2024-12-01 62 29

Location

In a forest near Matovaara, Kontiolahti.

The point on a topographic map: [1]

Participants

Kripakko

Expedition

We were in Kontiolahti this weekend – not to attend the Biathlon World Cup, but for other business. This hashpoint happened to be near the place where we stayed in an easily accessible place, and I had some time to drive there in the daytime. It had snowed a little during the night, and the small roads that I did not know might be unmaintained and in a bad condition, so I did not want to go there in the dark. I did not feel like getting stuck in snow again if I could avoid it.

It was raining somewhat when I set off at about 11 AM, and the gravel roads were potentially soft as well as covered in a substantial amount of snow. I first picked the most likely accessible route via highway 6. The first few kilometres were uneventful, but then the gravel road off the highway (Heinävaarantie) turned out to be a serious rally road with tight bends and steep up- and downhills. The depth of the snow varied between nothing and maybe five centimetres (two inches), which was not enough to get stuck in but definitely enough to lose grip on. I had to be careful to go fast enough to make it up all the hills while going slowly enough to not slide off the road. It was not too difficult though; I made it to the hill near the hashpoint with ease and had a lot of fun driving. I guess this is how many Finns turn into natural rally drivers, though I admit that I made heavy use of traction control and may not have done nearly as well without it. You can visit the roads in Google Street View if you are interested in seeing how they look like in the summer.

I found a place where I could park the car off the road and be able to get out. I then walked a few hundred metres along a trail and made it to the hashpoint with ease. Nothing really interesting happened there. After quickly documenting the visit, I walked back to the car and drove back. This time, I dared to take a shortcut via a smaller road and had no problem getting though it either. Great success, except that the car got a little dirty.

Tracklog

I removed large parts in the beginning and in the end so that I would not reveal exactly where we stayed.

Photos

Where I parked the car, about 260 metres to go.
How the trail looked like, about 160 metres to go.
Proof of location, screenshot of QDGN.
Selfie at the hashpoint.
A nice view of the road, going downhill and up again. Photographed on the way back, the tyre tracks are mine.