The skills to move around in nature and on excursions have improved because Korona increased the popularity of local tourism. However, many people still have a gap the size of winter in their skills, which shortens the camping calendar.
An enthusiastic speaker opened the winter camping training organized by Suomen Ladu in Jyväskylä.
People began to gather at the course site, i.e. the terrain of Ladun Maja, wearing equipment that can withstand even the cold weather.
The popularity of hiking has grown especially among women and young people, and it was also reflected in the distribution of course participants: the majority were women. Many hikers also want to experience staying in a tent in winter.
The course is the second pilot of this winter, with which it is specifically applied to find out what kind of things need to be learned in terms of winter hiking.
– When you’ve only been camping in summer, spring and autumn, you’re most interested in how to survive the night without getting cold.
Aho is interested in what kind of equipment is needed for safe winter camping. The winter hiking equipment was also new to him.
– I have never seen hunts or ahkis this close before. Here you can now consider what kind of equipment you could buy or rent.
Aho says that the course inspires you to try winter camping as well.
– My sister and I were already talking a lot about the fact that in a year’s time we will go to the spring hang in the north.
Suomen Latu organized two pilot courses on winter hiking this winter. They are a continuation of the already established sula maa camping courses.
With the help of the pilot courses organized this winter, the content of the courses will be outlined. Based on the feedback received from the courses, the “Fall in love with winter camping” courses will be built next fall, which are planned to be distributed throughout Finland.
– We start from the fact that the goals are to train how to move responsibly and safely in the winter nature, Lundén says about the basic goals of the course.
He emphasizes that equipment is the starting point for everything in winter camping. Clothing, footwear, sleeping bags and tents must be sized according to the temperatures when hiking in winter.
– On top of that, you need a few basic skills, such as the ability to make a fire, the ability to cook and the fact that you can set up your familiar tent even in winter conditions. Setting up the tent is more demanding because there can be a lot of snow and there can also be strong wind, says Lundén.
It is clear that winter camping is exciting at first. That’s how it excited even the experienced Lundén in his time.
– You have to venture out of your comfort zone and boldly step into something new. The good thing about this is that you can start the hobby safely as part of a group.
As a reward for daring, you get many more months in your camping calendar, because half the year in Finland is winter.
– We had registration open for a couple of weeks, and we immediately got fifteen participants, he says.
Penttinen is a teacher, and in his work he has monitored the camping skills of children and young people.
– Yes, this knowledge of winter camping is very important. However, winter is the longest season for us. We shouldn’t spend it inside, Penttinen says.
Camping skills can also unexpectedly turn out to be very necessary, because Finland is a large and relatively sparsely populated country.
– It’s really important to know how to make a fire and to wear the right clothes. For example, a car can freeze on the road and then it just takes a while to survive there and know how to take care of itself, Penttinen states.
Penttinen emphasizes that the best thing is if you can practice moving in nature from a young age and thus get used to it.
For many Finns, spending the night in the winter forest brings to mind their time as conscripts or refresher exercises.
For Arffman, it’s important to get different tips and hear that there isn’t just one right way to hike in winter.
He says that the spark has ignited and there is already time to try the fire this winter.
– We’ll see if we can try it with the family already in April, he laughs.