| Nordiese lande: Denemarke, Finland, Ysland, Noorweë, Swede Vikings en die Oudnoors • Geskiedenis • Samiese kultuur • Winter • Reg op toegang • Vaar • Stap • Keuken • Musiek • Nordic Noir |
In die Nordiese lande van Finland, Ysland, Noorweë en Swede daar is groot yl bevolkte gebiede wat geskik is vir wildernis-rugsakreis en meerdaagse staptogte van lodge tot lodge, en gebiede vir dagstaptogte, selfs naby die meeste dorpe en dorpe - in Noorweë, insluitend staptogte na hoë berge. Daar is 'n ryk verskeidenheid landskappe in die Nordiese lande, van vulkaniese Ysland tot die oostelike woude in Finland, van die alpiene berge van Noorweë tot die sagte laaglande van Denemarke en Suid-Swede. Die vryheid om rond te loop, ook genoem reg op toegang of, in Sweeds / Noors allemansrätten / allemannsretten ("elke mens se regte"), gee toegang vir enigiemand tot die grootste deel van die natuur.
In die winter, wat van Januarie tot Februarie of van Oktober tot Mei kan beteken, afhangende van die bestemming, langlauf is die regte manier om te gaan, in elk geval vir langer afstande in baie gebiede - wildernisrugsakke en landloop word min of meer as dieselfde aktiwiteit beskou. By bestemmings met staproetes is daar dikwels ski-bane in die winter.
Sommige van die onderstaande advies is ook relevant vir ander maniere om die natuurlike landskap te verken.
Vir Faeröer-eilande, Groenland en Svalbard, sien hul hoofartikels.
Terwyl wildernisgebiede in Denemarke baie klein is in vergelyking met ander Nordiese lande, het die land nog steeds 'n paar geleenthede vir buitelewe. Sien Primitiewe kamp in Denemarke.
 | COVID-19 inligting: Dit is nie meer toegelaat om sonder voorbehoud by 'n Noorse wildernishut aan te kom nie. In Finland is die fasiliteite in die lente van 2020 gesluit, maar is dit weer oopgemaak en besoekers word net gevra om oorvol rusplekke te vermy en die aanbevelings oor higiëne, afstande, ensovoorts te volg. Daar word nie seep en ontsmettingsmiddels voorsien nie, daarom moet u dit self dra. |
| (Inligting laas opgedateer 02 Feb 2021) |
Verstaan
| “ | Hy het vuur nodig wat nou gekom het, gevoelloos tot op die knie; kos en klere waarna die swerwer smag wat oor die rand geval het, het gevaar. | ” |
—Hávamál | ||
Noorweë, Swede en Finland beslaan 'n oppervlakte van meer as een miljoen vierkante kilometer, tien keer wyer as Oostenryk en Switserland gesamentlik. Die wandelgebied sluit die vogtige, sagte Atlantiese fjords en kuslande van Noorweë in, deur die wilde alpiene hoë pieke van die Skandinawiese berge, tot by die wye plato's en diep woude van die binneland.
Slegs 'n paar generasies gelede het die meeste mense in die Nordiese lande op die platteland gewoon. Met 'n yl bevolking en skrale landerye, het bosbou, visvang en bessiepluk vir baie belangrike aanvullende inkomste gegee. Vandag, stap, visvang en bessie pluk is 'n belangrike deel van die vakansie vir baie inwoners, meestal as tydverdryf in die somerhuisie. Nie almal is 'n ernstige landwandelaar nie - maar daar is 'n hele paar.
Een aspek van die Nordiese buitelugtradisie, jag, is vir baie vreemd uit lande waar dit gereserveer is vir die grondeienaars, die hoër klas. In die Nordiese lande was die bos nog altyd grotendeels in die besit van die boere, en die jag was soms 'n aanvullende voedselbron. Op die platteland is dit normaal om deel te wees van die plaaslike jagklub. Die Finse woord vir wildernis, erämaa, beteken ook jag- en visterreine. In die ou tyd het mense presies gaan trek om kos en pelse te kry, en wandeling bevat spore van hierdie tradisie, ten minste vir sommige stappers.
Selfs die afgeleë gebiede is selde onaangeraak. In die noorde word die meeste gebiede vir rendier gebruik. Die meeste onbeskermde woud word vir bosbou gebruik. In die praktyk sal die meeste mense dit net soms sien.
Vanweë die yl bevolking, veral in die noorde, sal roetes redelik stil wees, buiten die belangrikste toeriste-oorde. Buite paaie sien u min mense, selfs naby stede. Naby hoofweë hoor u miskien die verkeer, maar in die ylbewoonde gebiede sal u binnekort net stilte hoor.
Klimaat en terrein
Die tipe terrein en weersomstandighede wissel baie, van die steil berge van Noorweë tot die byna plat vlaktes van Finse Ostrobothnia, van die matige en reënerige klimaat aan die Atlantiese kus tot die byna kontinentale klimaat van die binnelandse Finland en van die warm, gematigde klimaat in die suide. na gletsers in die berge en toendra in die noorde.
Minder as 5% van die landoppervlakte van Noorweë is ontwikkel (landbougrond, paaie, stede), en die aandeel is soortgelyk in die ander lande. In Noorweë is ongeveer 50% van die oppervlakte 'n soort oop ruimte sonder bos, insluitende vaste boomlose grond en kaal rots, meer as 30% is bos en ongeveer 5% is vleilande en moeras (veral in Oos-Noorweë, Trøndelag en Finnmark) , 5% is varswater (riviere en mere) en 1% is permanente ys of sneeu. In Finland is 70% bos, terwyl die oop ruimte meestal uit mere en moerasse bestaan, in die noorde ook groot omgevingsgebiede. Ook in Swede kom vleilande voor (ongeveer 20% van die oppervlakte). Ongeveer 63% van Ysland is kaal landskap, 23% het plantegroei van een of ander aard, 12% word deur gletsers bedek en 3% is mere.
Weervoorspellingsdienste is oor die algemeen van goeie gehalte, maar plaaslike ervaring kan nodig wees om dit te interpreteer: windtoestande wissel afhangende van die plaaslike topologie, en vir temperatuur word slegs gemiddelde dagmaxima in baie voorspellings vertel, en die variasie en die nagtemperature moet afgelei word. Wind is oor die algemeen sterker in die hoë en dorre berge en langs die buitenste kus. Die verskil tussen maksimum en minimum temperatuur op 'n gegewe dag is normaalweg tussen 3–15 ° C (5–30 ° F), behalwe as daar weerveranderings is. 'N Helder lug beteken gewoonlik 'n koue nag. Gemiddelde maksimum dagtemperature in Julie wissel van ongeveer 15 ° C (60 ° F) tot ongeveer 23 ° C (75 ° F) afhangende van ligging, in Januarie van ongeveer vriespunt tot ongeveer -10 ° C (15 ° F), hoë berge nie getel nie. Ekstreme temperatuur kan wissel van 35 ° C (95 ° F) in die somer tot -50 ° C (-55 ° F) in die noordelike binnelandse winter.
Weervoorspellingsdienste en inligting oor die klimaat is beskikbaar in Finland meteorologiese instituut (slimfone) of Foreca, vir Noorweë uit die Meteorologiese kantoor en weernuus en vir Ysland vanaf Yslands meteorologiese kantoor.
Die gebied is in die grensgebied tussen die westelike dele en die subarktiese gebied; die weer kan deur 'n sekere weerstelsel oorheers word, of die wisselende weer kan moeilik voorspel word. Naby die Atlantiese kus (dit wil sê in Ysland en in en naby Noorweë) en op groot hoogtes is vinnige veranderinge in die weer algemeen.
Sommige berge en gletsers is moeilik om sommige tye van die jaar te besoek. Wanneer u die hoogte beoordeel, moet u onthou dat die boomlyn op minder as 400 meter in die noordelikste dele van Finland en Noorweë kan wees. In die hoë berge van Noorweë en Ysland kan sneeu na die winter tot Junie bly, en groot kolle kan die hele somer bly. Te voet kan die hoë berge in Noorweë gewoonlik net die tweede helfte van die somer en vroeë herfs besoek word (besoekers moet gewoonlik spesifieke inligting vir elke gebied in Julie tot September kry).
Die oppervlak in die hoë berge is meestal baie ruig, dikwels los rotse, rotsblokke, sneeu en gletsers - stap is gewoonlik inspannend en goeie skoene is nodig. Hierdie ruie, dorre oppervlak kom op baie laer hoogte in Noorweë voor as op die vasteland van Europa of in die Amerikaanse Rockies; selfs op 1000 tot 1500 meter bo seespieël is daar hoë alpiene toestande, met bykans geen plantegroei en sneeuvelde in die somer nie.
Op laer hoogtes, maar bokant die boomgrens, is daar dikwels 'n maklik om te loop heide. Dit is die tipiese terrein in die "low fells" (lågfjäll), soos in die noorde van Finland en tussen die hoë berge en die woude in Swede. Nat terrein naby die boomgrens is dikwels met wilg bedek (Salix) struike, baie beswarend om deur te kom. Valleie word dikwels bebos, hoofsaaklik met berke, maar ook met kolle van denne en 'n bietjie laer, dennebos en sparrenbos.
Die denne- en sparwoude is die westelikste deel van die groot Noord-Eurasiese taiga-gordel. Die taiga-gordel beslaan die grootste deel van Finland en Swede en dele van Noorweë (veral Oos-Noorweë en sommige grensstreke). In laaglande, veral in sommige dele van Finland en Swede, is daar ook uitgestrekte mires en moerasse. Die ystydperk het eskers verlaat, wat die landskap in sommige streke 'n eienaardige rollende karakter gee. 'N Groot deel van Suid-Finland en Swede was onder die seevlak toe die ys vertrek, en die berggrond is dikwels selfs op lae heuwels sigbaar, met bome wat groei waar genoeg grond opgegaar het, wat 'n yl bos op die heuweltoppe bied. Behalwe vir sommige streke, is slegs 'n klein gedeelte van die land landbougrond. Bos oorheers, hoewel baie daarvan vir bosbou gebruik word, met baie opruimings. Ou woud word hier en daar aangetref, gered deur moeilike terrein en groter gebiede ver genoeg van paaie en riviere af.
Hoogtes en landvorms
Die hoogste hoogtes is in die westelike dele van die Skandinawiese skiereiland vanaf die suide van Noorweë, deur middel van Noorweë en grensstreke met Swede en tot Troms en Finnmark provinsies in die noorde. Daar word dikwels na hierdie hoogtes die Skandinawiese berge verwys. Die hoogste spitsberade is in Noorweë Jotunheimen, waar die hoogste piek 2469m is. Sowat 200 pieke in Noorweë is meer as 2000 meter - meestal in Jotunheimen, maar ook in Rondane en Dovrefjell. Swede se hoogste pieke is in Lapland naby die grens met Noorweë, met 'n handvol pieke bo 2000m. Ysland se hoogste pieke is in Ysland se binneland en Suid-Ysland, met een piek bo 2000m. Laaglande in Noorweë is grotendeels beperk tot valleie en oewers. Oor die algemeen beteken die hoër hoogtes ook die wildste terrein, veral langs die Noorse Atlantiese kus met ontsaglike fjorde (soos Sognefjord) en toringagtige pieke wat direk vanaf die oseaan styg soos in Lofoten. Daar is egter hoë hoogtes met sagter landvorme (hoë plato's), soos Hardangervidda plato, Dovrefjell, lang stukke hoogtes tussen die groot valleie van Oos-Noorweë, en Finnmarksvidda (binneland Finnmark plato). Vanweë die kouer klimaat in die noorde, is Finnmarksvidda en ander hoogtes in Finnmark taamlik kaal, selfs net 300 tot 500 meter bo seespieël.
Anders as die westelike gedeelte, Finland word meer gekenmerk deur sagte landvorms met woude of oop gebiede. Finland se hoogste hoogtes is slegs ongeveer 1300 meter, en berge hoër as 1000 meter oor die seevlak kan slegs in die "arm" van Finland in die uiterste noordweste gevind word. Behalwe vir 'n paar uitsonderings in die ooste, sal u selde berge hoër as 300 m suid van teëkom Lapland. Aan die ander kant word baie van Finland deur mere en strome bedek.
In vergelyking met Finland, Swede is heuwelrig en baie van wat noord van die Stockholm-Oslo-lyn is, is beboste wildernisse sonder groot stede. Uiteindelik Scania, die suidelikste deel van Swede, herinner meer aan Denemarke, Nederland of Noord-Duitsland - dit is basies plat soos 'n pannekoek, en baie daarvan is landbougrond.
Ysland is net so onvrugbaar as Noorweë. Ysland se hoogste hoogtes is in die binneland van Ysland en in die Tröllaskagi-bergreeks in Noord-Ysland. Elders in Ysland is die hoogtes laer as 600 meter.
Berge
In Noors verwys "berg" ("fjell") meestal na hoogtes wat bo die boomgrens strek. Minder steil, relatief gelyk boomlose plato's sonder uitgesproke pieke word dikwels "vidde" genoem (die onderstaande lys bevat gedeeltelik sulke plato's soos byvoorbeeld die wye Finnmarksvidda van die noorde).
Die Skandinawiese berge kan ongeveer onderverdeel word soos op die kaart.
- A & B: Arktiese berge
- insluitend Kebnekaise, Sarek nasionale park, Lyngen alpe, Lofoten, Svartisen-gletser, Narvik, Käsivarsi Wildernisgebied
- C: Hoogland aan die sentrale grens (Noorweë en Swede)
- D: Fjords reeks
- insluitend Sunnmøre & Romsdal alpe, Jostedalsbreen gletser, die meeste van Sognefjorden
- E: Sentrale berge
- insluitend Rondane-Dovrefjell, Jotunheimen (hoogste in Noord-Europa)
- F: Suidelike hooglande
- insluitend Hardangervidda plato en Rogaland/Setesdal moorland
Seisoene
Die somer-stapseisoen is gewoonlik middel Mei tot vroeg in September, behalwe in die noorde en in hoë berge, waar dit in Junie begin, selfs in Julie in sommige gebiede. Stap is meestal maklik in hierdie tye en daar is minder behoefte aan voorbereidings, vaardighede en toerusting as ander dele van die jaar - maar sommige bestemmings is steeds veeleisend. Die meeste van die somermuskiete en muggies is in baie gebiede 'n oorlas, veral onder die treeline in die noorde van einde Junie tot Augustus. In Augustus word die nagte donker, kinders keer terug skool toe en sommige toeristegeriewe sluit vir die winter.
Vroeë herfs (meestal September) is die tyd van ruska, as blare rooi en geel word, is dit veral 'n pragtige gesig in Lapland en Finnmark (maar die tydperk is daar dikwels kort - die winter kan vroeg kom). Baie inwoners gaan na sampioene en lingonberry. Dit is dikwels 'n lekker stapseisoen; dae is oor die algemeen sag, alhoewel ryp in die nag voorkom en die eerste sneeuval laat in die maand kan voorkom. Insekte is grotendeels weg en die lug is gewoonlik skerp. Laat herfs (Oktober – November), aan die ander kant, is nie die beste seisoen vir die meeste besoekers nie: dit is donker en nat, met 'n vreemde sneeuval, maar geen betroubare sneeubedekking nie (ski-oorde is wel oop, maar hang dikwels van kunssneeu af) . In November daal die temperatuur soms tot -15 ° C (5 ° F) of selfs in Suid-Finland.
In die winter is daar in die noorde geen sonsopkoms nie - en daar kan baie koue wees. Dae is ook kort in die suide. U wil dalk die Arktiese nag of Kersfees in die vaderland van Kersvader ervaar (Finne glo dat hy in Lappland woon en hordes Britte kom hom besoek). Andersins verkies u Februarie in die suide of vroeë lente in die noorde vir enige winterstaptogte. As u skigebiedfasiliteite gaan gebruik, let op die pieke tydens wintervakansies; u kan dalk winskopies kry op 'n sekere tydstip. Sien ook Winter in die Nordiese lande.
Die lente is 'n baie geliefde seisoen deur baie inwoners. Dae is lig, die son is sterk en die natuur ontwaak. Wildernisstaptogte kan veeleisend wees, met diep sneeu hier en kaal grond daar, en baie water, maar baie bestemmings is nie problematies nie. In die noorde en in hoë berge is Junie nog steeds 'n tyd van smeltende sneeu en hoogwater in die strome, en in die hoë berge kan sneeu tot in Julie of later voortduur. Vrot sneeu en hoë waters maak staproetes moeilik in die betrokke gebiede in die vroeë somer elders. Later is die oorblywende sneeu dikwels kompak, hard genoeg om op te loop.
Die lente is veral laat in die hoë berge van Noorweë, selfs in Junie is sommige gebiede slegs op ski's toeganklik. Dit geld in berge soos Noors Jotunheimen en Hardangervidda, waar sneeu tot in Junie kan voortduur en groot sneeustukkies deur die laat somer kan bly. Selfs in Finland is daar 'n Midsomer-ski-kompetisie (om Kilpisjärvi). Noorweërs stap te voet met hul ski's na gebiede waar hulle met die ski kan voortgaan.
Vryheid om rond te loop
Die basiese regte van almal (reg op toegang, vryheid om rond te loop) is die reg om vryelik te voet, per ski of per boot rond te dwaal, die reg om in 'n tent te oornag en die reg om eetbare bessies en sampioene te pluk. In watter nie-woestyngebiede die regte van toepassing is, verskil ietwat tussen lande - bv. in Ysland moet toestemming van grondeienaars toegelaat word tot enige afgeslote gebied buite paaie - net soos sommige besonderhede. Die regte (meer korrek: die gebrek aan grondeienaars se reg om te verbied) gaan gepaard met die verwagting om bedagsaam te wees en dit nie moontlik maak om spesifieke wette te oortree, skade aan te doen nie (soos om in lande met groeiende oeste te loop of rommel of oop hekke agter te laat) of steur inwoners of wild. Sommige besonderhede word in die wet gekodifiseer, maar baie is aan interpretasie; hofsake is skaars.
Lees die instruksies vir die spesifieke gebied as u nasionale parke en ander "amptelike" bestemmings besoek. Die dienste wat aangebied word (soos aangewese kampvuur en kampeerterreine) vergoed meestal vir plaaslike beperkings. U word aangemoedig (soms verpligtend) om die roetes te volg, waar dit voorsien word.
