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In the picture, the whole camp: Dave Delany, Julie Lowe, Matthew Pattison, Matthew Mutch, Riam Bateman, Jason Francis, Pete Nex, Gary Waidson and Susanne Williams.
Thank you, Tapio!
British tourists enjoy a week of freezing cold in Lapland.
MIKA SIRKIA
SMOKE flutters brightly from the side of an ordinary Kittilä fell against the blue sky of a frosty day. A snowshoe trail trampled into the swamp leads to the tent camp, where everything is neatly organized. At the camp, there is a group in front of you, which for a moment brings to mind the explorers of a hundred years ago. The clothes are decorated with fabric logos that mention Sub Zero Crew and Kittila.
It is clear that these are ordinary working people, mainly from the Manchester area. We have come to Kittilä for an educational vacation that has been planned for several years. Some have been to Lapland before, others are first-timers in decent winter conditions, the Bushcraft community, loosely translated as the special skills community, is united by a hobby where the core is surviving in harsh natural conditions and practicing special skills. The trip has been prepared for a long time, some have sewn their own clothes, crocheted beanies and carved kuksas. In Kittilä, the skills were put to the test in arctic conditions - the lowest temperature of the week was 33.3 degrees below zero.
The British have hiked from the airport to the camp's state lands. Food and fuel, such as firewood, have been bought from a local store. At least some of the products have been pre-ordered via the online store. It is especially important that the terrain remains in the condition it was in before the camp.
There are no equivalent everyman rights in Britain, and wild nature is hard to find in the south of Scotland. Still, the community tries to spend at least one night a month in the countryside.
The culmination of the trip was an impressive northern lights show. Within half an hour, the entire sky was filled with a bright aurora arc, which eventually formed a bird-shaped pattern over the camp.
Do you locals ever get tired of the northern lights? The Brits ask.-
Overwhelmed by everything, from the snow to the cold, the silence and the hospitality of the locals, the campers say they were very grateful. And by researching local history, they say they know the object of thanksgiving.
Thank you, Tapio! The whole group sighs in reference to the God of the forest.
The members of Sub Zero Crew say that they are impressed that Finns have maintained a strong connection with nature. Next time, the community is planning to travel to Jokkmokki in Sweden to get to know Sámi life.
Those who participated in the trip have made their own accessories suitable for winter use.
Translation by Matthew Mutch;
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