Kellomäki - The Best Ski Tour Ever!

There is not the better cross-country skiing trail than this!

Kellomäki - in the home town Ähtäri in Finland 

You don´t have to travel to Lapland 

if You want to enjoy the Finnish nature and nice skiing terrain.

Address is Tapanintie 1, Ähtäri  
- car parking Koulutie 16 

On the road Tapanintie put on your skis and go...

From the central skiing track turn to left at the trail map.

Be careful in the first curve - after that just enjoy the speed.

After the tunnel turn right earlier than usual
- because of a land dispute -

but it does not matter.

The road crossing

Now you can forget noise of the cars.

Just You and fields - and the tractor eggs (modern hay bales).

It´s strange:
Always in the spring when the Sun is shining
and You enjoy skiing on these fields -
You will hear the sounds of the military aircraft.
Traditional overflight also today.

This wonderful romantic barn is just like in old Finland-movies.
The hay seemed to be inside...

The sign says Kellomäki 6.0 
- so turn to left!

After the rise of the hill there is a small complex downhill
- on the edge you can see a beautiful glacier in the spring.

The elk hasn´t passed over here...

... but some animal has!
I don´t think it has been a cat. There are no houses in this area.
I hope I would have been more interested in biology at school.
Maybe the lynx? Or the fox?
In March it´s possible to see bear tracks...

This animal I know!

There are rocky hills in the surrounding area. Good places for the nest of the bear!

Somebody said that bears don´t attack women. I want to believe it´s true!

I am all alone here.
Complete silence.

The forest is my favorite place!

Now ski carefully downhill
to the frozen lake Sappio.

The lake Keskinen-Sappio
Sunshine and silence! Perfect!

The campfire site of Sappio, Ähtäri

There is a nice campfire site by the lake for hikers and skiers.
I drink a little bit of blackcurrant juice before skiing up to the hill Kellomäki.

Here You have to turn left to the forest
and "climbing" to Kellomäki begins.

Kellomäki -  the address is  Kellomäentie 133, Ähtäri

       And the prize is this - the idyllic old Kellomäki house!

Sometimes on weekends you can meet scouts here and get warm juice indoors.

Outdoor toilets

Beautiful old storehouse.

                                       

Kellomäki, trail map and booklet for skiers.
Please, write your name in the booklet.

Then, the direction towards the parking lot Ula-Masto...

You have already skied almost 12 kilometers, 
well done!

A deserted courtyard along the trail.

Only two kilometers to parking lot Ula-Masto

 that is a popular starting point for a shorter ski tour.

Architecture of the local master

Now we are in the parking lot Ula-Masto.
Only a little bit over two kilometers to the starting point Tapanintie.

                                                                           
                                                                             

After the straight track the trail bends to the right.

You will pass by the Pet Cemetery.

Ski downhill...

... and up to one hill...

... before the road crossing..

Then you will come to the central skiing track again.

And here turn left to the starting point Tapanintie.

So, now just take your skis and go and enjoy skiing!

20 kilometers!

And after the tour - incredible good feeling, 

feeling like a WINNER!