Sien Reg op toegang vir 'n meer deeglike bespreking en miskien skakels na gidse vir die spesifieke lande.
Vuur
- Sien ook: Kampvuur
U moet altyd versigtig wees wanneer u 'n vuur maak - maak seker dat u weet wat dit beteken. Dit moet altyd dopgehou en versigtig geblus word. In die besonder skep die spar, wat in die Nordiese lande wyd voorkom, baie vlambare materiaal. Gebruik indien moontlik aangewese kampvuurterreine. Moenie vure op rots (wat sal bars) of turf (wat moeilik is om betroubaar te blus) maak nie. In Swede het u geen toestemming nodig nie, solank u versigtig is. In Ysland is vuur toegelaat buite beskermde gebiede waar daar geen risiko vir veldbrand of ander skade bestaan nie (maar brandhout is skaars). In Noorweë word vuur van 15 April tot 15 September oor die algemeen verbied, behalwe op ruim veilige afstand van bos, geboue en ander vlambare materiaal of op amptelik aangewese terreine. In Finland is die toestemming van grondeienaars altyd nodig vir oop vuur, maar in die noorde is daar algemene toestemming vir baie van die staatsgrond (kyk na die bedekte gebiede en die bepalings). Om toegelaat te word om vuur te maak, impliseer nie noodwendig die reg om brandhout te neem nie; moenie bome of estetiese of ekologiese waardevolle stompe benadeel nie. In Ysland is hout 'n besonder skaars hulpbron, en wat in die ander lande formeel nie toegelaat word nie, maar geen skade doen nie (en dus aanvaar word) in die ander lande, kan beslis sleg wees. In noodgevalle gebruik u u eie oordeel.
In veral droë omstandighede kan daar 'n algehele verbod wees op oop vuur in die buitelug (insluitend weggooibare roosters en soortgelyke). In Finland kom sulke verbod in die somer algemeen voor, in die meeste weervoorspellings per streek (in Lapland: per munisipaliteit) geadverteer as 'waarskuwing vir bosbrande' (metsäpalovaroitus/varning för skogsbrand). In die lente kan daar 'n waarskuwing wees vir grasvuur, wat nie so erg is nie, maar tog opmerklik is. Kampeerstowe word nie as oop vuur beskou nie, maar hulle kan dikwels 'n veldbrand aan die gang sit, dus wees versigtig met hulle (en met u vuurhoutjies). In Swede word die verbod nie sentraal geadverteer nie; die verbod word deur die nooddienste beslis, gewoonlik op streeks- of munisipale vlak.
In nasionale parke en soortgelyk is kampvuurplekke met brandhout gratis beskikbaar. In sommige groot nasionale parke en wildernisgebiede kan vuur gemaak word as daar nie kampvuurplekke in die omgewing is nie (kyk die reëls vir die gebied). Moenie buitensporig groot vure aansteek nie, maar gebruik brandhout spaarsamig. As sommige van die brandhout klaar is en ander nie, of ander is buite, moet nuwe hout gemaak word en binnenshuis geneem word in plaas van wat gebruik word. U moet gewoonlik nie die natuur aanvul nie. Daar is dikwels 'n byl en miskien 'n saag vir die doel, veral op meer afgeleë plekke, maar u wil dalk u eie dra. 'N Goeie mes is 'n basiese oorlewingsuitrusting en moet op langer staptogte gedra word, net soos vuurhoutjies, met waterdigte verpakte onderdele.
Om brand te maak in moeilike omstandighede, is daar gewoonlik drie soorte brandblare in die bos: dooie droë takkies laag aan sparrenbome (neem net diegene wat maklik is om af te snap - die spar raak maklik besmet), berkebas (nie soos bas nie) die van ander bome) of harsagtige dennehout. Die drie benodig verskillende tegnieke, so oefen êrens waar die neem van die materiaal nie skade berokken nie, voordat u dit hoef te gebruik. Met die spar takkies het u genoeg nodig, met genoeg fyn materiaal, en die regte kompromie tussen genoeg lug en genoeg hitte (u moet dalk u hande gebruik; u moet die vuur respekteer, maar nie bang wees nie). Die gebruik van berke bas is maklik, maar kyk hoe dit optree. 'N Mes is handig om dit in groter stukke van die hout af te kry. Vir denne is dit die fynste snye. Pine wat bruikbaar is as blik, word herken aan die geur by 'n vars snit en deurdat dit lank dood is, maar nie vrot nie, dikwels as harde dele van 'n anders gedisintegreerde mosbedekte stomp (oefen u oog!). In die berke woude, waar daar geen droë hout is nie, moet die berkehout in dun genoeg stukke verdeel word en uiters dun gemaak word om die vuur aan die gang te kry (dikker brandhout kan gebruik word om muskiete te hou en nadat dit droog is genoeg). Bo die boomgrens kan jy droë takkies gebruik, maar dit kan moeilik wees om genoeg droë brandhout te kry.
Lig
As gevolg van die noordelike breedtegraad, dwaal die son die grootste deel van die jaar redelik naby die horison. Skemer duur baie langer as nader aan die ewenaar, langer as 'n halfuur in die suide en moontlik vir 'n paar uur in die Arktiese nag (sonder daglig).
Daglig is beperk in die laat herfs en vroeë winter, en die ure wat beskikbaar is om te stap, is ten minste in digte bos, in rowwe terrein en waar oriëntering moeilik is, baie beperk, veral omdat die lug in die laat herfs bewolk is. In die winter sal die sneeu selfs deur die sterre help om 'n bietjie lig in die nag te gee, wat genoeg kan wees op 'n maklike oop terrein as u eers daaraan gewoond is - maanlig kan baie voel.
Van Mei tot Julie is die nagte redelik lig in die hele streek. Daar is Middernag son vir 'n maand en 'n half in die verre noorde en slegs 'n paar uur (relatiewe) duisternis, selfs in die suide rondom Midsomer. Teen Augustus word die nagte donker en in die laat herfs, voordat die sneeu kom, is daar baie lang donker aande.
Wees bewus daarvan dat sonstrale in die somer op groot hoogtes uiters sterk kan wees as gevolg van skoon lug, weerkaatsings van mere en sneeuvelde en min plantegroei.
Mense
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Personeel by enige inligtingsentrum, hotel ensovoorts is gewoonlik vlot in Engels en inligting wat op toeriste gerig is, is meestal ook in Engels beskikbaar. By groot toeriste-aantreklikhede, hotelle en dies meer is daar gewoonlik personeel wat verskillende tale magtig is, maar in gesinsondernemings is ouer mense nie noodwendig vlot nie, behalwe in hul moedertaal. U sal egter meestal in Engels kan oorleef - en u kan dalk 'n Sami ontmoet wat in 'n goahti gebore is, maar wat verskeie vreemde tale vlot praat.
Die noorde van die Skandinawiese lande is die tuisland van die Samiese mense; hulle is die meerderheid in enkele munisipaliteite en groot minderhede in ander. Weens die taalpolitiek 'n halfeeu gelede praat baie Sami nie Sami, maar baie doen dit, veral in die noordelikste Finse en Sweedse Lappland en die meeste van die Noorse Finnmark. Hulle praat ook die meerderheidstaal van die land en aan die grense, moontlik die taal van die buurland (Sweeds en Noors is ook onderling verstaanbaar). Daar is groot groepe wat Finse dialekte (Meänkieli, Kven; benewens die meerderheidstaal) in die Sweeds praat Tornedalen en in dele van Finnmark.
In die argipel van Uusimaa, die suidelike Argipelsee, Åland en die kus van Ostrobothnia Sweeds is die tradisionele taal. U sal oorleef in Fins of Engels, maar die Sweedssprekende mense is miskien nie baie beïndruk deurdat u hulle in Fins probeer groet nie.
In sommige van die yl bevolkte gebiede, soos Lapland en die Finse eilandgroep, is toerisme 'n belangrike aanvullende inkomste vir baie. Klein familiebesighede adverteer nie noodwendig op die internet of in toeristebrosjures nie. U moet u oë oophou en plaaslik vra.
Bestemmings
- Sien ook: Stapbestemmings in Noorweë, Finse nasionale parke
- Vuur is nodig deur die nuweling
- Wie se knieë gevoelloos is;
- Vleis en skoon linne wat 'n man nodig het
- Wie het oor die valle gevaar ... – Die Hávámal
Die vryheid om te dwaal laat u min of meer oral heen. Daar is woude of ander soorte natuur oop vir die publiek in alle dele van die lande. Diegene wat van wilde-rugsakreisigers hou of 'n paar dae van die pad af wil gaan, kan die gebiede met die minste bevolking soek, soos in die noorde van die binneland van Finland, Noorweë en Swede, in of net oos van die Noorse middestad (Jotunheimen, Hardangervidda, Dovre) ), in die ooste van Finland en in die binneland van Ysland. Op sommige plekke kan jy min of meer in een rigting honderd kilometer loop sonder om 'n pad te sien.
In Noorweë is daar roetes vir dagstappe of langer trekke oor die hele land. In die ander lande is daar ook oral onontwikkelde gebiede, geskik vir 'n wandeling in die bos of om bessies te pluk, maar vir roetes of ander roetes wat geskik is vir 'n langer tog, moet u die kaart gewoonlik 'n bietjie meer bestudeer, of 'n entjie ry na 'n geskikte roete.
Onthou dat wildernisrugsakke in die Nordiese lande kan beteken dat u sonder enige infrastruktuur hoegenaamd kan stap, moontlik dae lank niemand sal ontmoet nie en dat u alleen kan wees as iets verkeerd loop. Dit is iets waarvoor baie mense soek, maar as u twyfel oor u vaardighede, kies dan toepaslike roetes. Daar is alle vlakke van kompromieë beskikbaar.
Die beste staproetes of natuurskoon is nie noodwendig in nasionale parke of natuurreservate nie. Dit kan egter die moeite werd wees om eers 'amptelike' of andersins bekende bestemmings te oorweeg, wat die waardevolste natuur en die mooiste landskappe beslaan. Dit is ook makliker om inligting en dienste hiervoor te vind.
Beskermde gebiede van verskillende soorte word soms met mekaar vermeng. Daar kan byvoorbeeld gebiede met ernstige beperkings binne 'n nasionale park of 'n minder beperkte grenssone buite die park wees. Daar is ook beskermde gebiede wat min invloed op die stapper het, wat hoofsaaklik die optrede van die grondeienaar en die beplanningsowerhede beperk.
In Finland word nasionale parke, wildernisgebiede en sommige van die ander bestemmings onderhou deur Metsähallitus, die Finse bosbouadministrasie, wat inligting oor die bestemmings en staptogte oor die algemeen het. nasionale parke.fi. Inligting word ook verskaf by hul kliëntedienspunte en besoekersentrums in die nasionale park, waar u dalk 'n bed in 'n hut kan bespreek of visvang- (of selfs jagpermitte) kan koop. Ook Finse nasionale parke het inligting oor die meeste "amptelike" bestemmings.
In Noorweë is die Trekvereniging hou roetes tussen hul vele hutte (berghutte) in alle dele van die land.
Nasionale parke
In Noorweë dui "nasionale park" hoofsaaklik beskermde status vir onontwikkelde gebiede aan. Stap en natuurskoon is dikwels net so lekker buite parke. Nasionale parke word dikwels omring deur 'n gebied van 'beskermde landskap', wat vanuit die oogpunt van die stapper dikwels die interessantste en gewoonlik die mees toeganklike wildernis is.
Andersins is nasionale parke die mees voor die hand liggende bestemmings. Dit dek veral die waardige aard, dienste is gewoonlik maklik beskikbaar en die meeste is bereikbaar sonder veel ophef. Daar is gewoonlik korter roetes naby die besoekersentrums, wat geskik is om vinnig die tipiese natuur te sien, vir daguitstappies en vir minder ervare stappers. In die groter gebiede is daar ook afgeleë gebiede vir diegene wat hul eie paaie wil stap. Anders as wat in sommige ander lande gebruik word, het nasionale parke nie paaie, heinings of wagte nie - in Noorweë slegs roetes en lodges.
Daar is nasionale parke regoor die lande wat die meeste soorte wilde (en sommige bewerkte) landskappe beslaan: Finse nasionale parke, Sweedse nasionale parke, Noorse Nasionale Parke, Yslandse nasionale parke.
Die besoekersentrums ("naturum", "nasjonalparksentre"), soms 'n hele entjie van die park self, gee dikwels 'n nuttige inleiding tot die natuur en kultuur van die omgewing. Daar kan films, begeleide toere of soortgelyke wees, wat die moeite werd is om vooraf te kyk. Sommige van die sentrums is buite die seisoen gesluit of glad nie beman nie.
Ontspanningsgebiede
Ontspanningsgebiede word dikwels makliker bereik as nasionale parke en kan minder beperkings inhou. Baie van hulle is geskik om te stap, alhoewel dit kleiner is as die meeste nasionale parke en selde die wonderlikste natuurskoon bied.
In Finland Nasionale stapareas word deur Metsähallitus onderhou.
Die meeste dorpe het ten minste 'n paar ontspanningsareas, gewoonlik met die plaaslike bus of 'n wandeling vanaf die middestad. Daar is uitgebreide stapmoontlikhede buite sommige dorpe. Byvoorbeeld rondom Oslo daar is wye woude met goed onderhoude paaie of paadjies (sommige met ligte) binne metro- en stadsbusse, en binne bereik Bergen daar is verskeie berge langs die middestad.
Daar is stap- en ski-roetes rondom die meeste ski-oorde en soortgelyke. Soms maak hulle verbinding met nasionale parkroetennetwerke.
Natuurreservate
Natuurreservate het oor die algemeen die strengste vorm van beskerming en reëls vir die spesifieke reservaat moet vooraf nagegaan word. Hulle is geskep om die natuur te beskerm, ter wille van hom en vir navorsing. Gewoonlik is daar staproetes deur die groter, en daar kan verblyf of kampeergeriewe buite die beskermde gebied wees. Dit kan 'n baie spesiale of goed behoue natuur insluit. Dit is meestal kleiner as nasionale parke en (diegene met roetes) is gewoonlik geskik vir 'n daguitstappie of 'n dagstap. Afwyking van roetes word dikwels toegelaat in die winter of buite die broeiseisoen.
Wildernisgebiede
Wildernisgebiede in Finland is afgeleë gebiede wat deur die wet omskryf word, met ernstige beperkings op die bou van infrastruktuur of enige uitbuiting behalwe vir tradisionele bedrywe (soos rendierboerdery, jag of hout neem vir huishoudelike behoeftes). Die status het min direkte impak op 'n stapper, maar dit is interessante bestemmings vir diegene wat nie gereedgemaakte roetes wil hê nie. Die gebiede is belangrik vir rendier; daar kan vissers wees, maar meestal sal u alleen wees, moontlik dae lank. Daar is 'n paar roetes en wildernishutte in die gebiede, en daar is gewoonlik toeriste-dienste in die omgewing. Lisensies vir jag op kleinwild (in seisoen) is gewoonlik beskikbaar. Vir voorbeelde, sien Käsivarsi, Pöyrisjärvi en Muotkatunturit.
Nie-amptelike bestemmings
U kan min of meer oral stap waar u wil. Die gewone rede om nie 'n "amptelike" bestemming te gebruik nie, is dat u wil stap of rondloop naby die plek waar u anders bly of daar verby gaan. Selfs naby die groter dorpe is daar gewoonlik baie ongerepte natuur. Locals often don't distinguish between "official" destinations such as national parks and other hiking areas. The freedom to roam allows you to enjoy it as long as you keep away from yards, cultivated land and similar. Be considerate and polite when you meet people and try not to disturb others.
Most of the countries (about 95% of Norway) is some kind of wilderness where the public is allowed to hike. Even in such wilderness there may be occasional roads reserved for logging, hydro power construction or power line maintenance. In Finland such roads are common in unprotected areas and provide easy access for berry pickers and hikers alike, while ruining the feel of wild nature – choose routes where the forestry roads (and clearings) are not too common. In Norway there are in addition many roads to summer farms (seter) in the forests or mountains or to abandoned farms. Such roads may not be open to public traffic and are usually dead-end roads with minimal traffic. Seters are usually hubs for hiking trails in the area.
Hiking trails
Trails are often meant for use either in summer or in winter. When using them outside the intended season it is important to check the viability of the route. Winter routes are usually meant for cross-country skiing and may utilise the frozen lakes, rivers and bogs, while summer routes may have all too steep sections, go through areas dangerous in wintertime or simply be difficult to follow when marks are covered with snow. When evaluating the route, make sure you understand whether any descriptions are valid for the present conditions. Local advice is valuable.
Usually deviating from trails is allowed, except in nature reserves and restricted parts of national parks, although not encouraged in sensitive areas or areas with many visitors. Many experienced hikers prefer terrain without trails, at least for some hikes.
In addition to hiking trails at separate destinations there are some long distance hiking trails and hiking trail networks connecting nearby protected areas and recreational areas. They usually follow minor roads some or most of the distance, going through interesting natural surroundings wherever possible and sometimes passing by villages and tourist attractions, where you might be able to replenish. Lengths vary from suitable for a one day hike to the extreme European long distance paths. The longest routes are usually created by combining trails of different trail networks, which increases the risk of some parts not being well signed or maintained. There may even be parts missing. As hiking on other persons' land is perfectly allowed, you can make your own adjustments to the routes, but this may sometimes mean walking by a road or through unnecessarily difficult terrain.
On combined trails or trails that pass borders (between countries, municipalities or areas with different protection status), it is quite common that the markings or the maintenance standard change. Check that the same agent is responsible for the trail all the way or be prepared for it to change character. This is no problem if you have the equipment and skill to continue regardless, but can be problematic if you made your decision based on what the first part looked like. The character of the trail can change also for other reasons, such as leaving for the backwoods, reaching higher mountains or crossing mires.
In contrast to many trails in continental Europe, the hiking trails seldom go from village to village, but tend to mostly keep to non-inhabited areas. There is usually no transport (for instance for luggage) available. Where the trails follow traditional routes (from the time before the cars), they usually do so in the wilderness, where few villages are to be found. Newer trails have usually been made for exploring the natural landscape, not to connect settlements. Many trails lead from permanent settlements to shielings (summer farms, seter in Norwegian, fäbod in Swedish, karjamaja in Finnish) in the forest or in the high valleys, then onwards to pastures further into the uplands, high plateaus or high valleys. In Norway, such shielings are often starting points for hiking trails at higher altitudes, DNT lodges are often found at old shielings.
