In winter 2022 I spent four months in Saariselkä working as a snowmobile guide for international guests staying at Kakslauttanen, and got to tick off something that had been on my bucket list for a long time: spending a winter in Lapland. This was easily one of the coolest experiences I've had.

My working days meant driving through the Arctic wilderness, sometimes in complete darkness and temperatures as low as -47°C. I guided everything from small private excursions on my own to groups of around 50 guests with several guides working together, sometimes taking the lead within the guide team as well. The smaller groups were especially fun, as we could pick up the pace and do some proper driving.

Our guests came from all over the world, and sometimes we didn't even share a common language. I taught people how to drive a snowmobile, led groups through the routes and dealt with whatever happened along the way. A couple of times that included chasing down guests who had literally decided to escape from the group.

We drove through snowy forests, went looking for the northern lights and stopped at traditional huts for campfires and stories about Finland. I got to be there when people saw the northern lights or experienced the Arctic landscape for the first time, which made the job feel pretty special.

The job came with a lot of responsibility, especially in extreme conditions. Being someone who stays calm when things get stressful was definitely useful there. It also gave me confidence in leading groups and speaking in front of people. And of course, the best part was getting to drive a snowmobile every day in one of the most beautiful places in the world.