5–7 day ski traverse to Finland's highest point at 1324 m. Käsivarsi is Finland's largest wilderness area at 2206 km², and the classic objective is the
Käsivarsi is Finland's largest wilderness area at 2206 km², and the classic objective is the multi-day ski traverse to Halti, the country's highest point at 1324 m. The route runs from Kilpisjärvi via the Kuonjarjoki, Pihtsusjärvi and Meekonjärvi huts. This is a serious expedition, not a tour.
Distances between huts are 15–25 km of open tundra with no marked winter trail. You travel with a pulka or heavy pack, navigating by GPS across featureless terrain. Late March to mid-April gives long days and stable snow; by May the river crossings open and complicate the line.
Full whiteout protocol and tent backup are mandatory: there is no margin for getting lost on open tundra in poor visibility. Reindeer herding is active, so give animals space. This is expert-only terrain demanding self-sufficiency over several days.