Rock Climbing at Kaarlen Kivikasa

It began to snow just as the expedition started out.

The snow got heavier as we neared our objective.

The youngest member began to doze off.

The final assault.

The summit at last.

I wish I could have seen this huge boulder when the field was first cleared, before all the other rocks were piled around it.

Mission accomplished.

The old fieldstones are now covered with moss.

The descent begins.

Wet snow and leaves on the stones made the footing slippery, but the experienced team negotiated the descent without incident.

The team leader investigating a fieldstone wall.

These stones were hauled from the field with a horse drawn rock sledge and piled by hand into these long rock walls.  I am humbled when I think of the tremendous amount of work this entailed. The old Finnish immigrants who made these piles were a different breed.  They don't make men like that anymore.

We planted most of our old farm full of these pines.  When I think of all the backbreaking labor  that went into clearing the land I am glad that none of those old timers are around to see what has become of their efforts.

But it is becoming a beautiful forest.

And the next generation enjoys it.

We all leave tracks on the land.  Hopefully they are worth following.

Because someone always is.

The expedition leader sights our objective.

Base camp!

Time to refuel..

....for the next expedition.