Mika Lappalainen | Friday, 24 April 2026
Last weekend went for protecting reindeers and trying to figure out where wolf is. Wednesday it was around farm and two nights later in neigbour's surveillance camera during night figuring out how to get in dog's fence. And next two nights around horse stable just 1 mile from our farm. Horse stable has also sheeps and pony which they had to lock inside, totally new thing for those animals as they are out all year round.
And after Monday there is no sign or footprints from wolf, so danger avoided at this point. Tuesday I went check our lake and ice from there as on Thursday they would group coming for ice fishing. Every two year same group has come and after them we have been off on vacation, both times in Malaysia. This would be their third time now.
Ice was good, I didn't risk and I left quad on land. I made few holes and it was really good ice with some hard ice quite nicely still. I walked around with no worries and made test holes. I saw one area as little concerning and made few holes around, that was not good anymore. It is always first area losing proper ice as it is between where one brook is coming in and other going out, also open so sun will do work all the time.
Wednesday team leader called and asked if they should take ice fishing gears with them as their were leaving from Rovaniemi. I told yep, ice was good yesterday and we see on Thursday morning at the farm.
I went to see ice again and check where our reindeers are. As I arrived to lake I saw reindeer's footprints going on ice and then I notice big hole. Reindeer has dropped on ice, I couldn't see that it would be still there and as they are good swimmers I assumed that it probably got out, unless dived under ice.
So I went to get some helping hands from farm and rope etc. I would check ice at same time and to see if reindeer survived. On the way to lake I realised that I would have drysuit at home, if something happens it would keep me dry. Then it would take 15 minutes to get it and change, so nope, it will be okay as ice still looked okay except that one hole.
We arrived to lake and decided to play safe, so Siili, our worker, took sleigh and start to "row" next to reindeer hole. I drilled ice on background and made few test holes here and there. Ice was still pretty okay and there was still some hard ice. So not best possible yet doable still for ice fishing. Siili checked big hole and she couldn't see anything, so probably reindeer got out.
I stopped to drill hole, and before I got drill down, I started to sink slowly. I thought that okay, I go thru slush and I will stop sinking in 20 cm as hard ice is there. When ice reached knees I realized that it will be swim for me also. I spread my hands, took ice drill on one hand, and here we go.
I easily stopped myself so I dipped just barely deeper than my belly button. That was first stop, when I put pressure on my hands ice gave up more and then water level was under my man boobs. Siili came to took drill and gave me stick which we had took with us. My first yell to our trainee, she looked little panic, was that take video.
Then I started to get myself out from hole, no panic, organized, hitting stick to ice, pulling myself up and kicking water to get over ice. I got myself up partly like I should, then when I moved hand to move stick further away and getting last move to get myself out... ice gave up and back in start I was. I tried to break ice with stick and elbows to reach solid ice, which could then carry when getting out. "Ice" was almost 30 cm so breaking thru was difficult and really slow.
I yelled to Siili that she would throw rope which will be easier to get out. I got rope and I asked Siili to go closer to shore as I didn't want she dropping in ice also. Siili and trainee held rope and I pulled myself up easily. I crawled few meters to be sure that I'm on solid and then walked on shore. My toes were little cold — not bad, and aubergine has turned smaller than shrimp. I called to Satu to warm up sauna as I dropped on ice and then called the team leader that ice fishing is cancelled for sure.
I went home and warmed up. In the evening we started to look for vacation destination as big ice fishing group had to be cancelled from next week also. After ice swim, warm waters sound good and we looked flights to Malaysia as waters there are swimmable, even for me. Flight price was ridiculously high compared what they were in March when checked those. Price was easily double so we have to find something else.
Which we did — that will be different story.
Have a nice weekend and go fishing!
Mika, legendary ice swimmer