This wonderful book celebrates the inaugural ‘Arctic Enduro’ a truly beautiful, life affirming leap into the largest wilderness in Europe.



17 intrepid characters travelled to the frozen far North of Norway 400 kilometres above the Arctic Circle to participate in this extreme adventure, an endurance challenge using dog sleds and snowmobiles. Among our number a soldier, mother, sailor, policeman, banker, artist, whiz kid, filmmaker, photographer, poet, special agent and a thief.



We braved the elements, the thermometer on occasion nudging -15 degrees Celsius and spent the first 2 days of the expedition tuning into nature and getting hands on with the ancient way of crossing this wintry landscape, the dog sled.



To traverse this pure white wilderness consisting of frozen lakes and hills often indistinguishable from the vast sky, with nothing but the sound of our husky teams pulling through the snow, was for us all an unrivalled, never to be forgotten endeavour. We observed and learned from our dogs; we came to know their characters which shed an insight into our team’s dynamic. The understanding we gained on how to work the huskies and handle the sled in itself was a fascinating and enriching encounter.



Later that evening whilst sitting around the campfire we retold stories of derring do and wonders seen before wild camping in the snow.



The following day we upped the pace and moved firmly into the 21st century on powerful snowmobiles. The next 6 days we travelled over 1200 kilometres tackling the challenging and varied terrain. We crossed the vast frozen Lake Inari where we ice fished and slept in log cabins.







One particular night we witnessed the awesome spectacle of one of nature’s greatest phenomena, the Aurora Borealis. We stood and watched, open mouthed as the capricious Northern Lights danced across the sky. It was a truly magical wonder to behold.



We eventually arrived at the Sámi capital Karasjok where we were the guests of Sven Engholm, 11 times winner of the Finnmarksløpet, the worlds northernmost dog sled race. Later in the trip we were invited by the Sámi to a traditional laavu where we sat around the fire, heard yoik and listened to their mystical and enchanting tales of life lived as nomadic reindeer herders. Later, we were honoured and granted the rare privilege of visiting the Sámi’s huge herd of reindeer, animals as far as the eye could see, their ranks swelling daily as they gathered for the imminent annual migration to the coast in search of fresh summer grazing.



We reluctantly returned to our homes, our lives enriched by our recent experiences and encounters in one of the remotest areas of our planet. It was an absolute pleasure to have been involved in the setting up of this fantastic adventure.



We return to the Arctic next February, coming?



Richie Finney

Global Enduro