Il Dolce Far Niente: Nuuksio

Showing posts with label Nuuksio. Show all posts

31 December 2012

Summing Up My Outdoor Year 2012

December 2012

The year 2012 started fresh and green. Did few day hikes on Nuuksio National Park:

On a cold Sunday saw sea smoke coming, the Baltic of Finland was about to freeze soon:

Soon in January we got lots of snow in the Southern Finland. Couldn't imagine proper winter without snow. Spent time on cross country skis and on snowshoes:

The whole year was shadowed by too many injuries. The first one, a pain on heel, interrupted my cross country skiing and snowshoeing season. February I spent on a Gym, mostly on cycling with a stationary bicycle.

Visited the Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki in early March and met an Owl:

In mid March took a city break at Amsterdam. Did lots of cycling there. Interesting place:

End of March did a two day hiking trip to Nuuksio National Park, to test a Bivy Bag for the very first time. Positive experience:

At Easter time, there was some Spring feeling in the air:

April started to be busy time at outdoors; started a bicycle commuting to work, a sea kayaking season. Rivers got rid of ice, allowing paddlers to enjoy watery rapids:

Early May did a two days hiking trip to Liesjärvi National Park. Lakes and forest, nice place:

May was filled with cycling, paddling, running and orienteering. Such a busy month.

Did also lots was birdwatching, as well as observing nature in general. Nice places visited were Karkali and Uutela Nature Reserve areas:

Bought a new bicycle for commuting. It inspired even more cycling, which took quite a slice of spare time.

In June did some paddling trips, one to Lill Skorvan island on Kirkkonummi:

Orienteering has been one of most favourites, Jukolan Viesti preseting its glory:

Made the 2nd paddling trip to a brand new Selkämeri National Park in June. Such nice remote islands, a great place for paddling:

Midsummer time everything gets in bloom. It's also a busy time for animals:

In early July, did some hiking trips in Switzerland (blog posts still to come!):

Back in Finland, did a combined, two days, paddling and hiking trip to Repovesi National Park. Again, magnificent place:

Cycling stole lots of my spare time from paddling. A cycling trip to the city of Porvoo was nice, but then BANG, fell off the bike and hurt my wrist (which later proved to be a broken bone):

Hand hurt a lot, but the highlight of the whole year was already in sight, 9 days paddling trip to Gulf of Finland National Park. Did the trip even it hurt quite a lot. That's not all, fell down during the trip and got a broken rib. Ibuprofein saved the trip.

Recovering from all, paddling had to wait. Filled spare time by cycling and birdwatching.

Autumn had arrived. Birds were migrating, heading towards south. Autumn foliage brought awesome colours in nature.

Finally, did some paddling trips, one to Torra Lövö island:

Finished paddling season earlier than usual. Again, cycling stole most of the time. Was a bit lazy, so day hikes on weekends was about enough, like the one to Luukki:

In early December visited Utö island again. Such a great place, actually the whole archipelago is quite special and unique:

In December we got lots of snow, I mean a lot. White Christmas filled the land:

Now when writing this on New Year's Eve, temperature stays above zero centigrades, outdoor activities have to wait.

Some statistics about my outdoor year 2012:

Did altogether about 5200 km, from where

3700 km of cycling
600 km of paddling
300 km of running/orienteering
600 km of hiking/walking/snowshoeing

The best photo I took during 2012? Although taken on artificial conditions (the zoo), I'll pick up this one (all of them in Picasa):

Happy New Year !

24 March 2012

Winter Hiking, testing Bivy

March 2012

Did a short overnighter in Nuuksio National Park, testing a new Bivy Bag. As the planned route (around Karjakaivo region) was not too long, decided to increase its level of intensity by doing a winter hike by foot, not by snowshoes, neither by skis. Motivation for this hike was anyway to spend the night in the bivy bag, under the stars, not the distance or any particular sight.

