It´s time to look back at the past summer, pick out some pictures and experiences and share info about the summertime of Hossa. First it has to be mentioned that the possibilities, nature and sceneries with the surrounding area combined are so many and variable, that spending a night or two simply isn´t enough for a more comprehensive travel experience. Focusing on a certain activity like hiking, fishing or picking berries is possible of course, but in a week you`ll have enough time to do and see different things and best of all, face the culture and become aware of the remarkable peace and silence of nature that one reaches here.
This summer there were for example families with children aged two and five years looking for light activities in beautiful nature, as well as larger international groups craving for adventure and focusing more on the physical performance and doing more demanding daily distances. Thanks to the vast, partly pristine wilderness areas and reserves, different levels of accommodation, rental and food services and the well-maintained camping sites and trails of different lengths, there´s something for everyone. So going on a 10 km canoeing trip with a two year old is not a problem! 🙂
Fishing was proven to be one of the most thrilling and enthusiasm inspiring things to try on around here. Behind every corner there´s a fishy lake, river or a pond and fishing itself being one of those things that are easy to learn but hard to master, seeing the excited faces of people/children who´ve never tried it before and succeed on their first try, created warm memories for a lifetime. And the self-caught fish cooked around open fire is of course a treat to remember… Fishing is connecting with nature and “activeresting” combined but there is one drawback, it might lead to an addiction! 🙂 A knowledgeable guide helps with basic info and creating memorable moments with fishing and the same applies with foraging and especially for collecting mushrooms.
Hiking through the old forest and mire reserves, walking in vast pinewoods, canoeing, going in a sauna, fishing and swimming in clear lakes are great ways to face the solitude and peacefulness of Hossa and Finland through the whole summer but from late July onwards, harvesting the wild culinary delicacies of the forests takes your Finnish wilderness experience one step further. Eating berries directly from the ground during your hike and cooking self-collected mushrooms at your simple yet cozy lodging after a long day are two examples of how you can take advantage of the amazing, annual supermarket of the outdoors! Some people prolonged the enjoyment and picked a box of bilberries to take home with them… 🙂
To provide a bit more detail about the wild edibles, with berries we focused on Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and with mushrooms on different types of Milk caps (Russula paludosa, R. vinosa, R. decolorans) and Cops (Leccinum vulpinum), simply because from late July onwards it´s the season for these. We were lucky enough to find a few boletes (Boletus pinophilus, B. edulis) too, but like many other edible mushrooms and berries, their main season is from mid August until the end of September.
Besides fungi and plants, observing animals is an inherent part of the outdoor experience. Reindeers were seen in the forests during most of the hikes and black-throated loons (Gavia arctica) diving for fish in front of our canoes as we gently slided forward was a common sight. Other commonly seen birds on lakes and ponds were swans (Cygnus cygnus), different ducks (Anatidae) and different mergansers (Mergus), in the forests grouses (Tetrao, tetrastes), woodpeckers (Dryocopus martius, Dendrocopos major) and tits (Parus).
As you can see, there´s plenty of things to see and do around here during summertime but despite all the great activities, the surroundings where they take place is most likely going to be the most attention grasping part of your visit, this is repeated over and over again and this is what makes Hossa such an exceptional destination. Feeling peaceful nature and confronting vast wilderness seems to be harder nowadays, and there sure is a need for it, so it is fortunate that there´s still remote destinations where these things can still be experienced firsthand, easily, comfortably and with a local.
Great moments were shared and memories created during the past summer but now it´s time look to the future and head towards new adventures. Travelling is a great way to get new perspectives and inspiration to your life and that´s what this summer of outdoor experiences in Hossa was all about. Thanks to all who participated and made it happen!