There are trails usable with wheelchair or prams, but this is not typical. Many trails follow quite narrow and rough paths. Even trails that start wide and smooth may have sections that are muddy (possibly with duckboards) or narrow, steep and rocky. This is true also for some very popular trails, such as the one to Trolltunga. Check, if this is important for you.
DNT maintains some 20,000 kilometres of summer trails in Norway. In the fells these are usually marked with cairns, some of which are marked with a red "T". In woods, markings are often red or blue stripes painted on trees. Winter routes and routes where the cairns would be destroyed in winter often have poles instead, also these usually with a red mark. Note that new or little used trails may be less worn than other paths leading astray. Winter routes are often marked with twigs instead of permanent marking, before the main season in spring. Markings in Finland and Sweden follow somewhat different standards.
The DNT trails are also classified: green trails do not require special skills and are often short (those suitable with wheelchair or pram are specially marked as such), blue trails require some fitness and basic skills, red trails require experience, fitness, good footwear and adequate equipment, while black trails can also be hard to navigate. Metsähallitus in Finland has some years ago started with a similar classification (with red and black combined and less emphasis on fitness, as the terrain is less demanding there).
In addition to the classification, DNT gives height profile and estimated time for the trails. The times are calculated for a fit and experienced hiker, excluding breaks – add considerable time to get a realistic estimate of total time needed.
There are three hiking routes in the Nordic countries that belong to the European long distance paths network (long sections are missing or unmarked at least in the Finnish parts):
- E1 hiking trail runs from Italy through Denmark and southern and middle Sweden to Nordkapp in Norway
- E6 hiking trail runs from Turkey through Denmark, southern Sweden and Finland to Kilpisjärvi (the north-west tip of Finland by the Swedish and Norwegian border). You can continue by the Nordkalottleden.
- E10 hiking trail runs from Spain through Germany and Finland to Nuorgam (the northern tip of Finland, by the Norwegian border). Van Koli National Park aan Urho Kekkonen National Park in Finland the route is known as the UKK route.
Die Nordkalottleden/Nordkalottruta trail (800 km) goes through Sweden, Norway and Finland offering versatile northern fell landscape, with easy to travel fell highlands, lush birch forests, glaciers and steep-sided gorges.
Die Padjelantaleden trail (140 km) and Kungsleden trail (440 km) meander through the national parks of Swedish Lappland, one of Europe's largest remaining wilderness areas.
Some Finnish trails are described by Metsähallitus. For trails at specific destinations, see that destination. There are also trail networks maintained or marketed by municipalities and other entities, such as the Walks in North Karelia network.
Gear
For a basic idea about what to pack, have a look at packing for a week of hiking, wilderness backpacking en cold weather.
Good quality hiking equipment is available in many specialist shops, the largest probably being Partiovaruste / Scandinavian Outdoor Store, owned by a non-profit Finnish Girl and Boy Scout foundation. Such specialist shops should also be able to give good advice. Some equipment is available for rent at some destinations, especially if you are using a guide.
Every hiker must be familiar with the proper equipment for various seasons and areas as well as their style of hiking. In the Nordic area, choosing the right equipment may be particularly challenging outside the warmest summer and for the higher mountains.
Pack so that your spare clothes and outs won't get wet in rain and moist. Most backpacks are water repellent, but few if any are water resistant. Many have an integrated "raincoat", for others one is available as an add-on. Using plastic bags or similar inside the backpack is wise.
All year
- Map – 1:50,000 standard topographical maps with trekking info are generally recommended; 1:25,000 are available for some areas and give greater detail, necessary for hikes in forests, where sight is limited; 1:75,000 and 1:100,000 are usable for good trails but may not give enough details in rough or steep terrain
- Compass – you want robust, low-tech navigation
- First aid kit
- Bottle(s) for water – e.g. used mineral water bottles
- Sunglasses – in summer, on snow and at high altitude
- Sunscreen – particularly at high altitude and where there is sun and snow
- Sleeping bag, hiking mattress and tent – on overnight hikes, unless you know you will get by without
- Food, snacks
- Camping stove – on any longer hike
- Cutlery etc.
- Matches
- Knife – carrying a knife in a public place is illegal, unless you have a good reason, carrying it together with camping equipment is acceptable.
- Repair kit covering any essential gear (by your definition of essential on the hike in question – knife, rope and tape will get you a long way)
- Fabric in bright colour, such as a reflexive vest, to aid finding you if need be. Can be your tent, backpack or similar.
- Optional
- satellite navigator (GPS) – not a substitute for map & compass
- Mobile phone (pack watertight and keep off most of the time)
- Binoculars
- Torch, candles: seldom needed in the white nights, but at least in autumn and winter a light source may be needed in the night; many wilderness huts lack electricity
- Towel (light)
- Nordic walking poles, walking staff or similar, to aid in keeping the balance in rough terrain and while fording
Somer
On short hikes or in easy terrain you may get by without some of these. The right foot wear is the most important for a successful hike.
- Foot wear:
- Jogging shoes are acceptable on tractor roads and other smooth trails in the lowland
- Rubber boots are good in wet terrain, unless the terrain is too rough for them
- Hiking boots with ankle support and a sturdy sole on rougher trails and in some terrain off trails; some people prefer lighter footwear also on rough ground, do as you wish if you are sure-footed and have strong ankles
- Gaiters or tall (military style) boots useful in muddy areas, after snow fall or in areas with dense low bushes
- For steep hills, on very rocky surface, with crampons or heavy backpacks, stiff, durable mountain boots often needed
- Trousers:
- Flexible, light hiking/sport trousers in synthetic material is useful for most conditions, preferably water repellent, if you have two pairs one pair should probably be suitable for hot weather
- Shirt on body:
- Cotton or synthetic on warm days
- Wool or similar on cool days/high altitudes
- Walking staff can be useful in rough terrain and for fording, Nordic walking sticks also serve some of these needs
- In the backpack
- Mosquito repellent (for the warm season, particularly in the interior), in some areas a mosquito hat is very much recommended
- Wool underwear
- Shirt/jumper (wool or microfleece)
- Wind proof, water repellent jacket
- Raingear (on short hikes the jacket may be enough, on some hikes the raingear should be heavy duty)
- Head cover (for rain, warmth, sun and mosquitoes)
- Neck cover (in high altitude for all but the shortest hikes, otherwise probably not necessary)
- Light gloves/mittens (high altitude, also otherwise if weather can become cold)
- Light footwear for the camp (to let the foots rest and the heavy duty boots dry), possibly also for fording
Winter
Already 15 cm (half a foot) of snow makes walking arduous, and much more is common also in the south, in some areas more than two metres (6 feet) is possible. Walking is thus a serious option only around your base or camp, at much used trails (do not spoil skiing tracks!) or if you know there will be little snow. In addition, in early Winter (November-December) there is little or no daylight. On Norway's Atlantic side heavy snowfalls are common, particularly a bit inland and uphill. Several metres of snow has been recorded along the Bergen railway (near Hardangervidda). In the city of Tromsø the record is more than two meters, in the month of April, more than a metre heavy snow is common. The deep snow typical in Western Norway and Troms county is often heavy and sticky, making hiking really difficult.
Snowshoes probably work as well here as in Canada, and there are snowshoe trails at some destinations, but they are much slower than skis in most Nordic conditions.
This means cross-country skis are necessary for most Nordic winter hiking. Depending on conditions you may get away with skis meant for track skiing, but if you are going to ski off tracks, "real" cross-country skis are much better. There are many options though, mostly depending on whether you are going to mountainous terrain and whether deep loose snow is to be expected. Also check what possibly breaking parts there are, and whether the skiing boots are suitable for all conditions (warm enough etc.).
For clothing, advice for cold weather apply. You should have light enough clothing not to get too sweaty going uphill (especially important when it is cold, as you will not get dry easily), but also warm enough when having sought shelter for a snow storm.
Sommige portable stoves fare badly in really cold conditions. Check that for yours.
Some mobile phones fare worse in cold weather than others. Having the phone off in a sealed bag close to your body protects it and its battery, but it might still not work when needed.
When the sun comes out in earnest, i.e. after midwinter, be careful about snow blindness and sunburn. Mountain goggles are good also in some windy conditions (the snow carried by strong wind sometimes feels like needles).
Most people hiking in winter in the north or in the mountains stay overnight indoors, at wilderness huts. In severe weather it may however be hard to get to the hut, and in some areas there simply are no huts where you would need them. If you might have to sleep outdoors, make sure your equipment is good enough. Some tools for digging snow can come handy. In the south, where temperatures are comparably manageable, even quite cheap winter sleeping bags are enough, at least in mild weather or when sleeping by a fire at a shelter.
Remember that the unmanned huts are usually heated by wood, and it may be as cold indoors as outside (even colder, if temperatures have risen) when you arrive. It will take some time and labour before it gets warm – and if your matches got wet you won't be able to light the fire (unless you find some hidden away in the hut). A good knife, matches, torch and candles are important equipment.
For areas where avalanches are possible, and on glaciers, special equipment is needed.
Gaan in
From most towns there is some hiking terrain in reach by local bus and by foot. Here is some advice for more remote destinations, such as most national parks.
By coach
There are usually coach connections with stops near your destination. Watch out for express coaches that may not stop at your stop. Connections that start as express may stop at all stops in the far north.
Some destinations do not have direct coach connections. There might be a school bus, a regular taxi connection or other special arrangements to use for the last ten or twenty kilometres.
Met die motor
- Sien ook: Driving in Sweden, Ry in Noorweë, Driving in Iceland
There are usually parking areas near the starting points of hiking routes in national parks and at similar destinations. You might, however, want to consider leaving your car farther away and use local transports, to be freer to choose the endpoint of your hike. On the other hand you can drive your car on minor roads without coach connections and stop at your whim – and for planned hikes you often can have a local business drive your car to a suitable location near the endpoint.
You are allowed to drive on some private roads, but not all. In Finland and Sweden roads that get public funding are open for all to use. Generally, unless there is a sign or barrier you are OK (watch out for temporarily opened barriers, which may be locked when you return). Parking may be disallowed in Norway except in designated places, in any case you should take care not to block the road or any exits. Some private roads are built for use with tractors, all-terrain vehicles or similar (or maintained only before expected use) and may be in terrible condition. In Iceland also many public roads (with numbers prefixed with "F") require four wheel drive cars and many mountain roads are closed in winter and spring.
Winter ry requires skills and experience, and should be avoided unless you are sure you can handle it. Nordic roads are regularly covered in ice, slush or hard snow during winter. Not all minor roads are ploughed in winter. In Norway even some regional roads are always closed in winter and there is a telephone service (ph 175 in Norway) to ask about temporarily closed roads and road conditions.
Per boot
Some destinations are best reached by boat. There may be a regular service, a taxi boat service or the possibility to charter a boat (crewed or uncrewed).
Met die taxi
Taxi rides are expensive, but they may prove worthwhile to avoid hiring a car or bringing your own, and to allow you to choose starting and ending points of the hike more freely.
Sometimes there are special arrangements that can be used, such as a reduced rate or shared regular taxi service, or a possibility to use a taxi transporting children to or from school (minivan taxis are common for these services).
Although taxis in the towns are usually ordered via a calling centre, in the countryside you might want to call the taxi directly. Numbers may be available from the yellow pages of the phone catalogue, from tourist information centres, visitor centres or tourist businesses.
Met die trein
In Norway and Sweden there are train connections to some hiking destinations. Also in Finland train can be a good option for part of the voyage. Iceland has no railways. Long-distance trains often run overnight. There may be combined tickets, where you get a reduction on ferries or coaches by booking the voyage in a special way.
In Finland trains are especially useful for getting from the south (Helsinki, Turku, Tampere) to Lapland (Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi, Kolari). The overnight trains on this route also take cars (loaded quite some time before departure, and not to all stations, check details). Nearly all trains take bikes. There is usually a smooth transfer to coaches or minibuses to get farther.
In Sweden Abisko op die Luleå–Narvik spoorweg (Malmbanan, "Iron Ore Railway") and Porjus on Inlandsbanan provide railway access into the Laponia national park complex or nearby destinations, such as Abisko National Park, Kebnekaise en die Kungsleden en Nordkalottleden trails. Bikes are not allowed on mainline SJ trains, except foldable ones.
In Norway Hardangervidda can be reached directly from the spectacular Bergensbanen railway between Oslo en Bergen, and some stations are available by train only. The Nordlandsbanen (Trondheim–Bodø) railway runs across the Saltfjellet plateau, while the Dovrebanen (Lillehammer–Trondheim) runs across the Dovrefjell plateau. The Malmbanan runs through the Narvik mountains and passes the wild areas at the border between Norway and Sweden.
Met die vliegtuig
Some destinations are remote. There may be an airport near enough to be worth considering. The airport probably has good connections to the area.
If you want to spend money you might be able to charter a seaplane or helicopter to get to the middle of the wilderness – but part of the joy is coming there after a tough hike and few areas are remote enough to warrant such a short-cut other than in special circumstances. There are flights for tourists to some destinations especially in Sweden, where also heliskiing is practised near some resorts, while such flights are available but scarce in Finland, and air transport into the wilderness generally is not permitted in Norway.
Per fiets
Most destinations are reachable by bike. If the destination is remote you might want to take the bike on a coach or train or rent a bike nearby. In Sweden only some trains take bikes. Foldable bikes can be taken also on the others.
By snowmobile
There are networks of snowmobile routes in parts of the countries, e.g. covering all of northern Finland. Rules for driving differ between the countries. Driving around by snowmobile is forbidden at many destinations, but routes by or through the areas are quite common. Ask about allowed routes and local regulations (and how they are interpreted) when you rent a snowmobile. Let wel stortvloed en ice safety implications and do not disturb wildlife. Maximum speed is about 60 km/h on land, with trailer with people 40 km/h, but lower speed is often necessary.
In Finland driving snowmobile (moottorikelkka, snöskoter) on land requires landowner's permission. Driving on lakes or rivers is free, unless there are local restrictions. There are designated snowmobile routes and tracks especially in the north, leading by national parks and wilderness areas. The snowmobile routes maintained by Metsähallitus ("moottorikelkkareitti", "snöskoterled") are regarded roads and thus cost nothing to use, while snowmobile tracks ("moottorikelkkaura", "snöskoterspår") require buying a permit, giving "landowner permission". Beside Metsähallitus, also e.g. some local tourist businesses make snowmobile tracks. Snowmobile "safaris" (i.e. tours) are arranged by many tourist businesses. Minimum age for the driver is 15 years and a driving licence is required (one for cars or motorcycles will do). Helmets and headlights must be used. Check what tracks you are allowed to use; driving on roads is not permitted, except shorter stretches where necessary, as in crossing the road or using a bridge. Sien Finnish Lapland#By snowmobile for some more discussion on snowmobiles in Finland.
Snowmobiles are extensively used by the local population in the north, especially by reindeer herders (permits are not needed for using snowmobiles in reindeer husbandry or commercial fishing).
In Swede snowmobiles may in theory be driven without permission, where driving does not cause harm (there has e.g. to be enough snow), but local regulations to the contrary are common, especially in the north. In the fell area driving is generally restricted to designated routes. Minimum age is 16. A driving licence is needed, a separate snowmobile licence unless the licence is from before 2000 (foreigners might be treated differently, ask). Headlights must be used.
In Noorweë all use of motor vehicles in the wilderness is generally forbidden unless specific permission is obtained. A driver's licence covering snowmobile (snøskuter) is needed. Helmets and headlights must be used.
In Ysland driving a registered and insured snowmobile is allowed when the ground is frozen enough and there is enough snow not to cause harm. Driving in national parks and cultivated lands however is forbidden. A driving licence for cars is needed.
Fooie en permitte
- Sien ook: Right to access in the Nordic countries
There are no entrance fees to national parks, wilderness areas or other hiking destinations, and entry is usually allowed from anywhere. There may however be service available for a fee, such as lodging in cabins (which is highly recommended at some destinations) – and of course fees for transportation, fishing permits and the like. Many services of visitor centres are free.
In most nature reserves only marked trails may be used; entry is entirely forbidden for the public to a few nature reserves and to a few restricted areas of national parks. The rules often vary by season: more severe restrictions when birds and mammals have offspring, often April–July, or when there is no snow cover. Otherwise you are mostly allowed to find your own paths.
Picking edible berries and mushrooms is allowed even in most nature reserves, with limitations in non-protected areas varying by country. Non-edible species are usually protected in nature reserves. Collecting anything else, including invertebrates, stones or soil is usually forbidden in the reserves, often also in national parks.
Camping in nature reserves is usually forbidden, but there may be a suitable site (with toilet etc.) by the trail just outside the reserve.
Visvang
There are several systems for fishing permits. Normally you pay for a permit for fishing in general and separately to the owners of the waters or an agency representing them. Some fishing is free. Salmon waters (many inland waters in the north) are often not covered by the ordinary fees, but use day cards instead. Make sure you know the rules for the area you will be fishing in; there are minimum and maximum sizes for some species, some are protected, and there may be detailed local regulations. Note that there are parasites and diseases that must not be brought to "clean" salmon or crayfish waters by using equipment used in other areas without proper treatment (be careful also with carried water, entrails, which can be carried by birds etc.). Tourist businesses and park visitor centres should be happy to help you get the permits and tell about needed treatments.
In Finland, fishing with a rod and a line (with no reel nor artificial lure other than a jig) is free in most waters. For other fishing, people aged 18–64 are required to pay a national fishing management fee (2016: €39 for a year, €12 for a week, €5 for a day). This is enough for lure fishing with reel in most waters, but streams with salmon and related species, as well as some specially regulated waters (not uncommon at the "official" hiking destinations), are exempted. For these you need a local permit. Fishing with other tools (nets, traps etc.) or with several rods always requires permission from the owner of the waters, in practice often a local friend, who has a share. There are minimum sizes for some species, possibly also maximum sizes and protection times. The restrictions are published online at kalastusrajoitus.fi (national restrictions by species and local exceptions by water area), but in practice you probably have to check from a visitor centre, suitable business, local fisherman or the like.
In Norway fishing with a rod and a line is free in salt water (living bait and fish as bait are prohibited). Norway's rivers and lakes are generally private and landowner permission is required. In water with salmon and related species a state fishing licence is also needed.
