A Simple Hike In The Arctic That Changed Everything

The polar night finally ended, and the sun began to "shine" again. With a day off from work, I decided it was the perfect opportunity for a hike. My plan? A 7-kilometer trail around Saariselkä. Before heading out, I checked the weather. It's an essential step when dressing for Arctic conditions. When I saw the temperature was chilling -25°C, I hesitated momentarily. Was this a good idea for a Hike in the Arctic?

The past few weeks had been a repetitive cycle of work and home, with the polar night keeping everything dark and cold. There wasn’t much to do, and I was starting to feel the weight of it. But now that the sun was making its return, I knew I couldn’t stay indoors any longer.

So, I began layering up. I had to be careful. Too many layers and I’d sweat too few and I’d freeze. You get the idea. After packing some protein bars and water, I was ready to go. The sky was mostly cloudy, with the sun peeking through now and then.

Winter in Lapland

Winter in Lapland

Winter in Lapland

It’s hard to put into words just how magical Lapland is. Everything around me was blanketed in an endless desert of snow, stretching far beyond what the eye could see. Pictures don’t do it justice. You have to be here, surrounded by this immense beauty, to truly understand. As I stood alone in the middle of a quiet Lappish forest, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace.

At that moment, I felt happy. Truly happy. I paused, took a deep breath, and prayed. I felt an immense wave of gratitude for this opportunity, for this moment of stillness and clarity. Alone in the snow, I started talking to myself (yes, I know, but stay with me). It wasn’t long before I realized that I needed to make some changes in my life. I told myself I had to spend more time outside, even if it meant embracing the Arctic cold. Sure, it might feel like survival training sometimes, but hey, life’s more fun with a little challenge, right?

That’s when the idea for this blog hit me. I had been considering the idea of writing about the hike but kept pushing it aside. “Who’s going to care about some random guy trekking through the snow in the middle of nowhere?” I thought. But then I was like why does it matter? I didn’t start this blog to impress anyone. I started it for me.

This blog is my space to document my travels, but also my thoughts, my feelings, and my experiences. The highs and the lows. I want to be real. Life isn’t perfect, and pretending otherwise doesn’t do anyone any favors. That’s part of the problem with social media today, isn’t it? It’s designed to make us feel like we’re always missing out, like we should be somewhere else, doing something better, being someone better.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned: if you’re constantly chasing happiness somewhere else, it’ll never be where you are.

These are my thoughts. I want to enjoy the moment, right where I am, without wondering how I might feel somewhere else. And once I embraced that, I felt truly happy. I’m smiling now as I write this, imagining myself back in the middle of that quiet forest, surrounded by snow-covered trees that look like little forest snowmen.

Winter in Lapland

Winter in Lapland

Winter in Lapland

All of this might sound silly, and honestly, maybe no one will read it but that’s okay. I wanted to share my thoughts anyway. It’s a reminder, even to myself, to enjoy the little things in life. Like going on a simple hike or sitting down to write about it afterward.

The last few weeks were tough. I kept convincing myself that none of my ideas were interesting enough to put them out into the world. But now, I’m glad I pushed through and wrote this. It reminded me that it’s not about being perfect or extraordinary it’s about being real and finding joy in the process.

So, if you’ve made it this far, thank you. You’re an absolute legend, and I truly appreciate it. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this whether it’s about the hike, the writing, or anything else. Feel free to share.