Last weekend I was out on a 24 trip with Xavier, a French UL backpacker living in Finland who found me via my blog. Lucky me to find another UL enthusiast in Finland to go backpacking with, he even brought his Gatewood Cape for me to see it. I suggested the Isojärvi National Park where I have been earlier this year for our short trip, as I really liked its landscape of lakes, small hills and bogs, together with some interesting wildlife.
It was a cold weekend, as it snowed a little the night before and temperatures didn't get over 0°C during the day and dropped to -8°C at night. We met a few other backpackers and day trippers, who weren't particularly lightweight on the trail.
Finland, the land of ultraheavy.
Frozen marshes and lakes with a light powder cover.
Xavier wondering.
We also got some ridges in Finland.
It got dark already very early.
But not without some spectacular dusk.
We met two day trippers at the campsite with whom we had a conversation, and again it showed that the Finns you meet in the forest are Grade A people. They liked our woodstoves - I had my Inferno with me, Xavier a Bushcooker. They left late after darkness fell, and the two of us continued talking about backpacks, shelters, mats and other gear till the moon shone down on our shelters and we crept into our quilts.
My shelter for the night, the MSR HUBBA HP 2010 version.
The next morning, Xavier is getting slowly up from under his Gatewood Cape tarp.
The walk back to the car park.
There's a sizable beaver population in Isojärvi, and we witnessed many felled trees along the trail.
It was a very enjoyable trip, short on kilometers, long on stories. Gear-wise everything performed excellent, expect the combo of Z Lite and NeoAir, which certainly weren't up to the low temperature. I think I might need to test a Ridge Rest like Xavier, or a Multimat like Phil. The NeoAir just gives me pain in my back, besides the cold. It now goes into hibernation and will come out again in the summer, I somehow need to find out a way to avoid the back pain. For the moment I still need to decide on a tarp and a bivy - thank you all for the great comments and suggestions - as I am convinced that that's all which is needed for three season use in the Finnish forests.
Xavier, thank you for the great weekend, talking gear and life, sharing food, beverages and stories. Next time I bring the red wine, I promise!
Last weekend I was out on a 24 trip with Xavier, a French UL backpacker living in Finland who found me via my blog. Lucky me to find another UL enthusiast in Finland to go backpacking with, he even brought his Gatewood Cape for me to see it. I suggested the Isojärvi National Park where I have been earlier this year for our short trip, as I really liked its landscape of lakes, small hills and bogs, together with some interesting wildlife.
It was a cold weekend, as it snowed a little the night before and temperatures didn't get over 0°C during the day and dropped to -8°C at night. We met a few other backpackers and day trippers, who weren't particularly lightweight on the trail.
Finland, the land of ultraheavy.
Frozen marshes and lakes with a light powder cover.
Xavier wondering.
We also got some ridges in Finland.
It got dark already very early.
But not without some spectacular dusk.
We met two day trippers at the campsite with whom we had a conversation, and again it showed that the Finns you meet in the forest are Grade A people. They liked our woodstoves - I had my Inferno with me, Xavier a Bushcooker. They left late after darkness fell, and the two of us continued talking about backpacks, shelters, mats and other gear till the moon shone down on our shelters and we crept into our quilts.
My shelter for the night, the MSR HUBBA HP 2010 version.
The next morning, Xavier is getting slowly up from under his Gatewood Cape tarp.
The walk back to the car park.
There's a sizable beaver population in Isojärvi, and we witnessed many felled trees along the trail.
It was a very enjoyable trip, short on kilometers, long on stories. Gear-wise everything performed excellent, expect the combo of Z Lite and NeoAir, which certainly weren't up to the low temperature. I think I might need to test a Ridge Rest like Xavier, or a Multimat like Phil. The NeoAir just gives me pain in my back, besides the cold. It now goes into hibernation and will come out again in the summer, I somehow need to find out a way to avoid the back pain. For the moment I still need to decide on a tarp and a bivy - thank you all for the great comments and suggestions - as I am convinced that that's all which is needed for three season use in the Finnish forests.
Xavier, thank you for the great weekend, talking gear and life, sharing food, beverages and stories. Next time I bring the red wine, I promise!
