Breakfast was a bit sparse when I woke up in Saariselkä this morning; the supermarket was closed by the time I arrived last night and not reopening until later this morning, so I had to make do with the snacks I'd managed to buy in the airport last night.
I was excited to get outside as soon as possible and see what Saariselkä looks like without the snow. And wow, the conclusion is that it looks really, really different! I kept finding myself in places I barely recognised, despite knowing exactly where I was 
This photo is taken at the start of the walk up Kaunispää fell, which Tim and I did a couple of times back in January. In winter there's a path that goes down the small slope and then between the trees. In summer, that path isn't there... but there is a lake!
Here's a photo of more or less the same spot in January.
The surprise lake was very pretty.
There was a little beach area where it looked like people probably go swimming at this time of year.
I continued along the main road, passing the side road to the cabins where Tim and I usually stay in winter.
In the background I could see the big hill where there's normally downhill skiing and a ski school.
Ordinarily, it looks like this:
It was considerably warmer today at least I found another lake...
...and then a bit of ground I definitely recognised.
It might not look worth photographing today, but in winter this is normally where all the snowmobiles are parked!
I passed the little wooden church...
...then made my way round to one of the outdoor shops in the village, where I rented some hiking poles for the next few days. I've got my own poles at home, but because I flew with hand baggage only I wasn't able to pack them; the sharp tips on the end apparently mean they're not allowed as cabin baggage. There was a lot of activity at the rental shop, but it seemed like everyone else was there to rent mountain bikes.
Once I was suitably equipped I made my way to the entrance of the Urho Kekkonen National Park.
Another place that was looking a bit greener today than it normally does
There are lots of maps and info inside the teepee structure, including a sign asking people to be considerate of reindeer. So far I hadn't encountered any today!
I set off on the straightforward Aurorapolku trail, which I've done lots of times in the winter. The brightly coloured barriers were a new addition last year, I think to stop people tobogganing on the path.
I passed by some water and was pleasantly surprised that so far there didn't seem to be any mosquitos or other annoying flying bugs.
I definitely recognised this bridge, which is normally quite difficult to navigate over in snowshoes.
The path starts by going quite steeply uphill, which is actually easier to show in a photo without the snow. I've definitely seen people struggling to get down this bit when it's icy.
After the initial ascent, the path flattens off for a bit.
There's a view down to a small rocky gorge...
...and a bench to admire it from.
I definitely recognised the bench!
At this point the path splits off and turns into a different marked trail called Iisakkipää, which Tim and I normally attempt with snowshoes.
Definitely no need for those today! It was a rockier path than I expected; the snow is normally high enough to completely cover these.
I continued walking through the forest...
...until I got to a place which was part of the reason I'd rented poles. This slope is normally really steep and difficult to navigate in snowshoes! It turns out I needed have worried - there are a series of little steps to walk down in summer 
In contrast, here's me contemplating how I'm going to snowshoe down the same slope in winter:
The next part of the walk is flat and easy, though I don't remember this stream.
Shortly after this there's a crossroads where in winter we are normally faced with a dilemma. The Iisakkipää trail is supposed to be a circular route, walked in a clockwise direction. The first year we tried to follow the trail, we realised that if you go in the intended direction then you quickly come to a slope which is far too steep to get down on snowshoes. In fact, the only people I've ever seen get down it were these two ladies who decided to slide
No such concerns today - it turns out that in summer there's a lovely staircase to walk down!
That was good news and meant I could do part of the walk that I've never done before. And I'm very glad I've never been brave enough to slide down that slope in winter, because about five minutes later there's an opposite staircase going uphill. I'm not sure I'd manage to get up a slope that steep in snowshoes!
The path continues through the forest for a while...
...and then once you get higher, the views begin to open out.
Soon I could see the top of Kaunispää, where Tim and I have had some nice meals in the restaurant after very cold uphill walks.
And I could also see back downhill to the main village of Saariselkä.
As you can see, it was quite a cloudy day today. But there wasn't any rain and it was actually quite warm.
I carried on across a landscape which was largely treeless. I bet it's cold up here in winter!
A rather rocky hill appeared in the distance.
It felt like I'd walked quite a long way by this point, but the sign at the next crossroads informed me it was only 3.4km back to Saariselkä.
The path took a right turn and went around a corner...
...and then I recognised where I was. This is normally the crossroads we get to in winter before turning around and returning the same way we've come.
Here's me in the same spot minus 20 back in January.
And here's me in about plus 20 today
It's so different! But really cool to see the same place in such different weather
After that the route was quite straightforward - definitely easier without snow - though rockier than I expected.
Before too long I was back in the vicinity of Saariselkä...
...and could see the national park entrance teepee on the horizon.
From there I followed the rest of the Aurora trail, back down towards the village.
I found another unexpected lake at the end of the trail!
Once I got back to the village I went to the supermarket to stock up on some much-needed supplies for the next few days. I was back in the apartment drinking coffee a bit later, when I spotted a reindeer walking past 
I couldn't believe my eyes, but this obviously isn't anything unusual at this time of year; there have been a steady procession of reindeer all evening
I guess if you live here this isn't exciting, but it definitely is to me
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