Sunny winter season

Longer and sunnier days, but still so much snow!

Let's enjoy it while we still can: Friday 15th, Sub24.

Destination and transportation (skis, bikes, or both) to be chosen during the next few days depending on the weather and snow conditions.

Until now, save the date and watch this space!

12/03 Update! See below the details of the coming trip:

 A skiing trip/expedition is in the pipes for this Friday.
 

In short: we leave from Munkkiniemi on Friday 17:30, then ski 8 km to an island where we can take sauna, dinner and night in tent.

On Saturday morning, there are 2 options.
1. Go back straight to Lauttasaari, 2km of skiing and take a bus home. This is suitable for everybody.
2. A handful of people are thinking of making it longer. In essence, ski 25 km westward to go to another island (near Edesholmen, Kyrkslätt, Finland) for another evening of sauna and camping. On Sunday, we ski back 10 km and take a bus from Espoo to civillisation. More details on that below.

Here we go for the details:

When?
This Friday 15th of March, 5.30 pm

Where?
Munkkiniemi aukio gas station, Huopalahdentie 1

What?
The plan is to leave from Munkkiniemi, ski about 8 km on the sea ice to an island (near-by Käärmeluoto, south of Lauttasaari) and camp there on solid ground. Prepare yourself to sleep in a tent in cold conditions. To have a more relaxing evening on the island we can start a wood sauna there.

What to take?
Aside from the usual gear described in this post, few other items might become handy for this trip:

- COMPULSORY Naskalit (http://www.veneilijanverkkokauppa.fi/images/naskalit+pilli.jpg)
- Spare cloth in plastic or waterproof bag
- Towel
- Flashlight

Watch this video, it could be useful one day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ysnKtuUTt8k

Please drop us a comment if you're up for this trip, or send us an email to
sub24helsinki@gmail.com

For the Saturday expedition, there is some uncertainty with the ice situation, so we cannot guarantee that we can make it to the second island and the sauna. In other words, we might have to give up somewhere on the way and go back by bus from a location in Espoo. Be ready also to have a night without sauna on Saturday if something goes unplanned. In addition, be prepared for at least 25 km of skiing, with -15 °C and some wind. Fortunately, it should not be head wind from the forecast.

Some of us will use a modified pulka for kids to carry the equipment. A recommended suggestion for the Saturday trip. Just buy a pulka, a rope, make somes hole in the pulka to tight up your equipment with the rope. Finally use the rope to pull it from a belt.
 

See you on Friday, wax your skis and pack lots of down equipment!

Baltic Dreams

Olivier's sub-24 ski trip is reported on his own excellent outdoorsy blog:

Baltic Dreams

Here's the trip report:

A special sub24 edition: only on ski, destination Nuuksio. Well the concept didn't gathered a big crowd. Only Tuisku and me were at the meeting point.

Departure from an unknown train station, Tuomarila, already at night. Finding the tracks wasn't so easy but rewarded us of a nice walk by the big roads. Once the tracks were found, the trip became smoother. It was a slow shade of landscapes from the suburbs of Espoo, to some highway area near Bemböle to finally enter in the big sub24 temple: the forest of Nuuksio. I felt humble skiing in the night among all these tall and old spruces. We had enough light from the reflection of the light of the city on the clouds.

We woke up after a cosy night in Sulalampi and headed towards Luukki. And it was a surprise to me to see how bewitchingly beautiful this small lost ski track is. Very inspiring.

Looking forward for another long overnight skiing trip. We learned that jesusteippi deserves its nickname. Just tape your foot which threats to form a blister and the miracle works.

 

Meeting point and departure.

One sub24-er fixing a puncture.

 

Towards the end

 

Next Friday is the first of the month, people...

Friday 22nd February

Meeting at the railway station of Tuomarila at 18h00.

From there we walk together 500 m to the ski track. Then ski together to our favourite cabin near Pirttimäki.

There is about 10 km of skiing, so about 2 hours maximum.

Possible to sleep in the cold cabin (not warmer than outside), maybe possible to make a fire but be ready for no fire. Possibility to pitch a tent. Current forecast are about -5 to -1 °C so very confortable temperature.

Do not hesitate to post comment to share tent space or cooking stove.