The Day the Ski Tracks Stopped
On the snowy afternoon of 5 February 1971, two young Finnish women set out for a cross-country skiing trip through the quiet forests near Mänttä in central Finland's Pirkanmaa region. The forest was silent except for the soft crunch of skis on snow. The air was crisp and clear, the winter sun low on the horizon. A perfect day for skiing by all accounts. The two women, Aino (age 22) and Eeva (age 23) skied together along a familiar trail as they had done so many times before.
Suddenly, a low humming sound broke the stillness. Then they saw a large metallic disc-shaped craft, classic UFO shaped, descended slowly and landed in a clearing about 50 metres ahead of them. The object was silver-grey, approximately 10-15 metres (30 to 50 feet) in diameter, with a domed top. Then a door in the craft opened...
The Beings Emerge
A door opened on the underside of the craft. Three small beings stepped out. They stood about 1.2 metres (about 4 feet) tall, wore tight-fitting green one-piece suits with hoods, and moved with smooth, deliberate motions across the snow.
The beings approached the women, raising their arms in a friendly greeting gesture. They made soft chirping or humming sounds, almost like gentle birdsong. Their faces were partially visible under their hoods: pale skin, large dark eyes, and no visible mouths.
Eeva felt immediate fear and stayed back, gripping her ski poles tightly. Aino felt an inexplicable calm and curiosity. The beings focused on Aino, gesturing repeatedly for her to come closer, pointing toward the craft and making inviting motions with their webbed hands.
Are these the same beings from the Emilcin encounter?
The Invitation Aboard
A ramp lowered from the craft. The beings motioned for Aino to follow them inside. She hesitated only briefly, then left her skis planted upright in the snow and walked forward willingly.
Eeva watched helplessly from a distance as Aino disappeared into the object. The craft remained on the ground for approximately 15 minutes. During this time, the beings occasionally looked toward Eeva but made no move toward her.
When Aino emerged, she walked back to Eeva looking slightly dazed but physically unharmed. The beings returned inside. The disc rose silently and vanished upward at high speed, leaving no smoke or sound.
The Onboard Experience
Inside, Aino found a single bright white circular room. The walls were smooth and seamless, the light even and sourceless. There was no visible furniture except a curved examination table in the centre.
The beings communicated through gestures and soft chirping sounds. They signalled for her to lie on the table. She complied without fear. The examination involved gentle scanning with handheld devices over her body from head to toe. No pain occurred, only a warm tingling sensation.
One being showed her images on a screen-like surface: views of Earth from space, forests, oceans, and cities. Then came scenes of other planets with green landscapes, strange structures, and beings similar to them. The main message conveyed concern for humanity's treatment of the planet and hints of a larger purpose for visiting Earth.
The entire procedure lasted only minutes. The beings helped her stand and led her back to the ramp.
The Physical Evidence
The next day, the women returned with friends and investigators. They found Aino's ski tracks leading straight to the clearing and stopping abruptly at the landing spot. No return tracks existed in the fresh snow, her skis simply ended at the edge of a circular compressed area.
The site showed a clear circular imprint in the snow consistent with a heavy object resting there. No footprints from the beings appeared outside the immediate landing zone.
Investigation and Credibility
Finnish UFO researchers from the Finnish UFO Research Association interviewed both women extensively within days. Their accounts remained consistent over years.
Aino experienced no lasting physical effects but occasional dreams of the bright room and visions of distant worlds. Eeva confirmed every detail she witnessed from outside, including the craft's descent, the beings' appearance, and the abrupt end to the ski tracks.
The case gained attention in Nordic UFO circles for its calm nature, physical trace evidence, and lack of sensationalism. Investigators praised the women's sincerity and lack of motive for fabrication.
Location / Anomalies:
- Primary site: Forest trail near Mänttä, Pirkanmaa region, Finland (Coords: approx 62.0333° N, 24.6167° E)
- Secondary reports: None direct, but regional UFO activity noted in 1970s
- Anomalies: Large metallic disc landing silently in clearing, three small beings in green suits with hoods, friendly gestures and chirping communication, calm voluntary boarding, onboard examination in bright white room, images of Earth and other worlds, abrupt end to ski tracks in snow, circular compressed snow pattern at site.
Sources / Balance:
Aino and Eeva original testimony and interviews
Finnish UFO Research Association reports
Physical site investigation notes and photographs
Nordic UFO journal coverage
Witness sketches of craft and beings
Regional newspaper archives from 1971
Final Verdict
Two young women skiing through peaceful Finnish forest watched a disc land and small green-suited beings emerge. One felt calm enough to follow their gentle gestures aboard for a brief, non-threatening examination and visions of distant worlds. The other watched helplessly from afar. When investigators returned, her ski tracks led straight to the site and stopped dead in untouched snow. No return prints existed.
The Mänttä encounter offers quiet Nordic strangeness: no terror, no force, just an invitation accepted. The beings left no harm, only questions. In that frozen clearing, something reached out with curiosity. The snow has long melted, but the mystery remains: Why did they choose two ordinary skiers that winter day and what did they want her to see?