Side tangent - If you haven't had the opportunity, I absolutely recommend checking out the Norwegian Trekking Association and finding time to do a hut to hut trip. Norway is a beautiful country...
Side tangent - If you haven't had the opportunity, I absolutely recommend checking out the Norwegian Trekking Association and finding time to do a hut to hut trip. Norway is a beautiful country and the hut system is something I could only dream of domestically. They literally hand you a key and tell you to have fun. I couldn't imagine that level of trust in the United States. My partner and I spent 2 week checking out 4 different regions back in 2018. We avoided the main routes, as they are very well travelled and tend to have crowded living quarters (we stopped by one and immediately left), even though they are gorgeous. The trick is, nearly all of them are. There were a few huts that we had entirely to ourselves and others where we shared with a few Norwegian families. You can drink the water straight from the steams (no giardia!), most of the huts are stocked with self stable foods and drinks, and all you need to bring is a sleeping bag liner for bedding. It is amazing.
I can only imagine how beneficial and impactful these trips must be for children entering k-12. I have a few Swedish friends and was blown away to learn that they learned how to cross country ski, build shelters, and had basic wilderness training in elementary school. While I love dodgeball and soccer, I would love to provide that for my own future children.
In Finland we have Autiotupa (Wilderness hut, https://autiotuvat.com/). "Autio" means empty, which they are. Theres (usually) no food, maybe some firewood. But there are bunk beds and stove. The...
In Finland we have Autiotupa (Wilderness hut, https://autiotuvat.com/). "Autio" means empty, which they are. Theres (usually) no food, maybe some firewood. But there are bunk beds and stove. The huts are made from logs, they are not locked and they are free to use by anyone. Many hermits have lived in them.
Anyways... There are hiking routes that go trough Finland, Sweden and Norway. So if anyone wants to do a longer hiking trip, one can go to all three countries without any hassle.
Thanks for posting! Nice to read a story that's 100% wholesome. We know that nature is important for our collective survival of course, we're seeing that firsthand. But I think time outdoors,...
Thanks for posting! Nice to read a story that's 100% wholesome.
We know that nature is important for our collective survival of course, we're seeing that firsthand.
But I think time outdoors, especially in natural spaces, is much more important for individual wellbeing than western culture (on the whole) recognizes.
These days there's compelling research showing that we should prioritize it more. We may not yet be able to fully quantify why nature is important for our wellbeing, but we can see that it is.
Side tangent - If you haven't had the opportunity, I absolutely recommend checking out the Norwegian Trekking Association and finding time to do a hut to hut trip. Norway is a beautiful country and the hut system is something I could only dream of domestically. They literally hand you a key and tell you to have fun. I couldn't imagine that level of trust in the United States. My partner and I spent 2 week checking out 4 different regions back in 2018. We avoided the main routes, as they are very well travelled and tend to have crowded living quarters (we stopped by one and immediately left), even though they are gorgeous. The trick is, nearly all of them are. There were a few huts that we had entirely to ourselves and others where we shared with a few Norwegian families. You can drink the water straight from the steams (no giardia!), most of the huts are stocked with self stable foods and drinks, and all you need to bring is a sleeping bag liner for bedding. It is amazing.
I can only imagine how beneficial and impactful these trips must be for children entering k-12. I have a few Swedish friends and was blown away to learn that they learned how to cross country ski, build shelters, and had basic wilderness training in elementary school. While I love dodgeball and soccer, I would love to provide that for my own future children.
In Finland we have Autiotupa (Wilderness hut, https://autiotuvat.com/). "Autio" means empty, which they are. Theres (usually) no food, maybe some firewood. But there are bunk beds and stove. The huts are made from logs, they are not locked and they are free to use by anyone. Many hermits have lived in them.
Anyways... There are hiking routes that go trough Finland, Sweden and Norway. So if anyone wants to do a longer hiking trip, one can go to all three countries without any hassle.
Thanks for posting! Nice to read a story that's 100% wholesome.
We know that nature is important for our collective survival of course, we're seeing that firsthand.
But I think time outdoors, especially in natural spaces, is much more important for individual wellbeing than western culture (on the whole) recognizes.
These days there's compelling research showing that we should prioritize it more. We may not yet be able to fully quantify why nature is important for our wellbeing, but we can see that it is.
Cheers to the Norwegian Trekking Association