Isojärven kansallispuisto trip report
"and again it showed that the Finns you meet in the forest are Grade A people"
ReplyDelete=> So true...!!!
Here is my part of the job: http://xavierdor.com/longstoryshort/isojarvi/index.html ;)
Cool for the red one :)
Looks like a great 24 hrs out in the forest. What time is it getting dark now in Finland Hendrik? I know someone who spent a year working in Finland and he said that the nights were really long. I have to admit that I struggle in the uk mid winter when it is getting dark by 3.30pm.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of the forest campsites and the fact that there is a place for a fire in the evening. A big no no here in the uk (unless you have it on a beach or river bed etc).
Cool photos, Xavier! Especially the ones with the movement, and your photo of the fire & dusk is excellent!
ReplyDeleteJames, at the moment it gets light after 7.30 am and it gets dark at 16 pm, though I am in Helsinki at the moment so the further north you go the shorter the days get. As I was in Saariselkä at New Year the sun didn't rise at all, it was just light at the horizon but no sun. All Finnish NPs and many trails and other areas have these fire places + firewood house including axe & saw; and also often a lean-to or hut with them.
Hendrik - great photos, especially like the icicle one. Looks like you had a great trip, makes me feel sad I didn't get there :-(
ReplyDeleteMy NeoAir has been put into hibernation too. With the long winter nights here in Scandinavia I'm happy to carry a beefier sleeping mat at this time of year. I know there are lighter alternatives (the RidgeRest/ProLite combo seems to be a winter favourite over at BPL) but I'm happy carrying the Exped Synmat. Warm and supremely comfortable it makes short work of 17 hour nights!
Yeah, the foam-and-inflatable combo seems popular. I'm playing with a foam-and-packraft arrangement that might just work, but more experimentation is definitely required. I'm looking forward to your solution(s), my thoughts are that if it works in a Finnish winter, it'll work in Scotland!
ReplyDeleteI see it's cold already in your part of the world Hendrik. The B&W photos gave your report great atmoshpere!
ReplyDeleteI hope you were careful on your ascent of that
ridge...it looked a tricky one! (lol)
Nice report from your trip Hendrik. Beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteShort days and long nights. Same in Sweden.
Perfect to make a nice fire and spend som hours with good food and some friends. The first snow for the season is falling outside my window. Don´t think the snow will stay this time.
Longing for cold wheater and skating on the lakes.
Joe, you're still welcome here, although now I am swamped with work and it will be more difficult to get some days free =)
ReplyDeletePhil, a Foam & Packraft combo seems a good idea. I'll be waiting for my PACKRAFTING! book and then decide on a raft.
Ken, yes its cold. Currently I am working in Helsinki, down in the south, and even here its already snowing and has good minus degrees. And the descent wasn't too difficult =)
Roger, thank you for the kind words. I thought I try something new with the photos. Once we're past November here, and well into December, the small lakes should be covered under thick ice and ready for skating, skiing and ice fishing!
yes, nice photos there Hendrik and amazing to see the snow out. I probably wont see any until January here in South Wales!
ReplyDeleteDave, we have currently 10 cm of snow here in Tampere, but because its so warm (0°C) its melting. It does look nice, though.
ReplyDelete" Finland the land of ultraheavy",thats funny ,man:)
ReplyDeleteIm one of the traditional heavyweight hikers,not intentionally but i like my gear rugged and durable,which usually means the gear aint light,but hey,everyone does it their own way.Ive been dragging my backpack in the lapland,it was something like 36 kilos total,and i met few of the UL hikers at the cabin,they were all smiling and happy,didnt have sick backs or knees due to heavy load carrying.Points to them at that moment,but when we were making food on open campfire,from fsh we caught with or fishing gear,and all,these guys werent smiling at all to us anymore as they were just sucking some sour sportsdrinks and molten energybars......it seemed they were having only that stuff as nutrition.Im not against ul camping at all,dont get me like that,but some times it seems its kind of self-punishing,starvation and about being without even some basic needs filled in the wilderness.But im sure im a freak in the UL backpackers eyes too :)
Hei Perkunas,
ReplyDeleteI usually carry some real food with me, and I'll get soon a tenkara fishing rod and gear for fishing when backpacking. I value good food when backpacking and its one of the areas where I don't like to cut too much down.