In Sweden fishing from the shore with hand-held tools (rod-and-line, lure and similar fishing) is generally permitted in the biggest lakes (Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren and Hjälmaren in southern Sweden, Storsjön in Jämtland) and in the sea. For fishing with nets etc. or from a boat, check the regulations. Other waters are mostly private property and a permit is required. The permits can often be bought from e.g. a local petrol station or fishing shop, for some waters also on Internet or by SMS.
In Iceland fishing does require buying an permit from the land owner. This also applies to fishing within national parks.
Jag
The additional meat got by hunting has always been welcome in the countryside, and hunting has remained a common pastime. Especially the hunt on elk get societies together, as the hunt is usually by driving. Among city dwellers hunting can be much more controversial.
For hunting yourself, you need general hunting and arms licences, and a permit for the specific area, time and intended game. Check the regulations well in advance. Some tourist businesses arrange hunting trips. If you are going to use such a service, they can probably help also with preparation and may enable hunting without licences, under their supervision.
The licences are usually easily obtained if you have such in your home country, but regulations are strict and some bureaucracy needed. You should of course acquaint yourself with local arms and hunting law, the game you are going to hunt and any similar protected species.
The permit is usually got either as a guest of a hunting club (which has obtained rights to hunting grounds), through a governmental agency (for state owned land; Finland: Metsähallitus, mostly for the wilderness areas) or through an association administering renting of private land (common in Norway).
Big game hunting in Norway (moose and red deer) is generally reserved for landowners and most forests are private. Reindeer hunting is possible in some areas of Southern Norway, largely on government land in the barren mountains. In Finland big game (including also wolves and bears in small numbers) requires special permits, usually acquired by the hunting club in an area. You may get a chance to join, but probably not to hunt independently.
Kry rond
Freedom to roam is mostly about getting around by foot or ski, but you may also want to use other equipment. There are often trails but seldom roads inside the protected areas.
You are allowed to use nearly any road, also private ones, unless you use a motorized vehicle. With a motorized vehicle you may drive on most private roads, but not on all (see Met die motor above), and use of motorized vehicles off road is restricted: usually you at least need landowner's permission. In Norway and Iceland there are also restrictions on the use of bicycles outside trails or tractor roads.
As all Nordic countries are members of the Schengen Agreement (and have far-reaching cooperation), border controls are minimal. Unless you have something to declare at customs, you can pass the border wherever – and if you have, visiting any customs office before you go on your hike may be enough. This is especially nice on the border between Sweden and Norway, on Nordkalottleden near Kilpisjärvi, where Norway, Sweden and Finland have common land borders, in Pasvik–Inari Trilateral Park naby Kirkenes and (for the hardcore backcountry hiker) if combining visits to Lemmenjoki National Park en Øvre Anárjohka National Park. The border to Rusland is quite another matter, paperwork is needed to visit that border area.
If you have a dog, be sure to check the procedures: there are some animal diseases that need documented checking or treatment before passing the border.
Dogs should be on leash at all times, except where you know you are allowed to let them free. They can easily wreck havoc among nesting birds and among reindeer. They are disallowed altogether in some areas. In any case you must be capable of calling your dog back if it e.g. finds a wild animal, livestock or another dog.
Orienteering
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At least on longer hikes you will need a compass, a suitable map and the skill to use them. Official trails are usually quite easy to follow, but there might be signs missing, confusing crossings and special circumstances (for instance fog, snow, emergencies) where you can get lost or must deviate from the route. Finding your way is your own responsibility. A GPS navigation tool is useful, but insufficient and prone to failure.
Magnetic declination is roughly in the range −15° (western Iceland) to 15° (eastern Finnmark), usually – but not always – negligible on land and in the inner archipelago. Finnish compasses often use the 60 hectomil for a circle scale; declination may be given as mils ("piiru"), i.e. 6/100 of degrees. One mil means about one metre sideways per kilometre forward, 10° about 175m/km.
As anywhere, compasses are affected by magnetic fields, and magnets have become common in clothing and gear, e.g. in cases for mobile phones. A strong magnet, or carrying the compass close to a weaker one, can even cause the compass to reverse polarity permanently, so that it points to the south instead of to the north. Check your gear.
Vir Finland, Maanmittaushallitus makes topographic maps suitable for finding your way, in the scale 1:50,000 (Finnish: maastokartta, Swedish: terrängkarta) for all the country, recommended in the north, and 1:25,000, earlier 1:20,000 (peruskartta, grundkarta) for the south. You can see the map sheet division and codes at Kansalaisen karttapaikka by choosing "order" and following directions. The former map sheets cost €15, the latter €12. For national parks and similar destinations there are also outdoor maps based on these, with huts and other service clearly marked and some information on the area (€15–20). Some of these maps are printed on a water resistant fabric instead of paper. For some areas there are detailed big scale orienteering maps, available at least from local orienteering clubs. Road maps are usually quite worthless for hikers once near one's destination.
Newer maps use coordinates that closely match WGS84 (EUREF-FIN, based on ETRS89), older ones (data from before 2005) a national coordinate system (KKJ/KKS/ISNET93; difference to WGS84 some hundred metres). In addition to coordinates in degrees and minutes (blue), metric coordinates are given in kilometres according to some of the old KKJ/YKJ grid, the local ETRS-TM grid and the national ETRS-TM35FIN grid. Old maps primarily show the metric (KKJ/YKJ) coordinates.
The data is free (since spring 2012) and available in digital form, packaged commercially and by hobbyists (but maps included in or sold for navigators are sometimes of lesser quality). The data is used by OSM and thus by OSM based apps. The map sheets are also available for free download as png files (registration mandatory) at the National Land Survey; topographic raster maps 1:50,000 are about 10 MB for 50×25 km.
Online maps for all the country with Metsähallitus trails and services marked (most municipal and private ones missing) are available for general use en mobile devices.
Explanatory texts are usually in Finnish, Swedish and English. Maps can be ordered e.g. van Karttakeskus.
Vir Ysland there are sérkort in 1:100,000 scale with walking path information. Online map from the national land survey.
Vir Noorweë there are Turkart (including trail and hut information etcetera; 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:100,000) and general topographic maps by Kartverket (1:50,000, 1:100,000 and 1:250,000). Maps at 1:50,000 give enough detail for navigation in difficult Norwegian terrain (standard maps in Norway), maps 1:100,000 tend to be too course for hiking. Maps at 1:250,000 can be used for general planning, but not for navigation in the wilderness. Maps can be ordered e.g. van Kartbutikken of Statens Kartverk[dooie skakel]. Electronic maps are available from Norgesglasset. Online map for general planning is provided by the Trekking Association (DNT). The DNT maps also have information on huts and routes. Although the info is in Norwegian, it is in a standard format, quite easy to grasp. Note that walking times are given as hours of steady walk, you have to add time for breaks, and you might not be able to keep the nominal speed.
Lantmäteriet, the Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority, used to publish printed maps of Sweden. Since 1 July 2018 they only publish maps on their website, where it is possible to download maps in the scales of 1:10 000 and 1:50 000.
For fell areas in Swede there were two map series by Lantmäteriet, Fjällkartan 1:100 000 covering all the fell area, and Fjällkartan 1:50 000 covering the southern fells. The maps included information on trails, huts, weather etcetera, were adapted to the trails and overlapped as needed. They were renewed every three to five years.
For most of the country there is Terrängkartan (1:50 000, 75 cm x 80 cm). The road map, Vägkartan (1:100 000), covers the area not covered by Fjällkartan and includes topographic information. It may be an acceptable choice for some areas.
Lantmäteriet has an online map.
Maps are often for sale in well equipped book stores, outdoor equipment shops and park visitor centres. Maps for popular destinations may be available in all the country and even abroad, maps for less visited areas only in some shops. Ordering from the above mentioned web shops is possibly restricted to domestic addresses.
Note that maps, especially when based on older data, can have coordinate systems other than WGS84.
In border areas you often need separate maps for the countries. Some electronic maps handle the situation badly (the device showing blank areas of one map instead of information of the other map).
Polaris (North Star) is high in the sky, often seen also in sparse forest, but low enough that the direction is easily seen. Ander natural orienteering aids include ant nests (built to get as much warmth from the sun as possible, thus pointing to the south), moss preferring the shadow and the boundary between grey and red of pine tree trunks, being lower on one side.
Fording
On marked routes there are usually bridges or other arrangements at any river, but at least in the backcountry in the north, in the mountains and in Iceland there are often minor (or "minor") streams too wide to jump over. In times of high water fording may be difficult or even impossible. Asking about the conditions beforehand, being prepared and – if need be – using some time to search for the best place to ford is worthwhile. Asking people one meets about river crossings ahead is quite common.
In Norway and Sweden it is common to have "summer bridges", which are removed when huts close in autumn. Off season you have to ford or take another route unless there is strong enough ice or snow cover. It is not always obvious from the maps what bridges are permanent (and permanent bridges can be damaged by spring floods). Not all bridges are marked at all on the maps, so you can have nice surprises also.
At some crossings there may be special arrangements, such as safety ropes. At lakes or gentle rivers there may be rowing boats, make sure you leave one at the shore from where you came.
Often the streams are shallow enough that you can get to the other side by stepping from stone to stone without getting wet (at some: if you have rubber boots or similar). The stones may be slippery or may wiggle; do not take chances.
In a little deeper water you will have to take off boots and trousers. Easy drying light footwear, or at least socks, are recommended to protect your feet against potential sharp edges. If you have wading trousers, like some fishermen, you can use those to avoid getting wet. A substitute can be improvised from raingear trousers by tying the legs tightly to watertight boots (e.g. with duct tape). Usually you get by very well without – avoiding drenching boots and raingear would your construction fail.
When your knees get wet the current is usually strong enough that additional support, such as a walking staff or rope, is needed. Keep the staff upstream so that the current forces it towards the riverbed, make sure you have good balance and move only one foot or the staff at a time, before again securing your position. Do not hurry, even if the water is cold. Usually you should ford one at a time: you avoid waiting in cold water or making mistakes not to have the others wait. People on the shore may also be in a better position to help than persons in the line behind.
Unless the ford is easy, the most experienced one in the company should first go without backpack to find a good route. If you have a long enough rope he or she can then fasten it on the other side. A backpack helps you float should you loose your balance, but it floating on top of you, keeping you under water, is not what you want. Open its belt and make sure you can get rid of it if needed.
The established place to cross a river is often obvious. Sometimes an established ford is marked on the map (Finnish: kahlaamo, Swedish, Norwegian: vad, vadested), sometimes it can be deduced (path going down to the river on both sides), sometimes you have to make your own decisions. Always make a judgement call: also established fords can be dangerous in adverse conditions, especially when you lack experience. Vertrou nooit daarop dat u 'n rivier kan gevaar wat gevaarlik kan wees nie; spaar in plaas daarvan genoeg tyd om die nood te vermy as dit moeilik lyk.
Moenie na die smalste punt soek as u die rivier wil oorsteek nie; dit is waar die stroom die sterkste is. 'N Breër gedeelte met matige stroom en matige diepte is beter. Harde sand op die rivierbedding is goed, alhoewel dit nie te algemeen is nie. Soms kan jy by 'n kloof of op die klippe in 'n stroomversnelling oor die rivier spring, maar moenie met jou lewe waag nie (dink aan wikkelende of gladde rotse, los mosse, ens.).
Tydsberekening kan die sleutel wees by sommige waaie. As u reën, moet u waarskynlik so gou as moontlik vaar of opgee. Riviere met sneeu of gletsers stroomop sal die oggend na 'n koue nag makliker wees.
Vir sommige riviere moet u net stroomop loop totdat dit klein genoeg is. Dit gebeur as daar 'n brug ontbreek of as u in 'n hoë tyd loop. As die rivier afkomstig is van 'n meer met verskeie sytakke, is dit dikwels 'n oplossing om 'n roete bo die meer te vind. U kan ook 'n roete volg op rante in plaas van in die riviervalleie, om te verhoed dat u by individuele strome op en af gaan.
In seldsame gevalle kan die beste manier om 'n rivier oor te steek, wees om 'n geïmproviseerde vlot te gebruik, wat byvoorbeeld gebou kan word. uit jou rugsakke, 'n seil, tou en 'n paar jong bome. Sorg dat u toerusting goed in plastieksakke verpak is en dat daar geen stroom is wat u in gevaar stel nie.
In die winter kan u gereeld riviere oorsteek op die sneeu en ys, maar dit is 'n tweesnydende swaard: ysdikte in vinnig vloeiende riviere wissel drasties en daar kan oop water wees, of water wat slegs met 'n sneeubrug bedek is, ook in uiterste winters. Sneeubruggies wat deur 'n vroeëre maatskappy gekruis is, kan vir u ineenstort. Moenie te veel op u oordeel staatmaak as u ervaring nie het nie.
Te voet
Vir kort staptogte benodig u miskien geen spesiale toerusting nie.
In die meeste gebiede is nat terrein te wagte. Onderhoude staproetes het wel eendplankies op die slegste plekke, maar dit is nie altyd genoeg nie.
In sommige bergagtige gebiede is die terrein rotsagtig en stewige skoene is nodig.
In afgeleë valgebiede is daar min brûe en brûe wat op u kaart gemerk is, kan ontbreek (vernietig deur oorstromende riviere of vir die winter verwyder). Wees bereid om waaie en miskien geïmproviseerde vlotte te gebruik. Watervlakke kan baie hoog wees in die lente (stroomaf van gletsers: die somer) of na lang tydreën, en dit kan gevaarlik maak in strome wat andersins gering is. U kan gewoonlik minstens inligting oor gemerkte paadjies en oor die algemene situasie in die omgewing kry, van besoekersentrums in die park en toeristebesighede wat stappers versorg. Op gemerkte roetes mag die rivierkruisings nie gevaarlik wees of spesiale vaardighede benodig tydens normale toestande nie, maar gebruik altyd u eie oordeel.
In sommige gebiede is daar groot moerasse. Voordat u met een gaan, moet u daarvan seker wees. Die grootste probleem is om u pad te verloor sodat u daar te moeilike plekke as u opgee en terugdraai. As u dit vermy, kry u meer en meer van u oorspronklike roete af. Om die gebruikte roete akkuraat genoeg te onthou, is verbasend moeilik.
Met die ski
Winterstappe word gewoonlik gedoen deur langlaufski's. Die meer ervare stappers het ski's wat bedoel is om ook buite spore te gebruik, wat wildernis toere moontlik maak in landskappe wat onaangeraak deur die mens lyk. Ook met normale langlaufski's kan u verstommende uitsigte ervaar, langs voorbereide bane of naby u basis, in sommige omstandighede ook op langer toere sonder spore.
Waar daar staproetes is, is daar in die winter dikwels gemerkte langlaufroetes met onderhoude ski-bane. Die roete verskil dikwels van die somerroetes, bv. om te steil dele te vermy of bevrore mere en moerasse te benut. Die standaarde verskil. Naby stede en ski-oorde kan die roetes dubbelspore, 'n vrystylbaan en ligte hê, terwyl sommige "ski-bane" in die land slegs onderhou word deur net so af en toe met 'n sneeuwscooter daarheen te ry. 'N Paar ski-roetes word selfs nie onderhou nie, wat beteken dat u u eie spore moet maak, selfs as u dit volg, tensy iemand dit al gedoen het. Die spore word meestal gereeld versorg, maar nie noodwendig kort na sneeuval nie. Op toere wat deur toeristeondernemings gereël word, kan spore spesiaal vir u gemaak word.
As daar sneeuwscooterspore is, kan dit makliker wees om dit te volg as om in die los sneeu te ski. Pasop, want sneeuwscooters volg hul roetes baie vinnig en spore wat deur onafhanklike bestuurders gemaak word, kan u dwaal.
In noordelike binnelandse gebiede kan die temperatuur vir 'n groot deel van die winter laag wees, wat beteken dat die sneeu droog en los is (behalwe in versorgde spore en waar dit deur die wind verhard word). Sommige dae (en nagte) kan ongelooflik koud wees. Dit is die prys vir ski in die Arctic Night.
Die beste ski-seisoen in die noorde is wanneer dagtemperature bo vriespunt styg, en 'n goeie harde oppervlak in die oggend na die ysige nag gee. Pasop vir sneeublindheid en sonbrand. Staan vroeg op: die sterk sonlig en dikwels warm dae versag die sneeu en ski van versorgde spore kan in die middag moeilik raak.
Terwyl u in die noorde of in die berge mooi weer geniet, moet u nie vergeet dat die weer vinnig kan verander nie. Om vasgevang te wees in 'n sneeustorm in boomlose gebiede is gevaarlik, veral as u nie opgelei en voorbereid is nie. As u te laat gaan en 'n gedeelte van die nag in die buitelug moet deurbring, sal dit baie kouer wees as op die dag.
In die laat lente in die noorde, as die nagte nie meer koud genoeg is nie, is die sneeu ook soggens sag - as daar nog sneeu oor is, beteken dit nie noodwendig maklik om te ski nie. Terselfdertyd oorstroom smeltende sneeu elke klein stroom. As u 'n reis met die laaste sneeu beplan, moet u seker maak dat u die omstandighede verstaan.
Deur skaats
Die ystoestande op mere, riviere en die see laat dikwels ysskaats en staproetes toe deur skaats. Om selfstandig te werk is 'n slegte idee, want ys-toestande kan moeilik wees om te voorspel, maar klubs en sommige toeristebesighede reël toere. Namate vlak mere vroeër vries, is die binneste eilandgroep ietwat en die see baie later (met baie wisselvalligheid afhangende van wind, strome, plaaslike sneeuval ens.), Is daar gewoonlik plekke waar geen of slegs ligte sneeuval sedert die ys gaan lê het nie. . Die plaaslike entoesiaste weet waar om hul geluk te probeer of wie om te vra. Sorg dat u spesifieke veiligheidstoerusting saambring vir hierdie soort skaats (tensy u gids dit verskaf).
Per fiets
Fietsry is gewoonlik ingesluit in die vryheid om in Finland, Swede en die Noorse berge te dwaal, maar fietse laat spore en kan erosie veroorsaak - en u mag nie skade berokken nie. U wil dalk sensitiewe of ongerepte aard vermy. In die laaglande van Noorweë, dit is onder die boomlyn, is fietsry slegs op paaie en paaie toegelaat. Fietsry is ook verbode op uitgesoekte paaie in die laagland. In Ysland mag u slegs fietsry op paaie, paaie en paaie.
