A physical demanding but unforgettable experience! The bear trail is situated in the national park Oulanka near Kuusamo in Finnish Lapland. A national park founded in very early years, because of its beauty. The dominating river Oulankajoki, which shores we hike often along mark the landscape … especially in winter the region looks like a small paradise. We will pass many interesting formations in the landscape, watch the fabulous frozen rocks and hike across covered lakes. These great landscapes we explore with our nice and friendly huskies which are pulling in Pulkas our luggage. We will be only fixed by a rope behind the team and carry a light backpack.
Dates
(Sunday to Sunday)
15. – 22.02.2009
22. – 29.03.2009
29.03. – 05.04.2009
2nd day: After breakfast we will start for the small beartrail (pieni Karhunkierros – the probably most hiked 12 km in Finland). A wonderful roundhike with a lot of sightseeings and attractions. We still hike without huskies, because of some difficult ups and downs. Distance about 13 km. After return to our blochouses sauna and dinner.
3rd day: Today we get to know our dogs, who will join us for the rest of the week. We learn, how to hook up the dogs to the pulks and how to walk on pulks. On the lake straight in front of our cabins we will start… in the afternoon we will start to plan our weektour and prepare all our things. Sauna and dinner. Overnight in the blochouses.
4th day: After the breakfast we let us and our dogs and pulkas bring to our starting point in Virkkula. Our first stage brings us through beautiful fields and swamps – still outside of the nationalpark. Lunch we will enjoy on a open fire on the tour. On the last some km we enter the nationalpark Oulanka. Just before the end we find us in a little more demanding downhill – which will be easy if we work in a team! We reach our first overnight place Siilastupa. A cottage we met already on our small beartrail hike. Very nice situated on a great waterfall Jyrävä. Distance about 13 km
5th day: Further we hike through the us well known village Juuma and then leave to the winterroute further through beautiful wild swamps and little hill always in the direction Russia. Less and less km separate us from the huge wilderness in the Russian north. Until we reach our stageend Jussinkämppä – which is only less than 5 km away from the Russian border. Situated on a very idyllic lake (is of course frozen) a very beautiful spot on earth. Overnight again in a very simple cottage without energy and running water. Distance about 15 km
6th day: Further on we hike after the breakfast on an old morane – out of the iceage in early years. This brings us through little hilly areas, which are easy to climb and descend. After a while we reach the valley of Oulanka – after which the whole nationalpark is named. Oulanka valley with its river – Oulankajoki. A river which still takes its natural way around many bends… On the shore of this beautiful river we find our next cottage – Ansakämppä. The last some meters demand again the teamspirit! Distance about 8 km.
7th day: Our last stage brings us all along the impressive river Oulankajoki. Through beautiful light pineforests. Until we reach the famous waterfalls of Kiutaköngäs. A perfect object for photographers. After we enjoyed this marvellous gorge we take our last 2 km… and reach the visitorcenter of Kiutagöngäs. There will still have the possibility to enjoy some slides or films about the nationalpark. From here we are picked up and brought again back to our blochouses in Juuma. After Sauna we enjoy a last dinner together. Distance about 9 km.
8th day: After breakfast transfer to the airport
Later in the winterseason – depending on the weather and conditions – we will choose little bit different wilderness cottages and will have partly longer days – but all the main attractions we will pass anyhow.
