Snowshoeing in the National Forest, West Coast of Finland

February 2011

Did a 13km snowshoeing walk in the middle of the National Forest in Eurajoki county, West Coast of Finland. 

The weather was cold, about -20C, but sunny with no wind, making all exercise comfortable. Walking with snowshoes carried well on top of the surface, even there's practically almost two feet of snow. A printed map plus a couple of checks via Google Maps proved to keep on track.

The wilderness area was including a part of the Lake Pinkjarvi which in turn was surrounded by the National Forest. The forest area contained multiple small lakes or bonds, several swamp areas and lots of woody forest. All the area belongs to Natura 2000, preserving areas of nature in Finland. In this particular region, the nature will be returned to its most natural form, by e.g. raising moisture level in swamp areas and in small lakes/bonds.

In the region, there were paths to walk/to ski, some bivouac places for making fire and a lodge for a public rent (Saukonniemi) on the shore of the lake. The area is quite small, just for a day or two.

Here's the wandered route:

Tracks of a hare (lepus)

Tracks of a fox (vulpes)

Tracks by Tubbs Mountaineer 36"

Natural Forest (although looks like a maintained Park)

A dead end on a walking path at winter

Raised water level around Lake Ylistenjärvi
has caused some trees to be dying

A frozen cattail (typha latifolia)

A single Phragmites australis and
a dead forest on Lake Vähä-Ylistenjärvi

A home for a goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Saukonniemi Lodge on a shore of Lake Pinkjärvi

Mustalahti bivouac on a shore of Lake Pinkjärvi