In sommige nasionale parke en wildernisgebiede word fietsry langs sommige roetes toegelaat en aangemoedig, terwyl fietsry in beskermde gebiede andersins implisiet of uitdruklik verbied kan word.
U kan ook op gewone platteland fietsry, klein paaie deur die dorpe wil gebruik en u tente deurbring en die reg op toegang benut. Sommige navorsing om te vind B&B: s en soortgelyk kan die moeite werd wees, bv. om tee en broodjies in 'n lekker omgewing te kry en 'n geselsie met plaaslike inwoners te kry. Die B & B's verkoop dikwels produkte van hul eie, soos handwerk of bokkaas. U kan vooraf bel.
Die Rallarvegen (Navvy road) is 'n gewilde fietsroete, oorspronklik 'n konstruksieweg langs die Oslo-Bergen-spoorweg.
Per perd
Perde is gewoonlik ingesluit by die vryheid van rondlê, ten minste in Finland en Swede, maar waar daar meer as gemaklik is, het dit 'n invloed op minder paaie en op die terrein. As u perde huur, het die stal waarskynlik reëlings met plaaslike grondeienaars en padonderhouders. Vra wel watter roetes u moet gebruik.
Per boot
Daar is baie bestemmings wat die beste per boot ervaar word, of waar 'n kano 'n ander ervaring bied. In sommige kan u 'n plaaslike besigheid 'n gedeelte van die afstand met 'n rivierboot laat vervoer en te voet verder gaan.
In Noorweë is motorvervoer verbode in alle binnelandse waters, in die ander lande in sekere waters. Privaat pilare mag nie sonder toestemming gebruik word nie. Anders is daar selde enige beperkinge op die bootreis, solank u bedagsaam is.
Kano's en klein bote kan dikwels naby die bestemming gehuur word. Jagte kan dikwels by groter dorpe gehuur word. As u iets groots of vinnig wil gebruik, moet u die gewone regulasies ken. Sien ook Vaar op die Baltiese See.
As u gaan stroomversnellings u moet genoeg ondervinding hê om te weet wat u moet vra, of om seker te maak dat u gids weet dat u beginners is. Daar is baie toeriste-ondernemings wat graag help. Daar is ook baie opsies vir meer rustige kanovaart, veral in Finland.
Kano's, kajaks en ander bote moet nie tussen waterstelsels geskuif word sonder behoorlike ontsmetting om besoedeling te voorkom nie (soos salmparasiete en kreefplaag; as die boot deeglik droog word, kan dit genoeg wees), of dit in die spesifieke geval nie nodig is om dit na te gaan nie.
Aan die kus, in die groot mere en in die eilandgroepe is daar goeie geleenthede seekajak. Bestemmings sluit die Argipelsee, meerstelsels van die Finse Lakeland en die Mälaren - eilandgroep in Svealand.
Sien
As u deur beskrywings van nasionale parke kyk, kan u 'n idee gee van dinge wat u wel wil sien.
In die winteraande in die verre noorde, soms in die suide, kan u die land sien Noordeligte (Aurora Borealis). In die grootste deel van Ysland, in Troms, Finnmark, Noord-Norrland en in die noorde van Finse Lapland, kom hulle 50–75% van die nagte met helder lug voor, en buite die woestyn het u geen ligbesoedeling nie, behalwe u fakkel - vermy die bederf van u nagvisie . Die waarskynlikheid is die hoogste vanaf laataand, as u dag normaalweg verby is (as die lug helder is, wil u miskien 'n rukkie uitgaan in die aand), maar met kort dagligure en 'n bietjie geluk, kan u dit dalk verlig. , wat sorg vir nog sterker towerkuns.
Ander verskynsels wat u kan sien, is halo-verskynsels, soos sonhonde en ligpilare, wat almal na vore kom wanneer son- of maanlig deur yskristalle in die atmosfeer weerkaats word.
Daar is ook die Middernag son noord van die Noordpoolsirkel, as die son glad nie ondergaan nie, vir 'n paar weke in die noorde van Lapland en Finnmark. Selfs waar die son amptelik sak, word dit glad nie donker nie, behalwe vir die suide van Swede. Aan die ander kant sal dit in die middel van die winter 'n groot deel van die dag donker wees (weer bo die Noordpoolsirkel is daar pool nag tot 'n paar weke rondom Kersfees). Dit bied goeie geleenthede om die Aurora te sien, tensy dit bewolk is. Daar sal nog 'n paar uur in die middel van die dag 'n soort 'dagbreek' wees en die sneeu versterk die bietjie lig wat bestaan. Veral helder maanlose nagte in sneeubedekte boomlose gebiede bied 'n magiese gevoel, waar die bietjie lig wat deur sterre (en potensiële noorderlig) verskaf word, genoeg kan wees om 'n weg te vind. Vermy die gebruik van fakkels, want dit neem ongeveer 'n uur voordat die oë heeltemal aanpas by die donkerte.
Sneeu kom gereeld 'n paar maande in die winter voor - weer, hierdie seisoen begin vroeër en eindig later hoe verder noord u gaan. Mere en tot 'n sekere mate die see (die grootste deel van die Botniese Baai en die Golf van Finland, soms byna die hele Oossee) vries oor en dit is moontlik om te ski, skaats, ysvis of selfs op die ys in die winter (maar net as die ys dik genoeg is, vra en hou die plaaslike inwoners dop!). Langlauf is miskien die beste manier om rond te kom. Die winter in die Nordiese lande kan 'n nuwe ervaring vir besoekers uit warmer lande wees. Aan die Atlantiese kus en in die suidelike derde, is die weer warmer en daar sal miskien nie baie sneeu val nie, maar baie reën by die eerste.
Winteragtige landskappe verskil baie, afhangende van die weersomstandighede. In sommige toestande bedek ryp plantegroei met fyn strukture, in ander bedek sneeu die bome, in sommige is die bome kaal as gevolg van wind of ontdooiing. Veral in die noorde word ekstreme kroonsneeuspanning veroorsaak deur vogtigheid wat bo-op die sneeu vorm. Spar in die noorde groei anders as dié in die suide om die vragte die hoof te bied.
Daar is baie van bos in hierdie streek, behalwe in Ysland, op die hoër berge waar feitlik niks groei nie, in hooglande in die noorde en op die toendra. Die taiga - met meestal denne en spar, sommige berke en klein kolle van bv. asp, els en lijsterbes - oorheers 'n groot deel van die streek. In die suide is daar ook bv. beuk- en eikebome, terwyl daar in die noorde en naby die boomlyn berk oorheers.
In die herfs word blare geel, oranje en rooi voordat dit val. Namate die daglengte en die temperatuur vinniger in die noordelikste deel van die streek daal, sorg dit vir sterker kleure. In Finland reis sommige mense selfs na Lapland om die kleure van die herfs bekend as te sien ruska ('n lekker stapseisoen al word die tydsberekening verkeerd).
Van die grootste eilandgroepe in Europa kan in Skandinawië gevind word. As jy reis per boot vanaf Stockholm na Turku of Helsinki, sal u die meeste van die tyd verskeie eilande sien. Die Argipelsee buite Turku het ongeveer 40 000 daarvan (as ook eilandjies getel word). 'N Baie lang en bergagtige argipel strek langs die Noorse kus - om hierdie eilandgroep volledig te ervaar, vaar op die Hurtigruten. Daar is natuurlik ook kleiner veerbote wat u van eiland tot eiland neem. Langs die Noorse kus is daar ongeveer 300 000 eilande, meer as in enige ander land in Europa. Kleiner eilandgroepe van kennisgewing kan aan beide kante van Kvarken gevind word - die Hoë kus naby Umeå en die Kvarken-argipel naby Vaasa, wat saam 'n UNESCO Wêrelderfenisgebied. Nog 'n eilandgroep kan gevind word in Bohuslän net noord van Göteborg. As jy wil sien meer-eilandgroepe, die Finse Lakeland, veral Saimaa, is beslis die plek om na te gaan.
Daar is spore van die ystydperk; die hele streek was gedurende die laaste ystydperk tot meer as 10 000 jaar gelede deur meer as 'n kilometer ys bedek. Eskers het gevorm waar materia deur die groeiende gletser weggestoot is en waar water van smeltende gletsers sand, gruis en klip gebring het. Reuse rotse is deur die ys gedra en ver van hul oorsprong af gelaat (dikwels toegeskryf aan reuse-dade in die plaaslike folklore). Los klippe in onstuimige strome gekerf reuse ketels. Klippe en gruis wat deur die gletsers gedruk word, versorg die rots, gesien vanaf die gladde rots aan baie oewers. Dieselfde verskynsels is op kleiner skaal aan die gang in bestaande gletsers. In Kolvananuuro natuurreservaat in Kontiolahti daar is spore van 'n ystydperk van 2500 miljoen jaar (sic!) gelede; die Finse bergsteen is een van die oudste wêreldwyd (dit is waarom berge ontbreek: dit is verslyt, die Skandinawiese berge is baie jonger).
Op die kulturele kant, in die noordelikste deel van Finland, Noorweë en Swede, kan u ervaar Samiese kultuur. Daar is ook hier en daar interessante klippe en gravures te sien - rotstekeninge, runestene, grensmerke en gedenktekens. Antieke vangkuile, wat gebruik word om grootwild te jag (rendiere en elande), kan in die dorre hoogtes gesien word. Hou in gedagte dat ou artefakte standaard deur die wet beskerm word. Die Noorse hooglande en bergvalleie word steeds gebruik om mak diere te wei, en stappers moet bereid wees om koeie, bokke en skape te ontmoet, en sommige plekke ook perde. Vroeër was daar duisende "somerplase" ("seter", sjielings) waar melkmeisies gedurende die somer kaas en botter van bokke en koeie geproduseer het. In sommige gebiede was sulke skilderye deel van 'n semi-nomadiese leefstyl waar die hele gesin gedurende die somer verhuis het. Hierdie skilderye bestaan as ruïnes of word as vakansiehutte onderhou, 'n handjievol word steeds as melkerye bedryf.
Natuurlewe
- Sien ook: Eurasiese wildlewe
In die valstreek en in die noorde is daar baie Arktiese spesies. In die taiga, veral in die ooste en noorde, is daar baie oosterse spesies wat nie in Wes- of Sentraal-Europa voorkom nie. Aangesien groot bosveld en andersins onbeboude gebiede oorbly, kom baie spesies voor wat skaars of uitgesterf is in die digbevolkte dele van Europa, selfs algemeen.
Vir die meeste soogdiere moet u 'n bietjie geluk hê om hulle raak te sien, selfs die algemeenste. As u nie te veel geraas in u kamp het nie en rustig loop, miskien teen die wind, kan dit u kanse vergroot, sowel as die risiko dat u te naby kom voordat u dit raaksien. gevaarlike diere. Baie diere is aktief in die skemer en dagbreek, hou dus u oë oop. U het ook 'n groter kans om ontlasting en pootafdrukke te vind - veral in geskikte vars sneeu - en ander spore as om die diere te sien.
As u ernstig wil wees om spesifieke wilde diere te sien, is dit die moeite werd om 'n gids aan te stel. Hulle weet waar en wanneer die kans die beste is, kan hul spore wys en dit waarskynlik ook raaksien voordat u dit doen. Daar is kortpaaie, soos om in 'n skuilplek met aas te oornag. Kyk of die gids op dieselfde golflengte is en u wense ken.
Groot karnivore
Die vier groot (beer, wolf, wolverine en lynx) is skaam en word selde gesien, selfs al kan stappers spore raakloop. Noorweë, Swede en Finland is die enigste lande in Europa (behalwe Rusland) met wolwe. Die wolwer en die lynx loop binne enkele dae oor wye gebiede. Nie een van die groot vleiseters is 'n bedreiging vir die mens nie, behalwe moedermoere wat haar welpies sal beskerm.
Daar is dra (Eurasiese bruinbeer, Ursus arctos arctos) in Noord-Swede, die hele Finland en dele van Noorweë. Dit woon meestal in naaldbosse, waarvan die grootste konsentrasies bestaan Noord-Karelia. In die winter slaap dit. Die mis is dikwels maklik om te identifiseer, in die seisoen wat deur bosbes oorheers word. In teenstelling met die Noord-Amerikaanse bere, het hulle nie geleer om na stappers se kos te kom nie.
Die wolf in Skandinawië uitgesterf het, maar immigrante-wolwe uit Finland en Rusland het nou 'n min of meer volhoubare bevolking gevestig by die grens tussen Oos-Noorweë en middel-Swede rondom Värmland. Daar is wolke regoor Finland suid van die rendiergebied, maar yl. U is baie meer geneig om wolwe te hoor, of hul spore in die sneeu te sien, as om die wolwe self te sien. Die pootafdrukke lyk soos dié van 'n groot hond en word meestal geïdentifiseer deur die gedrag te bestudeer: wolwe beweeg dikwels lang afstande met min ompaaie, en hulle wissel gereeld voorvoet van links na regs en terug op daardie lang afstande. In 'n pak gebruik wolwe 'n gewone spoor, en lyk net soos die van een wolf.
Die meeste wolwerines word in die Skandinawiese valstreek en in die Suomenselkä-waterskeidingsgebied tussen Finlandmeer en Noord-Finland aangetref. Daar is yl bevolkings ook in Noord- en Oos-Lapland, en selfs aan die suidkus is individuele wolwe opgemerk. Hulle het baie voordeel getrek uit die terugkeer van die wolf. Die lynx dwaal die grootste deel van die Skandinawiese skiereiland en Finland, maar is soos die wolwe in 'n beskeie getal, skaam en word selde gesien. Die lynx is ongeveer twee keer so groot soos die Noord-Amerikaanse bobbejaan.
Rooijakkals kom algemeen voor in relatief groot getalle in die hele gebied. Die Arktiese jakkals word ernstig bedreig, maar die Noorse pogings het goeie resultate behaal en dit kom voor in verskeie gebiede in die Skandinawiese hoë berge en baie yl in Noord-Finland.
Hoefdieren
Half-wild rendier is 'n algemene gesig in die rendiergebied, dit wil sê die noordelike dele van Finland, Noorweë en Swede. Daar is bevolkings van wilde val rendiere bo die boslyn in Suid-Noorweë in gebiede soos Hardangervidda, Reinheimen, Setesdal-Ryfylke, en Dovrefjell-Rondane. Daar is wild bos rendiere in Kainuu en by Suomenselkä (nou ook buite die streek versprei). Rendier was eens 'n baie belangrike speletjie, en prehistoriese vangkuile is nog steeds 'n baie algemene gesig in die noorde. Die Finse woord vir bos rendier (peura) is deel van baie plekname wat die belangrikheid daarvan toon. Stappers moenie rendiere steur nie.
Elks (Amerikaans: eland; Noors: elg, Fins: hirvi), "koning van die bos", is teenwoordig in alle beboste gebiede, wat die maklikste in velde en opruimings gesien kan word. Die eland is 'n groot wild wat meestal deur stappers raakgesien word, want dit is minder skaam as die takbokke. Rooi takbokke woon in groot getalle in Wes-Noorweë en Suid-Swede, gemsbok in geskikte habitatte in die hele streek behalwe die noorde. Die rooibok leef hoofsaaklik in woude, en kom in die somer en herfs ook algemeen rondom die boslyn voor. Ree word gereeld gesien rondom plase en nedersettings in die laaglande. Amerikaans witstert takbokke kom algemeen voor in Finland (in die dertigerjare bekendgestel). Met 'n bietjie geluk sal u sommige hiervan sien, ten minste sal u ontlasting sien.
Mysk osse is in die veertigerjare weer in Dovrefjell ingestel, omdat hulle 9000 jaar lank in Europa afwesig was, en daar is nou ook troppe in 'n paar ander gebiede.
Varke (Sweeds: vildsvin) is redelik algemeen in Götaland en Svealand in Swede en in Suid-Finland. Varkens wat daarvandaan immigreer, kan soms in ander streke gesien word (soos langs die Noorse grensgebiede in Østfold en Hedmark), maar hulle het probleme om harde winters meer na die noorde te oorleef.
Ander landsoogdiere
Europese dasse is redelik algemeen, maar nagtelik. In koue gebiede slaap hulle die hele winter. Hulle is afwesig in die noordelikste gebiede.
Die otter word weer baie algemeen in Finland, terwyl dit waarskynlik nog skaars is in Noorweë en Swede. Die bewer is in Finland en Swede uitgesterf, maar weer ingestel, in Finland met ook Amerikaanse bevers (wat toe as dieselfde soort beskou is).
Lemmings kom baie voor in en naby die valgebiede, terwyl dit selde anders gesien word. Lemmingpopulasiepieke staan bekend as 'lemmingjaar' (lemenår) en kan soms lei tot verdringing in berge en hooglande. Hierdie skommeling beïnvloed ook uile en biddende voëls, waarvan sommige migreer of nie nes as knaagdiere skaars is nie. Die lem is ongeveer so groot soos 'n klein hamster en is bekend vir sy aggressiewe houding as dit bedreig word.
Die eekhoring kom algemeen voor in die taiga en in die suide, meer selde in die afgesaagde berkewoude. Siberiese vlieënde eekhoring leef hoofsaaklik in ou gemengde woud, wat 'n bedreigde biotop is, en word selde gesien as 'n nag, maar dit kan nogal in Finland voorkom (dit word gevind deur te soek na mis in die regte habitats).
Daar is twee soorte haas: die berghaas kom meestal voor in die gebied, terwyl die Europese haas in die suide van Finland algemeen is en 'n kleiner ingevoerde bevolking in Swede het. Eersgenoemde is kleiner (maar die pote is groot, 'n aanpassing vir diepe sneeu), wit in die winter, behalwe die oorkoppe, en 'n meester om verwarrende paadjies te maak (heen en weer hardloop, na die kant toe spring, ens.).
Ander karnivore wasbeerhond (in Finland, suid van die Noordpoolsirkel), dennenmart, mink (oorspronklik ontsnap van pelsplase, nou algemeen), Europese polekat (in Finland behalwe Lapland, in die suide van Swede en in die suidooste van Noorweë), hermalyn en minste moer. Die Europese nerts, nie baie nou verwant aan die Amerikaner nie, word hier as uitgesterf geklassifiseer, deels as deur die laasgenoemde oortref.
