off the trails - Aktivreisen Finnland

04.04.2013
OFF THE TRAILS
Snowshoeing in Hossa – travel information
FLIGHTS / AIRPORT TRANSFERS, TRAINS
The joining point for this trip is Kuusamo airport (or Kuusamo bus station). Transfers from Kuusamo airport
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to the first accommodation and from the last accommodation back to Kuusamo airport (on Feb 8 to Oulu
airport) are included in the tour price.
Transfers are organized to coincide with the following Finnair flights (www.finnair.com):
Arrival:
Departure:
02.02., 09.02., 02.03. and 09.03.2014 AY 401 HEL – KAO 20.20 – 21.35
08.02. AY 2366 OUL – HEL 14.10 – 15.15
15.02., 08.03. and 15.03.2014 AY 394 KAO – HEL 09.10 – 10.20
Please note that we organize only one airport transfer for each group on arrival and departure.
Before making any flight reservations we advise you to check us the transfer schedules.
Due to the remote location and distances private transfers are very difficult and expensive to arrange.
If you arrive/depart on flights that do not coincide with these single timed group airport transfers you should wait
at the airport or in the town. It is also possible to book extra overnights if necessary due to the flight schedule.
Trains: It is possible to take a train from Helsinki to Oulu and then a bus from Oulu to Kuusamo.
Schedules and prices for trains can be seen at www.vr.fi and for buses at www.matkahuolto.fi
Please note that the price of the train ticket depends on the date of purchase.
ACCOMMODATION
Days 1, 2, 3 and 6 Jatkonsalmi or Tolosenvirta
Depending on the departure date whether Jatkonsalmi or Tolosenvirta will be used.
Jatkonsalmi is a traditional, but well-equipped log cabin in Hossa hiking area on the shore of Lake Jatkonjärvi.
The spacious cabin (240 m2) has 8 bed rooms with bunk beds, totally 28 beds. Shared toilets and showers.
Other facilities: Kitchen, dining room/class room, central heating and drying room for clothes. Common electric
sauna with neighbouring Teräväpää cabin, barbeque shelter and site for an open fire.
Tolosenvirta cabin is situated on the shore of Lake Lounaja in Hossa Hiking Area. The cabin is 104 m² and has
5 bedrooms, totally 12 beds. Shared toilets and showers.
Other facilities: Kitchen, dining room/class room, central heating and drying room for clothes. Lake-side sauna
with wood-stove, barbeque shelter and site for an open fire.
No neighbouring buildings.
Day 4, Peurapirtti and/or Hirvastupa
Depending on the group size just one or both cabins will be used.
Peurapirtti and Hirvastupa are similar log cabins situated on the shore of Lake Iso-Valkeinen about 100
metres apart from each other. Each cabin has one room for 2 persons and dormitory beds for 4 persons. Sauna
in the same building, no showers. No electricity, wood stove heating. Outhouse.
Peurapirtti: http://www.lomarengas.fi/cottages/suomussalmi-peurapirtti-erakamppa-10523
Hirvastupa: http://www.lomarengas.fi/cottages/suomussalmi-hirvastupa-erakamppa-10524
Day 5, Huosiusjärvi and/or Iikoski
Depending on the group size just one or both cabins will be used.
Huosiusjärvi is a log cabin situated on the shore of Lake Huosiusjärvi. The cabin has a living room and two
alcoves with totally 8 dormitory beds. Sauna in the separate building, no showers. No electricity, wood stove
heating. Outhouse.
Huosiusjärvi: http://www.lomarengas.fi/cottages/suomussalmi-huosiusjarvi-erakamppa-10530
Iikoski cabin is situated about 200 meters apart from the cabin of Huosiusjärvi on the shore of Iikoski rapids.
The cabin has one room for 2 persons and dormitory beds for 4 persons Sauna in the same building, no
showers. No electricity, wood stove heating. Outhouse.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
On this tour the daily treks take approx. 5 - 6 hours and the average speed is about one km per hour. In
February and March the depth of the snow is normally 60 – 70 cm and the snow is usually soft making the
walking slow. If the track is harder it is possible to walk 3 – 4 km in an hour, in that case extra kilometers can be
walked to make the duration longer. The duration includes also a lunch break which is about 1,5 hours.
The terrain is quite variable with many short up- and down hills but there are no long climbs. The route goes in
the forests, along the ridges and on the lakes. The difficulty of the tour is easy – moderate. No previous
experience on snowshoeing is needed but a moderate physical condition is desirable.
FOOD
We pay a lot of attention to provide good food for the participants. The tour includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
every day. Breakfast is served at the cabin (bred, cheese, ham, porridge, muesli, yoghurt, coffee, tea). Lunch is
served on a fireplace on the route and it consists of warm soup, bread, ham, cheese, sausages, coffee, tea and
chocolate / biscuits. Dinner is the main meal of the day. There is usually meat or fish, vegetables, fresh salad,
bread and dessert. During the snowshoeing there is no other food served except the lunch so you can bring
your own chocolate, muesli bars etc. if needed.
