Wilderness skills Archives - Out in the Nature

Thinning forest in a traditional way

February 28th, 2019Jenni0 Comments

We Finns live in and of forests, and forests cover more than 70 % of the land. Finland is in fact the most forested country in Europe, if we compare the proportional share of forest land to the country's total size. 3 millon hectares of the Finnish forests are protected or under restricted use, which represents 13 % of the forest area. The rest is managed commercially, and roughly 60% of forests in Finland are privately owned. More than 10% of Finnish population has...

Snowshoeing in the Meiko wilderness

January 30th, 2019Patrik0 Comments

As our winters have become more unpredictable especially in Southern Finland, one has to make use of every opportunity for winter sports. This winter the ‘real’ winter with snow and subzero temperatures started around Christmas and skiing tracks as well as ice skating rinks have been crowded ever since. I have also enjoyed the wilderness with snow shoes, which seems to be on the rise as a winter hobby.

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Northern Lights, the elusive wonders of nature

January 22nd, 2019Tarja0 Comments

Northern Lights aurora borealis Finland Suomi

Northern Lights, aurora borealis, are a wonder of nature that only few people get to see. We want to help everyone enjoy these stunningly beautiful apparitions so here are some tips on when, where, and how to see Northern Lights.

Northern Lights are created when the high-energy particles created by solar winds crash together with the atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere. These high-energy particles,...

Ice-fishing in Finland

January 5th, 2019Jenni0 Comments

Ice-fishing in Finland is a popular hobby, especially in spring when the sun is shining and temperatures are getting warmer. Ice-fishing season begins when there's enough ice on lake or sea. Check the current ice conditions from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. You can also check the thickness of the ice with an ice drill. If you unsure about your safety, do not go on ice. Ice-fishing with a rod and jig is allowed by everyman’s rights, but there might be limitations in certain...

Metsäkoivula trail is an easy day trip from Helsinki

September 23rd, 2018Jenni0 Comments

Metsäkoivula trail is an easy day trip from Helsinki as it is located in a small town called Somero, about 100 kilometers from the capital area. Nearby are the national parks of Liesjärvi and Torronsuo, but Metsäkoivula has some unique characteristics that make this small trail worth a visit. Not only this trail is located in my hometown but there is a beautiful view to a small forest lake that occasionally attracts swans, a Moonshiners' Creek now serves as a perfect spot for a barbecue,...

Mushroom picking in Finland is fun

September 2nd, 2018Jenni0 Comments

Mushroom picking in Finland is a popular hobby and even an income for some. It is allowed by everyman's rights, and Finland really is mushroom picker's paradise. There are thousands of types of mushroom and few hundred of those are edible. Most of the edible mushrooms are collected from end of August to October. Mushrooms mainly grow in forests, but they can also be found in parks, fields and roadsides. Many Finns avoid picking mushrooms from the side of the roads as the mushrooms absorb...