Voëls
U sal ook baie verskillende teëkom voëls, en in die lente en vroeë somer hoor jy die koekoek gereeld. 'N Goeie verkyker is dikwels nodig om voëls dop te hou.
Ysland en Noorweë het steil kranse langs die kus, waar duisende watervoëls nesmaak. Die kus van Noorweë het die grootste aantal voëls, terwyl die binnelandse hooglande 'n kleiner aantal voëls het - dikwels skaars voëls soos die sneeuuil of 'n groot beenvoël (laasgenoemde alomteenwoordig in die valgebiede in die noorde).
Die kuslyn van Noorweë het die grootste aantal van die groot Europese see-arend (ook bekend as witsterendarend). Die groot voël word deur die wet beskerm en kan net op 'n afstand waargeneem word. Die groot aantal arende, veral rondom Bodø, beteken dat hulle gereeld gesien word. Die arend het ook algemeen geword by die Finse kus, danksy massiewe bewaringsprogramme nadat veral chemikalieë soos DDT en kwik dit in die 1970's byna uitgesterf het. By die fjorde, in die Skandinawiese berge en in die Finse noordelike binneland (meestal vanaf Suomenselkä noordwaarts), is daar ook die goue arend (in Finse en Sweedse "koningarend" genoem).
Die ru-been-akkedis kom oral in die veldgebiede voor. Sneeuuil maak yl op die afgevalle heide. Ook valke soos die kalk, die slakvalk (albei in die Nordiese lande bedreig) en die merlin kan hier gesien word. Die groot grys uilnes in die noordelike woude, die noordelike havikuil in die berkebos of ander yl bos, die Ural-uil in die taiga, terwyl die Eurasiese arenduil in geskikte woestynhabitats in die meeste gebiede, behalwe in die uiterste noorde, neste maak. . Geeluil kom algemeen in die suidelike woude voor. Goshawk en Europese mossie kom algemeen in woude in die grootste deel van die streek voor. Gewone buizerd is algemeen in landbougebiede.
Baie voëls maak nes of voed in vleilande. Baie voëlreservate het eendplankies en uitkyktorings wat 'n goeie uitsig bied, terwyl vleilande in die agterland dikwels 'n hele paar toewyding verg, omdat hulle min of meer per definisie moeisaam is om miljoene muskiete deur te dring (en jy moet versigtig wees hoe baie om die nesvoëls te versteur). U het 'n ordentlike uitsig op sommige vleilande vanaf 'n oewer of andersins buite die vleiland.
Die stom swaan kom algemeen in die suide voor. Die kraanzwaan is die nasionale voël van Finland, die voël van Norrland, 'n simbool van Nordiese samewerking en 'n simbool van omgewingsvriendelike produkte. Dit broei meestal in klein mere in die noordelike wildernis, hoewel dit versprei na sentraal Finland en Suid-Skandinawië. 'N Boek van Yrjö Kokko oor die verdwyning daarvan was 'n belangrike oogopening in die vyftigerjare en het bygedra tot natuurbewaring.
Ander wildernisvoëls wat in of naby wildernismere nesmaak, sluit in rooi en swart keellonge, rooi-nek-phalarope, noordelike pintail, Eurasiese teal en die witganse.
Water
Waterliggame het ook diere om op te spoor, veral die Atlantiese Oseaan waar walvisse, robbe, visse en 'n verskeidenheid kleiner wesens in die see kan sien. U kan ook seevoëls sien, wat wissel van meeue tot witkruisarende. Een seldsame ontmoeting is die Saimaa-seël wat baie bedreig is (saimaannorppa), 'n rob wat net in die Saimaameer woon.
Doen
Swem is byna oral toegelaat en moontlik in die honderdduisende mere rondom die streek - of in die see en riviere. U moet 'n redelike afstand tot huise, kothuise en privaat eweknieë hou (in Noorweë minstens 50 meter van residensiële geboue). In baie gebiede is sandstrande skaars, maar gladde kranse langs die oewer kom algemeen voor aan die kus van Finland en Swede (rundhäll) en in sommige dele van Noorweë (svaberg), en soms verkies deur plaaslike inwoners. Wees op die uitkyk vir strome, half onder waterstompe en gladde rotse. Teen die laaste helfte van die somer kan mere en die see (veral die Oossee) besmet raak deur sianobakterieë ("algblom"), wat neurotoksiene produseer. In daardie geval moet u nie daar swem nie. Anders is die water gewoonlik skoon ('n bruinerige kleur is algemeen in baie gebiede en daar is niks om u oor te bekommer nie).
Hoe verder noord u kom, hoe kouer sal die water word en om in die Noordpoolsee of in 'n meer of stroom in die verre noorde te swem, sal waarskynlik selfs in die somer 'n ietwat koue ervaring wees. Party inwoners hou daarvan om in koue water te swem, selfs in die winter waar dit gevries is. Daar word 'n gat in die ys gemaak (Sweeds: vak, Fins avanto) waarna dit in die naby-vriesende water kan swem. Daar is baie geleenthede in die winter winter swem.
In Finland gaan dit dikwels gepaard met a sauna bad om jou voor en daarna op te warm, hoewel dit regdeur die jaar algemeen is om na die sauna te gaan. Daar is sauna's by die meeste Finse hotelle en huisies en by sommige hutte (ook in Swede), teen 'n fooi of gratis. By primitiewe fasiliteite moet u die sauna gereeld warm maak, water dra en brandhout maak.
Dit is moontlik om versamel u eie kos in die woestyn. Van Midsomer tot herfs kan u bessies en sampioene pluk (sien die Eet afdeling). Let daarop dat sampioene eintlik die gevaarlikste ding is wat u in die woude sal sien; maak seker dat u die sampioen wat u pluk en die moontlike plaaslike dubbelgangers ken. Jag en visvang is baie gewilde aktiwiteite op die platteland, maar behalwe vir visvang onder sekere omstandighede, het u gewoonlik toestemming nodig van die grondeienaar, die owerhede of albei (sien die Fooie afdeling). In die winter kom yshengel voor.
Terwyl stap iets te voet gedoen word, is daar ook ander maniere om rond te kom, waarvan sommige ervarings op sigself is. As u in die bos (of elders) wil rondkom as daar sneeu is, langlauf kan 'n goeie alternatief wees. Riviere, mere en die see is plekke vir kanovaart, kajak en seiljagvaart (sien die Kry rond afdeling). As jy wil bergklim, u beste geleenthede is in Noorweë of naby die Noorse grens in Swede. Vir hierdie aktiwiteit benodig u meer toerusting as vir gewone staptogte, en in sommige gevalle - bv. vir gletser toere - ook 'n gids. Elders is berge oor die algemeen laer en nie so steil nie, daarom is dit moontlik om die pieke te bereik deur net te loop. Rotsklim is hier en daar in die grootste deel van die omgewing moontlik.
Daar is ook ander bestemmingspesifieke aktiwiteite soos goudpan Lemmenjoki en Tankavaara in Finse Lapland.
Eet
U mag pluk bessies en sampioene (behalwe in enkele natuurreservate) en u kan permitte koop vir visvang (sommige visvang is gratis, maar dit wissel per streek) en soms selfs vir jag (maak seker dat u vooraf die nodige papierwerk voltooi). Wat u kry, kan gebruik word om u maaltye gevarieerder te maak en kan u soms 'n ekstra dag toelaat, maar u kan nie daarop reken nie. Om bessies of sampioene naby ander of hul huise en huisies te pluk, kan as onbeskof beskou word.
Soos oral kan kos vir 'n paar dae maklik gedra word, maar vir langer reise moet u deeglik beplan. Selfs as die grootste deel van die reis deur die woestyn is, kan u plekke verbygaan waar u kan aanvul. Kos word by baie hutte verkoop: selvbetjent hytte (met gedroogde en blikkieskos) en betjent hytte in Norway and many fjällstuga in Sweden. In Finland, Iceland and northernmost Norway such "huts" are rare, you will have better luck trying to pass by a camping ground with a well equipped kiosk or a village with a shop, the smallest ones sometimes serving you on request outside normal hours as well, some even delivering purchases to or nearby the trail on agreement.
You can also get meals at some destinations: food is served in the fjällstation in the Swedish fells and betjent hytte in the Norwegian outdoors. In Finland some tourist businesses serve meals also in the wilderness on request (if not too far from usable roads or off-road routes; you could ask them to bring replenishment as well), otherwise you could at least have a good meal before or after your hike – or have a guide catering for the meals. The normal way is to cook one's own food, though, at least most of the time.
You should keep your food (and edible waste) away from rodents, especially at wilderness huts, campfire sites and similar, where they might get accustomed to finding food of hikers, and when staying a longer time at some location.
Kook food over an open fire is nice and you may have plenty of opportunities, but open fires are not allowed when there is a risk of forest fire, and not everywhere. Wilderness huts have stoves, where you can cook your meals, but you are advised to also carry your own camping stove. Check in advance that fuel is available for your stove, in the right package if you use gas; locals typically use denatured alcohol (Sweden: "T-sprit", Finland: "marinoli" or "sinoli", note that also other products sold under the last name) or propane (or propane/butane/whatever), in Iceland mainly the latter [check!].
If you plan picking mushrooms, do make sure you pick only edible ones and treat them correctly, and if you have any doubt in your ability to avoid eating poisonous mushrooms, don't pick any. Beware that some deadly mushrooms may resemble edible ones growing where you come from. Be especially cautious about anything that can be mixed with Amanita species such as Death cap and European destroying angel or with Deadly webcap. The false morel Gyromitra esculenta is regarded a delicacy, but is potentially deadly unless carefully prepared the right way. "Safe" mushrooms that are often picked include chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius) and many species of ceps (Boletus), e.g. porcini (Boletus edulis). Most mushrooms are extremely perishable, so handle them with care. Mushroom picking trips with an expert guide are arranged at many locations, or you might have a knowledgeable friend who could give you advice.
Commonly picked berries include bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), bog bilberry (V. uliginosum), strawberry, raspberry, lingonberry (cowberry), cranberry, cloudberry and crowberry. There are also poisonous berries, but they should be easy to distinguish from these. The berries can be eaten untreated, although some of them are at their best as juice or jam. Picking cloudberry may be restricted in northern Norway and northern Finland, so check before picking large quantities (eating as much as you want on the spot is always allowed). In Iceland berries may be picked only for immediate consumption.
Choice of food varies very much depending on the length of the journey and possibilities of replenishment – and personal preferences. Also, the season affects choices: in cool weather you might not need a fridge, but many fruits and vegetables dislike freezing temperatures (heard at a winter camp: "may I have a slice of milk, please").
In Finland, a common choice for hiking breakfasts is oat porridge with soup made from berry powder (kissel, fruit soup; Finnish: kiisseli, Swedish: kräm). Lunch should be easy to prepare, an extreme variety being to heat water at breakfast and put soup powder in it at lunch. Sandwiches are common on shorter hikes. If weather and terrain permits, a somewhat more time-consuming lunch can be made. The heaviest meal is usually eaten in the evening (contrary to local practice at home) — often freeze-dried stews or meals with dehydrated mashed potato or pasta combined with e.g. suitable tins. On longer hikes crispbread (näkkileipä/knäckebröd) is often used as snack and accompaniment. Fresh fish made by open fire is a luxury, as is self-made bread or wild herbs as complement. Some prefer to avoid the industrialised food altogether, using home-dried ingredients.
Wash up dishes some distance from the water source and pour used water on land, not in the stream (there is no bear problem here). Washing-up liquids are often unnecessary if you can use hot water. Have somewhere to put used tins and other packages.
Drink
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In the wilderness you can usually drink good-looking water from springs and streams without treatment, and most hikers do. In the Norwegian mountains above the forest line one can often see where water is coming from which makes it easy to assess quality. There is no guarantee, however. A dead elk or reindeer upstream can make you severely ill with no warnings. In general, streams from high ground have the best water, particularly from areas too high for animals to graze. In the high mountains, free-flowing streams offer superb water quality, and lakes in the high mountains also have good water. However, water directly from glaciers including glacial melt water rivers has lots of particles and should be avoided. In periods of warm weather, water in minor slow-running streams can easily become unhealthy. Heavy rains, although they increase the flow, also increase the amounts of unhealthy elements from the ground. Massive reindeer movements, such as at the round-ups in June, can make water in the affected area unhealthy for a few weeks – check your map and take your water upstream.
You might be advised to boil your water for a few minutes unless tested (and it is wise to do so if you have any doubts about the quality; boiling seems to be more effective than filtering) – but drinking the water fresh from a stream is one of the pleasures. Water with visible amounts of cyanobacteria is unusable also as boiled, but you would probably not drink that anyway.
Where natural water (or snow) can be used, you do not want to carry excess water. Half a litre to one litre per person is usually enough for breaks between water sources. On the Norwegian mountains there is generally plenty water throughout summer, except on ridges and high plateaus. In wintertime you might prefer a thermos bottle.
When planning where to eat or stay overnight, remember that the smaller streams running off fells without glaciers may be dry in hot summers. Have a backup plan with more reliable sources if in doubt.
In populated areas the water is more likely to be unhealthy, e.g. because of roads, settlements or grazing cattle upstream. Also in some boggy areas, and in certain types of terrain in Iceland, good water is hard to find. Tap water is nearly always potable (except in trains, boats and similar); you can expect there to be a warning if it is not.
At lodgings and cooking sites there are usually wells, unless a nearby stream can be used. The water may or may not be usable untreated. If the water is supposed to be good, there should be official test results confirming the quality. The snow is usually clean if it looks so, and can be melted on the stove (if there is both a gas stove and a wood heated one, the wood stove should mostly be used for this, to save gas).
Private wells may not be used without permission, but if you are polite, people at any house will probably be happy to give you water.
Slaap
You are probably going to carry a tent, at least as a safeguard. Using it is free in the wilderness, but when camping at a site with facilities, you may have to pay for the service.
There are also lodging facilities of varying standards, especially at "official" destinations and maintained trails. In northern Finland there are open wilderness huts (in the south lean-to shelters are more common), where small parties can stay overnight for free. In Sweden and Norway you usually have to pay for the lodging, but the huts have a more hostel like standard, sometimes B&B or hotel like. The "huts" are usually cottages, but some resemble the traditional goahti (kota, kammi, gamme, kåta). Some facilities are meant only for those moving by foot or ski (check separately, if you e.g. are using a snowmobile).
In many wilderness huts there is a wood fired stove for heat and a gas stove for cooking. Do not use gas for warming or for melting snow for water. It takes some time to get the cabin warm in the cold season, but you have warm clothes, don't you.
If you have a dog, check where it is allowed. Usually it is allowed in Finnish wilderness huts if the other users agree, but not in the reservation huts. In Norway there usually is a separate apartment for those with dogs, or a special place for the dogs.
In Finland most wilderness huts are maintained by Metsähallitus, the governmental forestry administration. Many huts in Norway are maintained by "dugnad" (common work) by local clubs of the non profit DNT, Den Norske Turistforening, or administered by DNT. Within the Norwegian DNT-system there are more than 500 lodges available. Svenska Turistföreningen (STF) administers many of the huts in Sweden. There are often discounts for members of the tourist associations involved, and possibly of their sister organisations in other countries. You will also need the key of DNT to access its unmanned huts (deposit of 100 kr for members of DNT, STF, Suomen Latu en Ferðafélag Íslands).
Nowadays most Metsähallitus wilderness huts have a page at the nationalparks.fi site, most huts in or near Norway have one at the DNT site ut.no (in Norwegian, but the summary information is in a consistent format), often with links to the official page if any, and many huts in Sweden have a page at the operators site, sometimes also elsewhere. These pages provide basic information, but are sometimes generic. "Overnatting: lite egnet" ("hardly suited for overnight stay") on ut.no may just mean that the hut is not up to DNT standards – the reason may e.g. be lack of mattresses and blankets as in the Finnish open huts. A somewhat more comprehensive description is provided (e.g. "... med sovepose ... er det greitt å overnatte": with sleeping bag ... fine), but may require proper knowledge of Norwegian. STF appends a general description of their huts, which may or may not apply.
In Iceland wilderness huts are maintained by Icelandic travel clubs, with most of them being maintained by The Icelandic touring association en die icelandic travel club útivist.
You might want to stay at a hotel or some other non-wilderness facility before or after your hike. There is also the possibility to rent a cottage as a basis for your hikes, either by the roads, with service in reach, or in the backwoods.
Sleeping bags
There are accommodations with sheets and pillows in some areas, but unless you know you are going to get to use such service every night, you will need to have sleeping bags and hiking mattresses. Mostly the "three season" version, with "comfort" temperature around freezing and "extreme" temperature about -15°C to -25°C ( 5 to -15°F), is the right choice. Freezing night temperatures are possible all the year in the north and in the mountains, most of the year elsewhere, although also night temperatures of 10–15°C (50–60°F) are possible. Sleeping bags for "summer" use are adequate in summer with some luck (sometimes even slumber party bags suffice), but use your judgement before trusting one for a certain hike. A sheet and the right pyjamas will go a long way in making a borderline sleeping bag warmer. In cold weather it is common to use also a cap and possibly other additional garment, but try to reserve dry clothes for that. The clothes used in the day are usually damp, and will give you a colder night than necessary (but it is a judgement call, sometimes you want to dry them in the bag). And note the difference between a borderline sleeping bag and one totally inadequate: your ability to withstand cold is seriously diminished while laying down; a cold winter's night is really incredibly cold. You do not want night temperatures anywhere near the "extreme" figures of the sleeping bag (where most fit men survive a short night, not necessarily unharmed).
If hiking in cold weather, the hiking mattress is not just a luxury, but as essential as the rest of the gear. It need not be expensive, but should be good enough. Double cheap ones are often as good as one expensive, if you sleep between others (the expensive ones are usually wider and less slippery). Air-filled hiking mattresses are not warmer or more comfortable than the ordinary ones, they just save a little space and weight, at the cost of being less reliable.
Unless having some experience or going for extreme adventures, you probably do not intend to sleep outdoors in winter. A good sleeping bag allows sleeping in a tent (sometimes even without) also in cold winter nights, but not in all conditions without quite some skill; fire can make the night warmer, but building and maintaining it is not necessarily easy. For mountain hikes and for winter hikes in the north, unless you have an experienced guide in the company (friend or professional), you should make sure you have some understanding of the worst case scenarios and appropriate survival techniques.
