The winter has finally arrived, and the winter activities like husky dogs on safaris are underway as usual along the East border of Finland.

One such place is at Hossan lomakeskus (Hossan Holiday Centre), they host lots of activities with husky dogs on safaris, snowmobile safaris, camp trips, snowshoe treks, and reindeer park day trips.

Winter came late in February 2012, the unusually warm climate was long overdue, about 6 weeks late.  Lake’s did not thoroughly freeze over to steel-hard ice (teräs-jää), they were precarious to fishermen, snowmobiles and the husky dog’s sleighs.  The frustration caused by lakes with thin ice was mostly felt in the south of Finland, where it was said the conditions of lakes had not been seen in such a weak/thin ice condition since the 1950s.  Many lakes were not accessible to fishermen for ice fishing.

Husky dogs are now happy with the decline of temperatures down to -15’C and -20’C.

When a team of husky dogs is pulling a sleigh, depending on the snow, track and the temperature conditions, they work hard and sweat if the cold is not cool enough, maybe -10’C, -15’C or -20’C is to their liking, of course, it much depends on the track condition, friction, and drag.  The husky dogs eat well, are strong and love to work hard in the sub-arctic snow conditions.

Husky Dog Activities at the Hossan Holiday Centre in winter 2012.

Hossan Lomakeskus is a wilderness hotel that is located at the shore of Hossan lake, approx 70km south of Kuusamo.  They have accommodation and restaurant facilities, also many activities like snowshoe and ski hire.  Bookings recommended for accommodation, due to tourist groups booking in advance.

There are numerous Safari activity options available at the Hossan Lomakeskus during the winter and spring 2012.  The temperatures have now settled down this February as normal winter temperatures.  This week the winter of 2012 record has broken past -40C, and several times at  -39’C at many locations around Rovaniemi, Hossan, Kuusamo, Ruka and the Salla region.

The area is considered as a wilderness area, where bears, deer, and wolves roam during the spring, summer and autumn time.  It has a relatively sparse population, no big town or cities along the road, when heading south from Kuusamo to Suomussalmi, along Kajaanin-tie (Route 5). E-63, for some 120 km.  The road to Hossan Lomakeskus turns East from Route 5, the road is called Keron-tie (843). Keron-tie becomes Kurvisen-tie (843), and Kurvisen-tie becomes Hossan-tie (843). The road from Kuusamo to Hossan is well maintained and plowed free of snow through the winter season.

Husky dogs on safaris is a great way to experience the wilderness of East Finland.