Route
The route of the hike is compiled according to a few demands I normally have for my trips. The first demand is to hike across remote regions beyond all tracks and trails as much as possible. Therefore, I will be hiking along the nature preservation areas along the borders of Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Second, I want the journey to feel like an adventure! Despite the fact that I find the nature as the primary motivation for the hike, I also want challenge and action. Thus the legs must be long enough to provide the sense of adventure and challenge. On the other hand, they must not be too long in order to prevent physical exhaustion.
The last demand is to spend as much time in the wilderness as possible. In other words, I will use outside support and supply points only when it is considered necessary. This, coupled with the first two demands and geography, makes the legs quite long both in distance and days.
Because of these demands, the hike will take place in the marked area in the attached maps. I will spend the autumn 2019 in eastern Finnmark and northern Finland. During the following winter I will be hiking in the forests and fjells of northern Sweden. In the spring and summer 2020 I will be enjoying my time in Finnmark again. In the current plan, there are 12 legs. The distance covered will be over 2500km. Of course, the final route will be decided in the field.
Logistics
The idea in the logistics is to use villages at the end of each leg as supply points. I’ll send a post package containing food and gear for the next leg to each of these villages. After the warm reunion with my box, I will stay near the village for a few days resting, writing, repairing gear and preparing myself for the next leg.
Gear
A project of this magnitude requires a lot of gear. The first challenge is to choose the right stuff and acquire them. Choosing the right stuff is balancing between properties, weight, price, reliability and also environmental issues. All the gear does not need to be the most expensive stuff an outdoor store has to offer. I will choose gear and manufacturers that I’ve had good experiences with on earlier hikes.
During the hike, gear will wear out and break down. It is a fact. One must estimate the probability of gear breaking down beyond repair and make plans accordingly. Furthermore, to prepare for a critical gear failure, for example a torn tent or a broken ski, one must always have a plan B thought out. A needle, a thread, some wire, duct tape and a Leatherman are among the most basic gear in this kind of journey.
Food
The food consumption is huge. To name a few, I have estimated the need of chocolate to be 25kg, meat 40kg and vegetables 200kg! Luckily, some stores along the way provide food supplies so that all food doesn’t need to be prepared beforehand. Nature will also fill part of the plate. Especially fishing will play a very important role. I will also hunt game during autumn and winter.
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Contact: erno@vuodenvaellus.fi