イナリ湖での周辺の簡単なハイキングとウォーキング

The forest near Nellim lies nestled between lakes and fells, embodying the quintessential wilderness of Lapland. Among birch and pine trees, and across bogs, views of still waters and expansive horizons constantly unfold. It's an ideal place to enjoy the peace and quiet, pick berries, or simply breathe in the scent of the North.

In winter (we were there at the beginning of December) snowshoes are recommended. The path is not cleared. If no one has walked there before, the snow can be very deep. We didn't make it to the end because we weren't walking there without snowshoes. It's best to go when it's light.

Summer In mid-summer, the day is longest and the sun shines even at night. The period starting in July has been called the hay season, the time to make the hay used as animal feed during the winter. For the Sámi, the reindeer, fish and berries are the most important sources of food, creating the "food trinity" that is essential to the people. Sápmi's numerous river systems provide the nighttime fishermen with precious fish, these gifts of the water. Lake Inari, also known as the Sápmi Sea, has traditionally been a rich "fishing ground" and one of the region's most important waterways. There is also a path to Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church from Lake Inari and from Pielpavuono Fjord

Spring Summer June marks the beginning of the summer season, when bright and warm weather causes plants to turn green. All beings come back to life after a long and dark winter. With the arrival of migratory birds, summer is here. Even the bluethroat, the "nightingale of Lapland", returns to its familiar breeding grounds in the fallen birch areas of the Arctic. The bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) has several Northern Sámi names, with meanings such as language believer, bell bird and the one with a hundred languages. They tell of this excellent singer's ability to borrow warning cries from other birds. Popular Finnish names of the bluethroat include "chime bird", "the jingler of a pot hanger" and "blue-throat warbler".

Spring In Sámi land, the seasonal cycle begins in spring, the time when reindeer calves are born. The month is May, or the calving month in Sami languages. There is still snow on the hills, but here and there snow-free patches appear, providing food for reindeer. Marking the ears of calves is an important task in reindeer herding, as the ear mark tells who the reindeer belongs to. Sámi culture is traditionally characterized by a strong connection to nature, with humans as part of nature. According to the original Sámi worldview and spirituality, all living things had a soul, and nature was considered sacred. The Sámi have always tried to live in harmony with nature and learned to navigate their demanding natural environment. Traditionally, the goal was to leave minimal traces of human presence in the landscape, but culturally important sites still contain invisible meanings for those who can understand them. The people here respected nature and only used what they needed to survive.

The church can only be reached via a 4.5-kilometer-long footpath with hardly any elevation gain. The path mainly leads over stones, boulders and roots, through birch and pine forests and later also past rivers and lakes.

Many small lakes on the way to the church

Hikers' car park with dry toilets. Here begins the hiking trail of approx. 4.5 km to the church