|
Programs & activities Below you can find a description of a typical three-day weekend. Please ask if you have questions or specific requests.
All rights to changes in the prices and programme reserved
Three-day activity weekend Friday; day one The most convenient way to get to the cabin from the station is to cross the frozen Lake Pielinen by car. The distance to the cabin via the ice road is seven kilometers, which is over 50 kilometers shorter than the detour by land. The ice road is maintaned by the State and open usually from January to the end or March. After the arrival to the final destination we will settle in and eat. The arrival is well before noon, so there is plenty of time for different activities. To get acquainted with the surroundings, we have an option to either go ice fishing on the Lake Pielinen or snowshoeing in the nearby forests. Later we will look into snow architecture, and start building a traditional snow shelter lumikammi. It is a type of an igloo designed to accommodate campers even in extreme weather conditions. Those who decide to spend the night in the kammi will find out in practise that snow is an excellent insulator. Saturday; day two After a sturdy breakfast we’ll put on the snowshoes and start a hike towards the top of Mäkrä fell, one of the highest peaks of the Koli National Park. The hike there and back will take approximtely four hours and the trail travels through the majestic coniferous forests, one of the most beautiful national sceneries of Finland. While the nature seems pristine and untouched, it is full of history; we pass by locations at which small farms were practising slash and burn agriculture until about 100 years ago. One of the most noteworthy animals in the region is the flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) which is endangered and protected species throughout Finland. Other interesting animals in the region incluce lynx (Lynx lynx) the only wild feline in Finland, and a small rodent wood lemming (Myopus schisticolor). Many wild animals including these may be difficult to see or encounter but it is not rare to see their tracks in the snow. Back at the cabin we’ll have a well-deserved lunch, after which there are alternative ways to spend the rest of the afternoon. You can, for example, go for an expedition across the lake to a nearby island by cross-country skis or the snowshoes. Or you can head out and try your luck in ice fishing on the lake Pielinen – luring fish (typically small perch and roaches) with jigs through holes in the ice. Again, the evening is devoted for relaxing, sauna, together with (optional yet recommended) refreshing dips in the lake Pielinen. Sunday; day three After a good night sleep and a proper breakfast we prepare ourselves for the last day. We will take our snowshoes and hike to the most famous peak of the Koli fell, Ukko-Koli, the highest point in central and Southern Finland (354m above the sea level). The hike is not as long as the one on the previous day, but the atmosphere and the scenery are equally mesmerizing. The lunch will be prepared and enjoyed by an open fire. On the way we will visit the Visitor Centre of the Koli National Park. They have unique handicraft and photo exhibitions, and extensive information on the geology, the nature and the culture heritage of the Koli region. You’ll also you have an option to buy souvenirs and to send post cards. In the afternoon it is time to return back to the cabin, pack all personal belongings and return back to the Vuonislahti station via the Pielinen ice road.
|
|