Sleeping bags for the winter are unnecessarily warm indoors. A version with double bags (use only one when in a hut) is probably a good choice. Some use a pair of sleeping bags the other way round: two lighter sleeping bags can be used as one for the winter, given the outer one is big enough. The latter solution allows saving money, at the cost of more weight.
Tents
Even when you plan to use huts, a tent may be a necessary safeguard. Local hikers mostly use tents with waterproof roof and bottom and a mosquito proof but breathing inner layer. The typical size is "2–3 persons". Larger tents are often clumsy and heavy. Good ventilation is key to avoid excessive moisture, but you also want to keep the wind and snow out. In winter moisture is hard to avoid, and often the tent should be dried in a cottage after use. In the fells the tent should be usable also in hard winds (learn how to cope). In warm weather, the sun shining at the tent from three o'clock in the morning can turn it into a sauna. Choose a place with shade in the morning if you want to avoid that.
There are tents warmed by fire, either with a stove (typically the same types as the military uses) or constructed for an open fire (the Sámi lávvu, the Finnish laavu or loue or similar). They are quite commonly used, but weight or need of firewood make them impractical on many wilderness hikes. In some of these, three season sleeping bags are adequate also in cold winter nights.
In spring and autumn, when the nights are not too cold and the mosquitoes are absent, a laavu, loue or tarp tent can be a real alternative also where you cannot keep an overnight fire: lighter than tents, giving shelter in the evening and getting you closer to the nightly nature. With some tents it is possible to use just the inner layer (for mosquitoes) or the outer layer (for wind and moisture), to likewise get closer to the environment.
You might get away without a tent in areas where extreme conditions are unlikely. In Norway, where light packings are the norm, bivvy bags or similar are commonly carried instead, but you should know how to survive in any foreseeable conditions with the equipment you choose.
There are no fees for using the tent in national parks and similar in Finland. There may be a fee in Norway and Sweden, if you want to use facilities of non-free huts (toilets etcetera – which you are supposed to intend to use if you camp nearby).
You are often allowed to camp freely in the backcountry. In minor protected areas, where there is no true backcountry, camping is often restricted to designated campsites, possibly outside the area proper. Camping by infrastructure such as campfire sites and lean-to and cooking shelters is usually allowed (put the tent up at a small distance, so that also others can use the facilities).
Outside protected areas the reg op toegang allows camping, as long as you keep the distance to people and do not disturb. If you are staying in the same place for more than one night (or a few, if far enough from people), you should make sure the landowner does not mind. Probably you should ask for permission and give something to show appreciation.
Camping sites do have fees. If you are planning to stay near a camping site you should probably use it and pay the fee – but you are free to find a suitable place for your tent somewhere farther from people, if you prefer.
Lean-to shelters
Lean-to shelters (Finnish: laavu, kiintolaavu; Norwegian: gapahuk; Swedish: vindskydd, skärmskydd) are structures with a leaning roof and three walls, often of timber, with a campfire place near the missing front wall. They are common in Finnish national parks and usually primarily intended for breaks, but can be used for spending the evening or even the night. There is often a pit toilet, a woodshed and some water source nearby.
Although the lean-to shelters are constructed also for overnight stay, you might sleep more comfortably in your tent nearby. The shelters are usually designed so that the fire will be of little use to persons sleeping, to avoid massive consumption of firewood. In Sweden some, but not all, shelters are meant for overnight stays.
There are similar shelters made from tent fabric (Finnish: laavu), which can be carried instead of a tent. Where keeping a big enough fire through the night is possible, they offer a lighter and warmer solution than normal tents – but the firewood is hardly available in non-emergencies unless you know the landowner. Traditionally these, or similar shelters made from spruce branches, were used with a log fire, which would burn steadily through the night (rakovalkea, nying; the dimensions of the logs: an inch an hour, the length of an axe handle per person). Lone Finnish wanderers would use an even lighter loue of erätoveri (a kind of tarp tent) in the same fashion.
Day huts
Day huts (in Sweden: rastskydd, in Finland päivätupa, raststuga) are wilderness huts not meant for staying overnight. They can be nice locations for a lunch break and similar and in emergencies they may be used also for overnight stay.
In many Finnish national parks there are so called "Lap pole tents", primarily used as day huts, but at least some suitable also for overnight stay. They are much more primitive than the normal wilderness huts, their construction inspired by the Sámi timber or peat goahtis.
The Norwegian emergency huts (nødbue) are also commonly used as day huts.
The Icelandic day huts are generally emergency huts (neyðarskýli), run by the local search and rescue teams. Road signs with an red house and a blue border will lead you to the emergency huts.
Open wilderness huts
Open wilderness huts are unmanned and unlocked cottages open for use without any fee. They are typical for the Finnish national parks and wilderness areas, but open wilderness huts exist also in other countries.
Most wilderness huts in Finland word deur Metsähallitus onderhou. Wilderness huts maintained by others (typically by reindeer herders, fishers, hunters or the border guard) work much in the same way, but are usually not marked as such on official maps. Nowadays many of these other huts are locked, especially at popular destinations.
The wilderness huts may be very primitive, but typically provide at least beds (without mattresses or blankets; traditionally one wide bunk bed for all to share), a table and benches, a stove for heat and cooking (often separate, the latter with gas), firewood, a well or other water source and a guest book. There may be a folder with instructions. There should be a pit toilet nearby (use your own toilet paper). You usually get light by your own candles and torch (flashlight). As heating is by the wood fired stove, it will take some time to get the hut warm in the winter. The capacity varies, with beds for six to twelve persons being typical; sleeping on the floor is not unusual.
Wilderness huts may not be used for commercial overnight stays, but may otherwise be used for one or two nights by anybody moving by foot. In some huts you are explicitly allowed to stay somewhat longer. The ones arriving last have an absolute right to the facilities: if there is no room left, earlier guest have to leave, be it in the middle of the night (such latecomers are probably in dire need of the shelter). Usually there is room for everybody, with proper consideration, but larger parties coming early should go to sleep in their tents instead (or use a reservation hut), to avoid hassle.
If you stay for more than one night, you should put up your tent and keep the hut tidy, so that you easily can leave it for another party turning up (still having some equipment drying and making food indoors is usually no problem). Otherwise the newcomers will probably themselves put their tent up. If the area is busy, you should leave the hut after one night, unless there are special reasons for you to stay (drenched equipment, snowstorm, what have you).
Much of the responsibility for maintaining wilderness huts is by their guests (regular maintenance being done only biennially at many remote huts). Check the stove before using it and report any faults that you cannot repair yourself. Make sure there is dry firewood ready for use (the next party may arrive late, wet and cold).
In Swede similar wilderness huts can have a fee, paid after the visit by giro forms available at the hut. Unlocked compartments of manned huts (or a small unlocked hut nearby), available for emergencies when the hut is closed outside season, work in a similar way.
In Ysland too you are supposed to pay for using unlocked wilderness huts. Some of the huts are intended for use in summer only and may lack a stove. There are also emergency huts (usually painted red or orange), where you are not supposed to stay in normal circumstances. If you do use the hut, sign the guest book and tell if you used any of the supplies.
Also in Noorweë there are open huts for overnight stay in emergencies (nødbue), often used as day huts otherwise. The standard resembles that of Finnish open wilderness huts. In some areas of Norway (particularly those not covered by the trekking association) there are also very basic huts maintained by regional mountain councils.
Locked wilderness huts
Some wilderness huts are locked, with the key available from a park visitor centre or similar location. In Norway the key of DNT is used for most of these, but not all. A few of the Norwegian huts are closed in midwinter, in the hunt season in autumn or in the reindeer calving season in May–June. In Finland booking is compulsory, in Norway typically not possible.
Ubetjent hytte in Norway resembles the open wilderness huts in Finland, but has mattresses, blankets and pillows (use your own sheet bag/sheets). Extra mattresses are available, so that everybody gets a place to sleep even when the hut is crowded. The price is typically 300–500 kr per person for a night, less if you have bought a membership in DNT. Nowadays many of the huts have solar panels for light (the 12V symbol on ut.no pages usually signifies this, not that phones can be charged).
Selvbetjent hytte is also unmanned (except possibly in season), but with possibilities to buy food, which is paid together with the accommodation. The food item selection is intended to be sufficient (but no perishables).
Reservation huts in Finland are often available at popular destinations, meant for larger or commercial parties and those wanting a guaranteed bed. They are often located by an open wilderness hut (and may consist of a separate locked department of this). They are like the open wilderness huts, but often have mattresses, blankets, pillows and cooking utensils. The fee is about €10 per person for a night.
Wilderness huts in Iceland have sleeping bag accommodations (use your own sleeping bags), a WC and either a kitchen or a stove. The huts are open during the summer, closed during the winter. To ensure a place in the hut you should reserve in advance. The price is typically 4500–7000 ISK for a night. Some of the wilderness huts are manned during the summer.
Manned wilderness cottages
In Sweden and Norway it is common to have bigger staffed wilderness cottages in popular areas. You may or may not be able to reserve a bed beforehand and there may be service available, such as food to buy or meals served. The standard is sometimes like that of a hostel or even a hotel.
Fjällstuga in Sweden are often located by trails at 10–20 km distances, equipped with mattresses, blankets, pillows and kitchen utensils. There may be a sauna and a kiosk for buying food (quite limited assortment). The guests are supposed to fetch water, make firewood, clean up etcetera themselves. Booking beds may or may not be possible. Larger parties or persons with dogs should announce their arrival beforehand. Prices vary, typically 150–400 SEK/night/person.
If the cottage is closed outside seasons, there may be an unlocked room available for emergencies (see open wilderness huts above).
The Swedish fjällstation are larger establishments, with both hostel and hotel like lodging, restaurant, self-service kitchen, sauna and other facilities. In season booking beds is recommended. Outside season the fjällstation may be closed, with an unlocked space available for emergencies (see open wilderness huts).
Covid-19 information: Advance reservation is mandatory at staffed Norwegian wilderness huts. For information about how to make a reservation, refer to the hut's page on ut.no.
Betjent hytte in Norway often offer electricity (by the grid or a local source), dinner and breakfast, bedrooms for a few persons each and dormitories, showers and drying rooms. Their web pages usually show weather forecasts for the area. The price for room and meals might be around 800 - 1000 NOK/night/person for members (dormitory prices are often in the range of unmanned huts, i.e. 200–300 NOK).
Off season they may function as unmanned self-service (selvbetjent) or serviceless (obetjent) hytte. Some close entirely.
Rental huts and cottages
If you want a base for exploration of an area you might want to rent a hut or cottage. Some may be available for a single night also. The cottages may be maintained by governmental agencies, tourist businesses, associations or private people. The standards and prices vary wildly.
Statskog in Norway has some 80 cottages for rent across the country for NOK400 per night.
Many former border guard huts, little used open wilderness huts and similar in Finland have been transformed to rental huts. These are usually maintained by Metsähallitus.
Motorhomes, caravans
It is not legal to park a motor-home on most parking places. Usually it is legal to spend the night on a rest area along the roads, but especially in southern Sweden, there have been thefts there. It is recommended to stay at camping sites if having a motorhome. In Finland, using rest areas for caravans is possible at least while visiting some wilderness areas.
Hotelle
Hotels and other high standard accommodation is used by many hikers before or after a long journey, to get a good rest and as a way to become ready for the civilisation (or for the hike). There are often hotels and other high level accommodation available near "official" hiking destinations. Often most guests are staying at the hotel, enjoying just local facilities, possibly making day trips or the odd overnight trip.
Koop
You might want to buy an all-round hiking and handicraft knife, either a Finnish "puukko" or a Sami "leuku" or "niibi", and a Sami wooden cup "guksi" (Finnish: kuksa, Swedish: kåsa). Quality varies from cheap import to masterpieces by local craftsmen – and the price accordingly.
The literature for sale at park visitor centres may be interesting – and a postcard is never wrong. There are some souvenirs to buy, but you probably want to look in real shops also.
Some shops in the country side have an impressing collection of things, worth investigating if something breaks or you lack something essential. They may also be willing to order things for you. Buying food here instead of in supermarkets will help these shops survive, but hiker's specialities, such as freeze-dried foods, may not be available. Opening hours are often short (but sometimes very flexible) and some shops are closed off-season.
You might want to check beforehand where to get products of local artists, craftsmen and craftswomen. Tourist shops may have quite a limited assortment of the real thing, with lots of (possibly imported) kitsch instead.
Bly veilig
As the Norwegian mountains have been "discovered" by the world, even people without mountaineering experience have come to think "I have to go there". Countless rescue operations frustrate local authorities and volunteer rescue services, and fatal accidents have not been avoided. The other Nordic countries have similar risks, although the numbers of careless adventurers are smaller.
Nordic hikers usually grow into the hiking tradition from childhood, and often have a great deal of experience and understanding of the dangers before going on their own. When you know what you are doing, most risks can be avoided or given due attention without even thinking twice about it. This is not necessarily the case for tourists. Do heed warnings even when not emphasized, and make sure you are up to your planned adventure.
If you are at all unsure about your skills and fitness or the difficulties on the intended route, talk with somebody who can make an assessment. There are many easy routes, but some routes are easy only for those with enough experience, and that may not always be apparent from the descriptions.
- You are on your own.
- Check the route on a good map and evaluate it. Do not expect stairs, rails or foolproof markings – or any guarantee about the weather. If you head for wilderness views, expect to have to handle the wilderness, whatever that means, sometimes even on busy trails.
- Be aware that in general there are no guards on duty and mostly no fences. Also warning signs are used sparingly in the Nordic countries – do not expect any in the wilderness. People are supposed to have enough experience and to use their own judgement; if something looks dangerous, it probably is. The rare cases of warnings are really serious.
- You do not have immediate help available on your hike, you have to be able to help yourself for quite a while. While cell (mobile) phones add to safety, hikers can not rely on them; in some areas there is no phone coverage in the lowlands and valleys. The obvious minimal precaution is to never go alone and never without experienced enough company.
- Somebody knowing your plans and calling for help if you do not return on time is a good life insurance (if you are delayed, do tell the person or, if that fails, the emergency service).
- Stay warm and dry
- The main hazard in the Nordic countries is koue weer, which can turn minor mishaps into emergencies. Hypothermia can happen even in summer at above freezing temperature. Water and wind increases cooling tenfold and can turn an easy hike into an unpleasant and even dangerous situation. At high altitudes (such as in Jotunheimen) strong wind and snowfall can occur even if there is nice weather in the valleys beneath. Bring basic winter clothing (beanie, gloves, scarf, warm jumper, wind proof jacket) even in summer for higher altitudes and longer hikes.
- Frostbite is a risk at temperatures considerably below freezing, particularly when wind adds to the cooling effect. Frostbite occurs first or primarily in extremities (fingers, toes) and exposed areas of the face. Hypothermia and frostbite are related because hypothermia causes the body to withdraw heat and blood from the limbs to protect the body core. Alcohol, smoking, medical conditions, fatigue and insufficient food and water increase the risk.
- When crossing rivers or lakes in the winter, mind ysveiligheid.
- Wind warnings are given for quite moderate winds – for a reason. In open terrain in the mountains hard winds will make everything more difficult. In the lowland already gale force winds can take down trees and branches.
- In mountainous areas there are all the usual risks, including fog, high waters, avalanches (lavin(e)/snøras/snöskred/lumivyöry), and snowstorms even in the summer at sufficient altitudes. Heed the advice and you will be reasonably safe. Sien ook Snow safety en Bergklim. Avalanche warnings are given for the slopes of ski resorts and for the general mountain areas. Check them and make sure you understand the implications, especially if you are going off season or off marked trails.
- Know where you are
Signs are helpful and convenient, but no substitute for a map and compass. Raggsteindalen in Buskerud.- It is easy to get lost at ridiculously short distances in unfamiliar terrain. Take a careful look even if you are going only for a minute. Dense forest, fog and open plateaus with no clear landmarks are the most difficult.
- Always take a map and compass with you when leaving the immediate vicinity of your camp (electronics is no substitute, only a supplement – instead of checking battery status you should create a good mental map). Learn to use a compass for navigation and learn to match your map with the terrain.
- If you do get lost, admit it and stop immediately. A few minutes of good rest is surprisingly effective at making you think clearly again. Lines in the terrain can be used to find way back, for instance rivers (rivers can lead you to settlements or to lakes and other points that can be identified on the map), power lines and slopes. But beware of slopes making you change direction and leading you only to a local depression, rivers leading you to hard-to-walk wet terrain, etc. Check the map for what lines are usable.
- Bugs en animals
- Mosquitoes and black flies are a nuisance in June and July, especially in Lapland and Finnmark. They do not carry diseases, but repellents, long sleeves, long pants and perhaps a mosquito hat in the worst areas are recommended. Avoid keeping doors and windows open in the evening.
- Bosluise can carry Lyme disease and TBE in some areas (especially south Norway to south-west Finland). The risk is small for a casual visitor, but you may want to take precautions.
- There are big predators like bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines in the Nordic countries, but they are generally no threat to people, as they will flee in most circumstances once they smell or hear humans. Back out if you encounter bear cubs, as their mother will protect them. Also musk oxen, elks and boars can be dangerous if you go too close.
- If you are hiking in the hunting season (the autumn), in areas where hunting is allowed, you should wear some orange or red clothing. Ask for local advice about whether any areas should be avoided. Hunting season varies by species. Moose hunting is common in the forest areas of Sweden, Finland, East Norway and Trøndelag. Red deer hunting is common in West Norway. Reindeer hunting occurs mostly in the barren mountains.
- Be careful in sun
- Clear Nordic air, high altitude and snow patches can multiply the effect of the sun, which hardly sets during the Nordic summer. Snow blindness is a serious risk, so bring UV-resistant sunglasses, and preferably mountain goggles. Bring sun cream or sun block (sun protection factor). Light can be strong in the highlands even if the sun is not visible.
- Glaciers
Do not go on your own. Jostedalsbreen glacier.- Glaciers are one of the most dangerous places for visitors to the Norwegian outdoors. Never underestimate the power of the glacier. Observe warning signs. Never approach the front of the glacier. A glacier is not a stable piece of ice, it is constantly moving and huge chunks regularly fall off. Snowbridges can obscure crevasses.
- The sun's rays get reflected from the white snow, so it necessary to use sunscreen and sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes. Bring warm clothes for tours on the glacier.
- Doen nie enter a glacier without proper equipment and a skilled local guide.