Everyone like he likes, so if people feel comfortable to carry 20+ kg on their backs, be my guest, but I for my part don't want to carry that much. My gear is not less durable, I just pay a bit more attention on how I use it. Anyhow, as I said, everyone like he wants!
Very interesting comment, Perkunas!
ReplyDeleteI think there is always a balance between being light and going with "heavy-loads". Depends also on the goals of the hike.
Sometimes, I'm going out more for the challenge of going far and fast, therefore, I take high calory food which (and you're right about it!) I don't appreciate so much. But in this case, I'm more interested in the hiking than the camping... so... whatever. Also, usually for those, I am alone, so no opportunity to get jaleous! :D Some other times, when I am more lazy, I'd like to enjoy the camping part more, so in this case I take more stuff: raw and fresh meat, fresh potatoes etc...
Usually, on a longer hike (altought I have not done them so often), it's a good combination of both: I don't like to cook difficult meals for many days in a raw anyway.
I wish I would now how to fish, and if I knew, I would definitely bring a rod more often with me. but here again, fishing means less hiking :)
Also, I'm sure there are ways to fish which can be quite light...
Concerning the gear, ultralight is (and I'm standing against Hendrik on that matter! :)) indeed less durable. Can't compare a Finn-Savotta and a ULA backpacks...!! but the thing is that do I really need a bombproof pack for weekend hikes and a few longer trips very occasionnaly? dunnow,... it's up to everyone to decide what is best for himself. but I have made some choice which are not definite, of course.
For my concern, I don't like to call myself an "ultra lighter". I think there is a good balance between both practises.
'Would be actually funny to go on a hike all together some days. I saw on your blog that you were from Tampere as well as Hendrik?! maybe it would be easy to organise a trip all together. and I could then learn some bushcraft and survival skills (I have a lot to learn!)and we could maybe convince you to go a bit lighter than 36 kilos ;)
By the way, thanks for your blog in english! it's very interesting.
Hey,Xavier,and Hendrik too.So youre both living in the same areas as i am?
ReplyDeleteyou see,im trying to pull out,with few friends of mine,a hike,thats all about comigh together,just relaxed little"walk in the bush",which wouldnt be hard,financially or physically since there wouldb propably one or two first-time hikers too,like my kid brother.Some 10 to 15 kilometers and then settle up a camp.Actually theres a nice option to sleep in this 200 yr old smoke-sauna thats been converted into hideaway-cabin,but we´ve thinking of building a leant to too,and sleep one night there by fire.Me and my friend would be glad to make fire with just flint and steel,ets,some practical and easy traditional bushcraft tricks,as its our passion,survival and bushcraft.It would be good way to come together with you guys too if youre intrested,and would offer us surely some new opinions and ways to look the hiking-scene too.If you have any ideas or so,lets talk about it!Hell,i would easily even rent ( with costs shared per/attendant)cabin,to meet and hang out,take a walk in the trails,make food and all.
Oh i forgot this:
ReplyDeleteI do agree,that its more than sophisticated to think a bit,that what do you want from your trip an dhow long it takes,plus the temperatures & climate.I dont drag military heavy duty tubing-framed pack when i head out to woods for just a day,and sometimes i manage somehow:) to do without it,at summer weekends.Still,theres also the factor that im not small man myself,even my clothing is bigger and therefore heavier,no matter how light the materials would be,compared to garments of shorter and lighter fellows,and this requires bigger pack too.And as i am more into camp-tasks by fire,i have tried synthetic lighter materials too,but i ALWAYS get them scratched,torn in pieces and more often,pierced by camping fires sparks:).So my choise,by wallet and need,is usually either cotton or some mixture having cotton in it,my favourite is Fjällrävens G-1000 material,it dries a bit faster than pure cotton,handles rain better(when you remember to wax it that is,hah) and all.Its my hi-tech material,since i live in a void,in stoneage,i hear,from my classmates and some friends who actually are more into fast&light stuff.Hay i really have atleast one friend in real life like that.Shes a young doc,and very competitive,and always in a quest for lighter materials and all.I havent even noticed it till just right now.I always try to think about nature saving too,and i dont know whats better,oil based fabrics or commercially planted&gathered cotton.I also pay gladly for garment and gear that will last in my use,rather than follow any trends and switch my gear when trends switch.But slowly,i might,just might gather up better equipment that might be long-lasting and lighter too,as the weight or lack of it,is not my enemy at all.Its the price/durabilty that gets my attention mostly,maybe also cause as student you dont get money so easily,and i cant get any regular job when in school,caus ein my line of studies (wilderness-guide) you travel and spend your time,without any regular spare-time.i might be in school for 12 days in row,including weekends,then come home for one night to see my girlfriend,and head out to school next day,no matter what day of the week it is.