It's nearly end of March. The length of the day was already long so that there's visibility late afternoon. Started to hike from Solvalla. The sun shined. Temperature was about +5C. Forecast promised around zero temperature, so not too cold, neither too warm for the initial night.

The sun had softened snow, even on heavily used paths. Backpack felt much lighter than usually in hiking trips. Answer was simple, instead of carrying a tent I carried a small bivy bag. Another advantage in weight was a smaller and much lighter backpack than I'd usually carried. And it did feel much ligher to hike, too!

The first couple of km's were easy, but once I headed off to a shortcut path which no one had gone this winter, it felt that the whole body drowned into snow. What's more, ground was soft below snow, i.e. it wasn't frozen as I had expected it to be. So, in addition to lifting my knees up in to my teeth, I had to be aware any ponds of water that were fully hidden under snow. Ponds under snow were not frozen. I didn't want to get my feet wet.

It took lots of sweat before I reached my target, a spot at Lake Urja. There were ready cut logs and a camping place reserved for hikers, usually staying on this site at summer time.

I cut some wood logs and made a fire. Then it was the magic moment I'd been waiting for, set up a bivy. Well, not just a bivy but mattresses and a sleeping bag, and what's more, to actually test how did my new set up feel.

First I tampered a snowy ground. Then set up an ordinary foam mattress on the tampered ground and opened a bivy on top of the foam. Next was to fill air into an air mattress (NeoAir All-Season), which I put inside the bivy bag. Last in the process was to put the sleeping bag into the bivy bag. My sleeping bag was a 3-season bag.

The first impression was that the opening of the bivy was small, too small. It was very tight to even push stuff inside of it, not to mention myself fitting from it. Before summer hikings, I have to do something for it, for sure the opening of it needs to be extended.

When the 'base camp' was set up, it was time for a dinner. I'd say I had quite a typical Finnish hiking dinner, grilled sausages (on open fire), followed by some dark chocolate. While enjoying dinner, I thought to stay alone in a quiet forest on the shore of the frozen lake, but suddenly noticed tens of flash lights approaching my base camp. Soon after I was surrounded by some 30 young and enthusiastic Scouts, boys and girls. They set up their camp until midnight and were planning to stay there two nights.

I eagerly waited to hear what was Scout-Talk nowadays. But all I heard was about computer games, mad teachers and horse riding, and comparison of candies. Maybe its time would come later?

When I crawled into the sleeping bag I felt a bit cold. Therefore I wore a couple of thin merino, a fleece and a down jacket. After trying to get some sleep I started to feel too warm. After 10mins I took of a jacket, then after another 10mins the fleece, until I finally stayed on t-shirt and shorts, both thin merino. It was warm inside. Bivy was spacious enough inside to move around a bit, taking of clothes etc. Inside Bivy, behind my head, was some space to store important stuff.

I woke up at 6am. Wasn't too comfortable night, but was satisfied of it. Kids at the Scout camp were still in sleep, except those who looked after the fire.

Bivy had a bit moisture inside but not much. That was just due to a condensation.

Cooked some coffee and eggs. Unloaded the stuff and started to hike, returning via another and more easier route.

Observations? Initial Bivy experience was good. Will certainly continue using it during Spring and especially Summer time.

Hiked route, about 10km (view larger map):

Some photos

Spring's here!

Grand Pine trees

Evening sun on Lake Urja

More lighter backpack and a camera bag

Bivy, air mattress and sleeping bag on foam mattress

Where to crawl in and out

New Base Camp

Time to grill

Strange colours

Scrambled eggs with French Roast

Ice's gone

High water level

Waterfall

Ice sculpture

A branch

06 January 2012

Hiking New Year's Weekend in Nuuksio National Park

Spent New Year's weekend in Nuuksio National Park (in southern Finland) by hiking there in two areas.

Southern Finland was still lack of proper snow, which make ordinary hiking pretty easy. Lakes and ponds were not frozen fully yet so walking on them wasn't possible.