Rules of mountain conduct
Norway's trekking association has compiled a set of rules or guidelines for sensible hiking, "fjellvettreglene":
- Don't go for a long hike without training.
- Tell where you are going.
- Respect weather and forecast
- Be prepared for storm and cold weather even on shorter hikes. Bring a rucksack with the kind of gear needed.
- Listen to experienced hikers.
- Dont hike alone.
- Use map and compass
- Turn back in time, it is nothing to be ashamed of.
- Don't waste your energy. Dig into snow if necessary.
Volcanic eruption
Out of the Nordic countries, Iceland is the only one with active volcanoes.
As a precautionary mesure carry a cell phone and a battery powered radio, and heed to warnings from the Icelandic civil protection about hazardous areas. Listen to either the radio station Rás 1 or Bylgjan. Rás 1 is on the LW frequencies 189 kHz and 207 kHz. For the FM frequencies see the frequency map of Ras en frequencies of Bylgjan. Pay attention to any SMS messages you get, as the Icelandic civil protection does send out SMS messages in Icelandic and English to phones in hazardous areas.
Should an eruption occur the ash can spread throughout the whole country depending on the wind direction. Eruptions increase the chance of lightnings and a glacial eruption will generate n flood in rivers with sources at the melting glacier.
Regardless of where you are in the country during an eruption, consider the wind direction and consider whether the wind can spread the ash to you. As an alternative you can use the mobile website of the Icelandic met office. If so, walk high up in the landscape to avoid poisonous gases, cover your nostrils and mouth with a cloth. Should the ash get thick or if you have an asthma, go into the next day or wilderness hut, close windows on the side that the wind blows at, close the chimney and stay there until the wind direction changes.
Should you be in close proximity of an eruption walk opposite to the wind direction to get out of the area. If you have concerns that you cannot abandon a hazardous area in time, do not hesitate to call the emergency number 112.
Respek
Many people you meet on remote trails are there to be with nature only. They might not be interested in socializing and will probably frown upon noisy behaviour. It is common, though, to stop and exchange a few words, e.g. about the terrain ahead, and at least some kind of greeting is usually expected when you meet people on (or off) the trail. Some might of course be interested in where you come from. People are often less reserved with strangers when they are in the wilderness.
Smoking is disliked by many and can be a serious hazard. In hot and dry periods a cigarette butt can cause a forest fire (even if "extinguished"), so just like with other litter, avoid leaving them in nature. Smoking indoors is mostly prohibited. Where locals smoke you might follow their example, but otherwise try to be a good example yourself.
Even if there is right of access, wilderness is often privately owned. In Norway only barren high mountains are public (government) property. Trails and bridges are usually maintained by volunteers (the trekking association for instance) or by landowners for the visitors' benefit. Hou in gedagte dat u 'n gas op iemand se privaat grond is. Daar kan wei diere en grootwild wees wat nie versteur moet word nie. Moenie vullis agterlaat nie. Dit word toenemend gewild onder besoekers om klipstortings in die wildernis, langs rotsstrande en op bergpasse te bou. Klipstortings word gebruik om roetes aan te dui en kan vir stappers misleidend wees. Besoekers wat hekke bou, pluk dikwels klippe uit klipheinings, waarvan sommige eintlik kulturele erfenis is of in gebruik is. Dit is onwettig om die natuur so te verander, al is dit net met 'n eenvoudige rotsblok.
Soortgelyke oorwegings is van toepassing op openbare grond. Die grootste deel van Lappland is in die regering se besit omdat die Sami nie dieselfde idee van eienaarskap gehad het nie. Die inwoners is net so afhanklik van die woestyn asof hulle die grond besit. En waar fasiliteite deur belastingbetalersgeld in stand gehou word, is dit die resultaat van 'n gemeenskaplike testament, wat nie minder belangrik moet wees as private skenkings nie.
Plekname en nuttige woorde
Aangesien name op kaarte en tekens gewoonlik topografie aandui, kan die begrip van sommige landskapwoorde nuttig wees. As u vooraf die moontlikheid het om grootskaalse kaarte te bestudeer, kan u die betekenis van die mees algemene voor- en agtervoegsels nagaan, maar sommige word hier gelys. Hulle vertel dikwels dinge wat op die kaart nie voor die hand liggend is nie, of gee wenke oor die geskiedenis van die omgewing.
In die Samiese gebied is plekname gewoonlik van Samiese oorsprong, ook as dit nie voor die hand liggend is nie. Bv. Lemmenjoki is oorspronklik 'warm rivier' (van Sami: leammi; Fins: lämmin), nie 'rivier van liefde' (Fins: lempi, lemmen). Terreinkenmerke van die gebied word dikwels deur die Sami-woord genoem (bv. "Jåkk", johka, in plaas van die Sweedse woorde vir strome).
Die betrokke tale gebruik saamgestelde naamwoorde. Name word gewoonlik geskep deur samestellende woorde, waar die laaste deel aandui watter landskapfunksie dit is. Byvoorbeeld Jostedalsbreen is 'n naam geskep uit Jostedal (Joste Valley) en bre (gletser), met ander woorde, die gletser by Jostedal. Dikwels is die woorde meervoudig en / of genitief, wat die woorde effens verander, in Fins en Samies nie altyd te effens nie.
Boonop verskyn die definitiewe artikel ("die") in die Noorse en die Sweedse as 'n agtervoegsel, geïntegreer in die woord, dus breen beteken die gletser.
Daar is 'n paar verskillende Samiese tale en hul ortografie is 'n paar dekades gelede gestandaardiseer, wat beteken dat daar ook spellingverskille is, ongeag watter tale daarby betrokke is.
Die Sweedse letters ä en ö word æ en ö in Yslands geskryf, æ en ø in Noors; å is geskryf in Finse en die meeste Samiese tale. Die Sweedse ä word dikwels naby e uitgespreek, en in baie van hierdie gevalle word e in Noors geskryf. Die herkenning van hierdie en ander min of meer stelselmatige verskille in spelling of uitspraak help om 'n woord wat u uit 'n ander taal ken, soos joki / jåkk / jåkkå / johka in die Samiese gebied (Finse, Sweedse en Samiese spelling) te verstaan.
Sweeds en Noors
- kart / karta
- kaart
- fjell, fjäll
- berg, kruin, piek (verwys na landskap wat bokant die boomlyn strek, kan verwys na 'n spesifieke kruin of berge in die algemeen)
- vidde
- hoë, oop plato (bo boomlyn)
- innsjø, vann, vatn, sjö
- meer, dam
- tjern, tjärn
- dam, klein meer, teer
- skog
- bos, bosse
- myr, kärr
- modder, bog
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- ur, taluskon
- skree, talus neerslae
- bre / glaciär, fonn, skavl
- gletser, sneeuvlaag
- dal
- vallei
- juv, kløft / klyfta, ravin
- kloof, kloof, kloof
- elv, bekk / älv, å, bäck
- rivier, stroom, spruit
- bro / bru, sommarbro, helårsbru
- brug, brug in die winter teruggetrek, heeljaarbrug
- vad
- ford
- stuga / stue, hytte
- hut, kajuit
- förfallen
- verval
- snaufjell / kalfjäll
- kaal berge
- tregrense / trädgränsen
- boomlyn
- skyddsområde
- beskermde gebied
- sti / stig
- paadjie, spoor
- ruskmärkning
- merke in die vorm van takke in die sneeu
- øy / ö, holme, skär
- eiland, eilandjie
- foss / fors, vattenfall
- waterval, stroomversnellings
Yslands
- kort
- kaart
- geval, fjall
- berg
- heiði
- hoë oop plato
- vatn, tjörn
- meer, dam
- mýri
- modder, bog
- fjörður
- fjord, baai
- jökull
- gletser
- dalur
- vallei
- gjá, gljúfur
- kloof, kloof, kloof
- á
- rivier
- foss
- waterval
- eyja, sker
- eiland, eilandjie
Fins en Samies
- kartta
- kaart
- vuori, tunturi / tuodtar, vaara / várri (várre, várrie, vaerie, vare)
- berg; vuori is die algemene woord in Fins, tunturi en vaara strek onderskeidelik nie verby die boomlyn nie - maar várri in Sámi is die algemene woord vir heuwel of berg (dikwels oor groot steile), dikwels "vertaal" as vaara; tunturi / duottarmailbmi word ook in die hele gebied bokant die boomlyn gebruik
- kaisa / gaissa; kero / tseärru; oaivi; kielas / gielas, kaita / skäidi; rova / roavvi
- berge van verskillende vorme: hoë sneeu bedekte piek; hoopvormige berg bo die boomlyn; ronde berg bokant die boomlyn ("kop"); rif; klipperige heuwel met yl bos
- čohkka (tjåhkkå, tjåhkka, tjahkke, tjåkkå)
- piek, beraad
- mäki, kallio, harju / puoldsa
- heuwel, (heuwel van) soliede rots, esker
- skäidi, selkä / cielgi
- rif, waterskeidingsgebied (selkä ook uitspansel van see of groot meer) / rif met berk, langs 'n berg
- pahta / pahte
- hoë en steil heuwel
- järvi / jávri (jávrre, avrre, havrre, jávrrie, jaevrie, jävri, jäu'rr, jauri, jaure, jaur)
- meer, dam
- vesi
- water, wat dikwels "meer" in name beteken
- lähde, kaltio / galdu
- lente
- lampi
- dam, klein meer, teer
- lahti / luokta (luoktta, loekte)
- baai
- niemi / njárga (njárgga, njarka)
- kaap
- suo, rahka, räme, aapa / aaphe, jänkä / jeäggi, vuoma / vuobme
- modder, bog; suo is die algemene woord, die ander verskillende soorte; vuoma / vuobmi ook vallei
- palsa
- rypheuwel (in modder of moeras)
- jäätikkö
- gletser, sneeuvlaag
- laakso
- vallei
- rotko, kuru / autsi, ävdzi, gorsa
- kloof, kloof, kloof
- joki / johka (jåhkå, juhka, johke, jåkkå, jåkk), eno / eädnu, puro, oja / ája,
- rivier, stroom, spruit; joki / johka is die algemene woord, eno is redelik groot, puro is klein, oja klein
- kahlaamo
- ford
- metsä; kuusikko, männikkö, koivikko ens.
- bos, bos; laasgenoemde bosse van verskillende boomsoorte (kuusi = spar, mänty = denne, koivu = berk)
- raja
- grens, beperk
- puuraja
- boomlyn
- rajavyöhyke
- grenssone
- kuusimetsän raja
- (noordelike) limiet vir sparren ("kuusi") woude
- polku, reitti
- paadjie, spoor
- mökki, pirtti, tupa; kammi / gamme
- huisie, hut; turfhut
- siida
- Samiese dorpie of gemeenskap
- seita / sieidi
- gees, heilige voorwerp
- saari, luoto
- eiland, eilandjie
- koski, niva, kurkkio, kortsi / gorzze
- stroomversnellings, laasgenoemde steil en klipperig
- suvanto, savu
- stil water (onder stroomversnellings)
- köngäs
- steil stroomversnelling, geringe waterval
- (vesi) onheilspellend
- waterval
- latu (pl. ladut) / láhtu
- ski-baan
Verbind
Slak pos
Daar kan posbusse en seëls by winkels en toeristebesighede beskikbaar wees. In plaas van poste restante, wil u dalk 'n geskikte gebruik h / v adres. Vra oor plaaslike praktyke.
Telefone
Daar is oor die algemeen goeie dekking vir selfone in die Nordiese lande, maar nie noodwendig waar u dit nodig het nie. Sommige woestynhutte het telefone vir noodoproepe (nie meer in Finland nie; in Swede is dit algemeen, en dit moet ook gebruik word om te vertel dat u vertraag is en om advies te kry indien nodig, nie net in noodgevalle nie).
In bergagtige terrein is daar dikwels geen sein in die valleie nie. In afgeleë gebiede mag daar geen sein wees nie, behalwe op valblaaie. U wil dalk vooraf belangrike internetdienste met 'n lae spoedverbinding (selfs 9600 bit / s) toets. Daar is SMS-weerdienste. 3G was vroeër net naby groot dorpe en belangrike toeriste-oorde en langs 'n paar hoofpaaie beskikbaar, maar is selfs in groot dele van die wildernis nou in Finland beskikbaar.
Dekking wissel van verskaffer tot diens. As u meer as een telefoon (SIM-kaart) in die onderneming het, wil u dalk verskillende verskaffers hê. Let daarop dat die beste sein van 'n buurland kan wees, en dat u dus moontlik ook vir 'n internasionale SIM-kaart vir internasionale oproepe moet betaal as u die telefoonverskaffer laat kies.
As die sein sleg is, moet u nie probeer om oproepe te maak nie, maar gebruik SMS: die boodskappe benodig net 'n paar sekondes en sal dus betroubaarder wees en minder krag gebruik.
Hou u foon droog. Onthou dat batterye baie vinniger gebruik word as daar 'n slegte sein is. Hou u foon meestal af. Elektrisiteit is gewoonlik nie in die land beskikbaar nie, selfs nie in huisies en huise nie.
Noodoproepe
Die noodnommer 112 werk in al die Nordiese lande. Daar kan spesiale getalle vir sommige noodgevalle wees, maar ☏112 kan almal hanteer. Oproepe na 112 is gratis en werk sonder om die sluiting van die meeste telefone in ag te neem. Tik net die nommer in of gebruik 'n noodknoppie (op sommige slimfone). In sommige gevalle wil u die SIM-kaart dalk verwyder om seker te maak dat die telefoon die beste beskikbare verbinding gebruik. Ongelukkig plaas die Sweedse 112 SIM-minder oproepe in die wacht totdat u op "5" druk. In Finland sal sulke oproepe ongeveer 'n half minuut opgeskort word voordat dit beantwoord word.
Vir satellietfone die nooddiensnommer is ☏ 46 63-107-112 (Swede), 358 9 2355-0545 (Finland), 354 809-0112 (Ysland tjek!). Inmarsat-14 satelliete is net ongeveer 15 grade bo die suidelike horison en word dus maklik geblokkeer deur hoër terrein of ander hindernisse. Iridium het nie hierdie probleem nie.
Moet nie huiwer om die nooddiens in kennis te stel van probleme wat tot 'n noodgeval kan lei nie. Maak seker dat u hulle ook skakel om te sê dat u veilig is, en ook as u laat is en iemand kan bel om met 'n reddingsaksie te begin. Die uitgawes is maklik vyfgetalle - in Euro per uur (normaalweg betaal deur belastinggeld, maar u wil nie die stelsel misbruik nie).
Die ligging kan die beste vertel word as die ETRS89 / WGS84-koördinate (kyk vooraf of dit op u kaart gebruik word). Rigting en afstand vanaf 'n bekende plek of enige koördinaatstelsel op u kaart kan ook gebruik word. Vertel ook name wat naby die posisie is, om foute te vermy. Let daarop dat beide 360 ° en verskeie milstelsels (60, 63 of 64 hektomil vir 'n sirkel) op kompasse gebruik word en dat sommige name, soos Ailigas ("heilige val"), is dubbelsinnig. In Finland kan die nooddiens munisipaliteit en adres vra (hulle bedien groot gebiede), maar dit sal redelik wees as u vir hulle sê dat u nie weet nie.
Satellietnavigators (GPS ens.; Dikwels ingesluit by slimfone, soms in kameras) gebruik baie krag, dus word dit die meeste van die tyd afgehou, maar kan in 'n noodgeval dikwels akkurate koördinate gee. Dit neem 'n rukkie voordat hulle die satelliete vind, en hulle kan tot dan verkeerde koördinate gee. Kontroleer of u hul instellings en gedrag verstaan.
Hanteer
Afval
Daar is dikwels afvalhouers by hutte, skuilings en kampvuurplekke. Veral as daar geen pad is nie, moet u dit vermy en eerder inpak. As u vullisdromme in die buiteland leegmaak, beteken dit onnodige en duur verkeer. Kosreste en soortgelyk moet nie in 'n vullisdrom geplaas word nie, tensy u weet dat dit binnekort leeggemaak sal word. Klein hoeveelhede organiese afval, soos voedselreste, kan in puttoilette geplaas word (en meer gevorderde kompostoilette). Daar is op verskillende plekke afsonderlike komposters. Op herwinningspunte kan apart, papier, metaal en glas versorg word. Organiese afval kan ook begrawe word, indien nodig, maar veral in veen en bokant die boomlyn, kan ontbinding baie jare duur. Suiwer papier kan in kampvure en stowe gebrand word, maar metaal- of plastiekbedekte papier moet uitgepak word. Moenie afval vir ander verbrand nie.
Toilette
Langs paadjies is daar toilette by hutte en dikwels by skuilings en kampvuurplekke, gewoonlik voldoende vir u groter behoeftes as u van hierdie dienste gebruik maak. Dit is gewoonlik droë toilette: 'n buitekamer met 'n gaatjie in die bankie en 'n emmer met turf, saagsels of soortgelyk om u ontlasting mee te bedek. U moet dalk u eie toiletpapier gebruik. Om u hande te was, is gewoonlik u eie probleem (doen dit nie stroomop van waarheen mense hul drinkwater neem nie, en ook nie naby die drinkwateremmer nie). Van paadjies en tussen hutte, raad van Laat-geen-spoor-kampeer gevolg kan word.
Was
Daar is baie strome en mere, of aan die kus van die see, in die meeste dele van die land. Dit is dus selde 'n probleem om water te vind om self te was - maar veral in die noorde, en behalwe in Julie-Augustus, is dit meestal koel. Neem dit net aan of gebruik sauna's. Om u hande te was, kan klein hoeveelhede water op u stoof verhit word, maar koue water is dikwels genoeg. Op baie plekke moet u vermy om vuil of seep in die meer of rivier te kry en die meeste op die land te was. Die seewater is nie te sout in die Oossee nie en selde in die fjorde.
Stort is gewoonlik nie beskikbaar in wildernishutte nie, maar kan wel by sommige hutte en op regte kampeerterreine beskikbaar wees. Gebruik eerder die sauna's wat by baie hutte en hutte voorkom. Vir die sauna prosedure, sien daardie artikel (kyk nie of die verwagte gedrag anders is as dit nie in Finland is nie), maar die korrekte was is gewoonlik deur warm en koue water in 'n wasbak te meng en dit te gebruik. Meng 'n nuwe stel of twee om af te spoel.