If we could arrange some sort of "weekend in the woods",prepare to meet more of my GST´s:)
ReplyDelete(meaning gummi saapas talebaani,as rubber-boot-taleban,what the modern hikers call sometimes us who are stubborn traditional backpackers,with "sky-hi" heavy packs and often old rubberboots,maybe even mountain-villain beards :)...)
Yep, Not exactly super "nearby", but not so far... I'm living in Rauma. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not hiking as often as you, but I'm heading to the wild nearly every other weekends, so I guess it would be rather easy to organize something soon. We should rather speak about that in private, but I can't find your email anywhere... Mine is xavier.dor at gmail dot com so if you want to contact me. :)
mhmm this wilderness-guide studies is quite interesting. I have some current questions about EA2 trainings in Finland. Maybe you might be able to help me, as you might have passed the certificate already...
Don't worry about the what-you-call "GST"... I have been myself a "traditional" backpacker... and I don't think I am nearly an "Ultra-light freak"... At least, I hope! :D
See you soon hopefully! (I'm actually going to hike this weekend, so if ever you/your friends want to join, you're welcome!).
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteNice trip report!
Have you ever consider a hammock as shelter?
It's awesome.
Maybe not Ultra Ultra light, but light enough.
Check out www.hammockforums.net.
I just got my Alpacka (smallest one) some months ago, i love it.
How tall are you?
If you ever get to Stockholm, Sweden,
give me a call/mail/thought.
And check out my hammock collection and the Alpacka.
Tjoohoo
Ultra-light has its place, if you are hiking from hut to hut and/or you can resupply food once a week or so, but traditional ultra-heavy pack has its place, if you go hiking for couple weeks into areas, where cell phone coverage is bad (for example eastern parts of Käsivarsi Wilderness Area) and it takes couple days to reach any roads in case you run out of cell phone battery and have to evacuate.
ReplyDeleteLast August, we met one hiker who had been going on for two weeks without any stops in a shops. He had minimized weight were it was possible, but considering that on his last stop, he had bought food for 15 days or so, he was carrying more stuff that you can fit into any small backpack (he had been able to fit it all into 75l Osprey)
Hej Moski, thanks for your comment! I know Hammockforums.net and have considered it, but I am not sure if I am able to sleep in a hammock. I tried in Central America while living there, and always found it rather uncomfortable. But I might try it again. And If I come over to Stockholm, I'll let you know!
ReplyDeleteHei Juha, there are plenty of people who go ultralight for several weeks or months into the wilderness, for example in Alaska and on the long distance trails in the USA. And UL doesn't stop with equipment, food is the most heaviest item I carry, and I reduce weight on that front. If one wants to eat reindeer, potatoes and drink a beer, then its very unlikely going to be light, but if one is happy with selfmade or bought dried food, which only needs boiling water to be ready, then one can save kgs. I'll walk above the Arctic Circle next year, only for max two weeks, but I plan to not resupply and keep the weight to a minimum, and all fitting into my Ohm or Laufbursche pack.
Joe, you're still welcome here, although now I am swamped with work and it will be more difficult to get some days free =)
ReplyDeletePhil, a Foam & Packraft combo seems a good idea. I'll be waiting for my PACKRAFTING! book and then decide on a raft.
Ken, yes its cold. Currently I am working in Helsinki, down in the south, and even here its already snowing and has good minus degrees. And the descent wasn't too difficult =)
Roger, thank you for the kind words. I thought I try something new with the photos. Once we're past November here, and well into December, the small lakes should be covered under thick ice and ready for skating, skiing and ice fishing!