On New Year's Eve, weather was cloudy, dry and temperature near zero degrees. Wanted to see a fairly new new trail, Klassarinkierros, some 4km long trail that was made a couple of years ago to the west part of the National Park. It's mainly created to introduce other areas of the National Park and to mitigate high usage of trails in Nuuksionpää, where trails really have shown some erosion.

Klassarinkierros starts near Kurjolampi pond. There's a parking lot, some information signs, maps etc. The trail started to rise towards Klassarinkallio, a hill on west side of Kurjolampi pond. The trail is a small path which mostly circles in a deep forest. One cannot see long distances, not even from the top of Klassarinvuori as trees cut the view.

The trail then heads northern part of the Kurjolampi pond. There's some duckboards near the pond. Instead of returning back, I headed towards north, to Ruuhilampi pond.

A storm which hit Finland at Christmas time, had done some real damage for nature, mainly cutting trees. Most of the forest here was survived well from the storm but areas near Ruuhilampi pond had some real damage, i.e. lots of trees either cut (by wind) or were tore down. Sad to see results.

Ruuhilampi pond had a cottage, which anyone can rent for a day, weekend or a week usage. It's in a really great place.

Water level was still very high. All small creeks were full of water. Water also laid in some places in the forest, a good reason to wear Gore-Tex socks in hiking boots.

From Ruuhilampi pond headed towards Kaitlampi pond, near Kattila (that's where you can reach by local Espoo bus).

From Kaitlampi, near Kattila, took a small narrow path to Saarilampi pond. A really great small and narrow trail which circled through rocks, small mires and more open forest, a bit more wilderness look. Saarilampi pond had another rented cottage. This one, as the one at Ruuhilampi, were occupied so I didn't visit them due to privacy.

Here'a the hiked route on New Year's Eve, about 13km (show larger map):

The New Year's Day, the 1st of January 2012, was a gorgeous day. Clear blue sky and temperature showed -7C, the first glimpses of what the real winter days could be (for which I missed very much!).

Wanted to spend the day on trails which were not so much consumed. The area is roughly on the east side of Lake Pitkäjärvi. That's the area actually in the middle of the National Park. A good starting point is near Solvalla Sports Institute. The area consists of some large mires and several small lakes/ponds, the whole region is really beautiful to walk. Terrain in there has many high rocks so prepare to ascend and descend almost all the time.

My first target was to hike to Lake Ruuhijärvi, a beautiful lake with many high rocks on its shore. Trail passed by a large mire, Punjonsuo, which is a beauty itself.

Visited shores on a couple of places before continued towards the next target through couple of small mires, even more beautiful lake, jugded by me :), Lake Orajärvi. The sun hit straight to my face from the south, felt so great!

Near by it was a small pond, Pikku Orajärvi. On one side it had a large rock but it was mostly surrounded by a mire. Just a nice place.

Continued more south. Area is called Karjakaivo Recreation Area. There's a pond called Karjakaivo. On it there is a cottage, with a sauna of course. A place for setting up a tent was near by on Lake Urja. There are some funny names within the area like 'Lehmänämpäri' (too difficult for me to translate). The area contains some really steep rocks, small mires, all mostly covered by a forest. There are numerous, small trails, which are easy and confortable hike.

The sun didn't stay long out there. Already after 2PM it started to hide behind trees. However, I have to admit that sunrise and sunset, the colour of the light were really nice, such golden and warm yellow. Unfortunately I couldn't catch the spirit of them fully on photos, although I desperately tried!

A sandy road, called Route 2000, which starts from Helsinki (near Olympic Stadium) and continues to Salmi Recreation Area, crosses this region. Several years back I remember when it was a small, tiny trail, which was really nice to ride with a mountain bike. Well, things change.

Here'a the hiked route on New Year's Day, about 16km (show larger map):

Some photos from New Year's Eve