Breakfast is usually around 8 am, lunch at 11 am – 12 am am and dinner at 7- 8 pm. Clients can also have
some sandwiches after arriving at the accommodation place, usually around 3 pm.
In case any special meals (vegetarian, gluten-free etc.) are required please inform us in advance because
the meals are pre-ordered!
WEATHER AND TEMPERATURES
These snowshoeing tours take place in February and March when there is more day light as earlier in the
winter. In the beginning of February there are about 9 hours of daylight (from 8 am to 5 pm) and in the beginning
of March about 12 hours (from 6.30 am until 6.30 pm).
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The day temperature vary normally between – 5 and -20 C. However it is also possible that the temperature
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rises until some plus degrees or falls until -35 C. If the night is very cold, the temperature normally rises quite
rapidly as the sun rises up especially in March.
The weather in these months can be cloudy or sunny (sunshine is more probable in March than in February)
and there can be wind. Snowfalls can also appear.
Ten day weather forecast can be seen: http://www.foreca.com/Finland/Suomussalmi?tenday
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
Clothing is a personal choice but everybody should be prepared for the cold weather. During the snowshoeing
the body activity usually generates enough heat to keep your body warm but during the breaks you’ll get cold
easily. Therefore it is very important to have a warm coat or a waistcoat to wear during the stops. The best way
to protect oneself from the cold is to wear a number of thin layers rather than a few thick ones. The outer
garment should be wind proof. Special attention should be paid to the feet, fingers and face.
Here is an example what the clothing could include:
Underwear – Synthetic underwear (polypropylene, polyester), wool or silk is better than cotton. Skin-tight
underwear removes moisture from the skin.
Mid-layer clothing – Eg. fleece or woollen garments. Mid-layer clothing makes it possible to adjust thermal
insulation according to the weather and rate of physical activity.
Outer garment – Windproof coat and trousers (it is not necessary to be waterproof like Gore-tex)
Head – Windproof hat which protects the ears as well. Remember to protect your face too, especially if it’s
windy. A balaclava or a scarf may be useful.
Hands – Windproof mittens protect your fingers better than gloves. For the breaks you can have another pair of
big mittens to be put over the others.
Feet – Socks made of wool mixtures are the best choice. Cotton sports socks are not good for the cold weather!
Winter shoes should have thick soles and be a size larger than your summer ones. Ideal shoes have enough
space also for knitted woollen socks to be put over the other socks.
A not good shoe
A good shoe
Gear list for the tour:
Clothing
-
coat and trousers for snowshoeing
warm coat for breaks
thermal long john pants and shirt (synthetic, wool or silk)
mid-layer clothing for the cold weather (eg. fleece or wool garments)
mittens (or gloves) and pair of big mittens to put over the others
warm socks
a hat, ear muffs can be useful as well
scarf or balaclava
warm shoes for snowshoeing
slippers or thick woollen socks to wear in the evening
leisure time clothing
Other personal items
- rucksack
- thermos flask
- torch
- camera
- toiletries
- sunscreen and lip salve
- personal medical supplies, plasters, double-skin (e.g.Compeed)…
- earplugs (against the snorers)
- (sunglasses)
- snowshoes and sticks (can be rented as well)
Material supplied by the organizer
- towels
- bed linen
- sleeping bags and sheets
Note! Regularly, unfortunately, the luggage doesn’t arrive as the passengers arrive. We recommend you to
bring in your hand luggage such clothes and shoes that you can participate the first activity day without
problems even if your luggage doesn’t arrive with you.
SNOWSHOEING EQUIPMENT
The rental of snowshoes is not included in the tour price. You can bring your own equipment or rent it from us.
We must have the information about the equipment rental in advance, preferably when the booking is done.
We also have sticks available to be used during the snowshoeing.
Remember that shoes should be warm and there should be enough space for woollen socks!
LUGGAGE TRANSPORTATION
Luggage is transported between accommodations by car.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Clients must take care of the travel insurance by themselves. We recommend to apply for the European Health
Insurance Card which is available free of charge for the citizens of EU/EEA and of Switzerland.
The holders of the card are entitled to medical care while staying temporarily in another EU/EEA country or in
Switzerland (with same regulations and co-payments like the residents of the country). More information about
the card is available in internet http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559&langId=en
Having this card helps a lot in the case of accident because without the card a client has to pay all the costs on
spot and they can be due to long distances from several hundred euros up to one thousand euros.
TIME ZONE
Time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
ELECTRICITY
The electric current in Finland is 220 V (230 V), 50 Hz. A two-pin plug system, familiar throughout Europe, is
used. Adapters are available in airport shops.
INTERNET
There is no Wi-Fi available in any of the accommodations, nor not any public internet available.
EXTEND YOUR STAY
Extra nights in Helsinki: If you wish to stay in Helsinki before or after your snowshoeing tour we are available to
help in the arrangements. Also if your flight schedule requires extra nights in Kuusamo or Helsinki the
accommodation can be booked through us. Please ask for further details.