We had half a day in Reykjavik, and besides visiting a thermal bath, what could we do? Obviously, visit a cave... a lava tube. Or the Lava Tunnel, few kilometres outside the city (coordinates: N 63.9402 W 21.3971).
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2019, The Lava Tunnel, Reykjavik, Iceland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Volcanic, Morphology-Volcanic, Basic, Showtour)
The "Luola" magazine from the Finnish Caving Association dropped into the mailbox today. Nice! And of course, we got two copies because there's two members in the household...
Full story
February 2019, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None, Media)
While skiing down the 'Grotte' ski slope in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, we spotted some caves. Shitty caves... literally... apparently if you are overdue for a bathroom break it becomes an appealing alternative to sneak into a cave by the ski slope to do your business. Sigh. Otherwise nice, small caves, probably carved by the water running in the river bed that this ski slope is on.
Full story
January 2019, Cave 1, Grotte, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy; Cave 2, Grotte, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy; Cave 3, Grotte, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy; Madonna di Campiglio ski resort, Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
Caving (Basic, Rock-Unknown, Morphology-Erosion); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)
Espoo. While looking for the remains of fortifications in Laajalahti, I came across a possible small roof cave. Small, but maybe worth documenting since there are really very few caves in Espoo. But the question is, is this a natural cave or remains of fortifications or quarry operations in the area?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2018, Laajalahden lippaluola, Espoo, Finland
Caving (Basic, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Crack, Surveying)
Kirkkonummi is a gift that keeps on giving! Near the caves that we had investigated in Kauhala there's a very interesting roof cave on the cliffs surrounding Kittelberget. We set out again to hike the area with Jarmo, and found more interesting things, again :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2018, Kittelbergetin iso lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin toinen pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin kallionalusluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Basic)
I follow the Caving Podcast when it appears every month. Usually the stories are pretty local to US and Indiana, where the podcast is made. But this time the story they told was very interesting for anyone.
Full story
December 2018, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Caving (None)
This isn't really an unknown place as such -- the geocachers and climbers regularly visit these cracks and the cliff. But it hasn't been noted in any of the usual places where Finnish caves are listed. Jarmo found this place on his hike in November, and we've been exploring it on several trips since then.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
December 2018, Kauhalan luola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kauhalan luolan lohkaresivuluolat, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kauhalan luolan halkeamasivuluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kittelbergetin pieni lippaluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Crack, Basic, Surveying)
I recently blogged about a possible new cave in Laajalahti. But I didn't go there to look for a cave, I wanted to see the fortifications from before World War I, built by the Russians. I found many, including many small bunkers that one can easily visit.
Full story
December 2018, Laajalahden bunkkeri 1, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 2, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 3, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 4, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 5, Espoo, Finland; Laajalahden bunkkeri 6, Espoo, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Bunkers); Caving (Man-Made)
I've heard stories about the logging tunnel through Pispala, but today I finally got an opportunity to go see it myself.
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2018, Pispalan uittotunneli, Tampere, Finland; Pispalan ensimmäinen uittotunneli, Tampere, Finland
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
This week I'm working in Stockholm, and did not manage to get my usual cheap hotel near the office. Staying at the city center, I noticed a tunnel that I had not seen before: Brunkebergstunneln. A nice walkway from 1880s, 231 meters long.
Full story
November 2018, Brunkebergstunneln, Stockholm, Sweden
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
I'm in Paris for a meeting, and on the way to the airport we visited the abandoned underground railroad line. What did we find? An art show and sculptures deep inside the tunnels! And also wonderful graffiti!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
November 2018, Old Charonne Station, Paris, France
Urban-Exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-Made)
The Finnish Caving Association was having a course on basic caving. I've been on that course... but it seemed like a fun thing to do and a nice visit to Turku. And I ended up doing more practice with cave photography using multiple flashes and radio triggers.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2018, Luolavuoren luola, Turku, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Crack, Basic, Training)
*Every* cave that I go to in Finland seems to have at least one beer can. Lets clean them up!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2018, Luolavuoren luola, Turku, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Crack, Basic)
The book "Suomen Luolat" gives a hint of a cave in Kirkkonummi, near someone's yard, with fuzzy coordinates that could be off by kilometres.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)
October 2018, Lohkareluola, Bastuberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Boulders, Basic); History
Jarmo, Jukka, and I spent Sunday testing cave photography techniques again. I also got to show the Korkberget cave to Jukka who had not been there before. Hopefully he liked it.... to me it is by far the most interesting cave in Finland.
Full story
October 2018, Palloiluhalli, Kauniainen, Finland; Korkbergetin lohkareluola, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Caving (Rock, Rock-Granite, Morphology-Boulders, Basic)
Today I went to Mustavuori to get a small hike and too see the tunnels and canyons.
Full story
October 2018, Linnoitustunneli 1, Mustavuori, Helsinki, Finland; Linnoitustunneli 2, Mustavuori, Helsinki, Finland
Caving (Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Bunkers, Tunnels)