details please contact Lotti via the contact details below;

Lotti Anderson
SnowTrail Dogcamp AB
Skaulo 92
SE-98204 Gällivare
Sweden

Tel +46 970 510 23
Fax +46 970 510 23
mobile +46 10 212 39 48
lotti@snowtraildogcamp.com
http://kirunadogcamp.com/

Lapland winter trip 2008

I have just returned from my trip to Swedish Lapland.

Over the next few days I will post about my activities while there and also promote places to visit while in the area and provide details of the birdwatching course we are running there in May 2008.