Why Hetta-Pallas? Out of curiosity, I googled different hiking routes in Lapland, and there it appeared on my screen! Finland's most popular and apparently the oldest marked route in Enontekiö. In the embrace of the Finnish Maiden. I wanted to test if I had what it takes to be a wilderness hiker and how I would fare spending several nights in nature. Up until now, I had only done day trips. So, this was my first multi-night trip in the wilderness and alone. Before Lapland, I spent one night in Nuuksio to get a feel for my backpack. Well, I went to Enontekiö on a familiar and safe Onnibus. Or rather, I took the Onnibus all the way to Rovaniemi and then the next day with Eskelinen's bus line. With Onnibus, I got from Helsinki to Rovaniemi for one euro (yes, you read that right). If you manage to be at the right place at the right time, you might get a one-euro ticket! Even to Rovaniemi! I paid a couple of euros more to get the seat I wanted, which is really necessary on an 11-hour bus ride! So, in total, I paid three euros for this. I think the driver changed twice. But surprisingly, such a long bus ride went quite smoothly! And in that time, I noticed how frequently the weather in Finland actually changes. However, I want to dedicate this blog post primarily to you, who are planning your first multi-night hiking trip, and to you, if you're a bit of a newbie like me when it comes to hiking! Here are my tips for you. Of course, even experienced hikers can benefit from this blog post. 1. Think twice about what you take with you on a hike! Many make this mistake, bringing too much clothing and food. I was on the road for a total of 5 nights and I had one pair of replacement pants. One replacement shirt (long-sleeved and tank top). a few pairs of underwear, socks. I actually ran out of clothes. This amount might have been okay just for hiking, but I spent two nights elsewhere before the hike. So, on the Hetta-Pallas route, I was there for three nights. I had brought food for the hike (foods for one day) Breakfast: Elovena portion pack, clarified butter (ghee), jam, a few nuts, and coffee (a portion of instant coffee with milk included) Lunch: ready-made hiking food, to which you just add water or dried food. I dried food for this trip for the first time! Snack: energy bar/chocolate Dinner: ready-made hiking food. Sometimes I also made pancakes. What else did I take with me on the hike? Flashlight, rain poncho, mosquito hat, band-aids, anti-inflammatory tablets, painkillers, frying pan, pot, fire-making equipment, one cup and bowl, and utensils. Crocs, selfie stick, toilet paper... I think I packed well and didn't feel like I had anything unnecessary with me! Tip! I recommend bringing effervescent tablets with magnesium. I didn't have these myself and got a couple of tablets from a girl! They really gave me an extra boost, and I believe they helped with recovery too! 2. If you still want a bit of glamour on your trip I didn't have a tent with me, but I booked overnight stays in reservation huts. On the Hetta-Pallas route, there are three reservation huts where you can book a bed. So, these reservation huts also have other hikers at the same time. The huts have gas stoves, blankets, pillows. So, real luxury. And also, the weight of the backpack becomes lighter as you don't have to carry a tent. However, you need your own sheets or a sleeping bag liner for these reservation huts. The keys to the reservation huts are collected before the hike either from the Hetta Visitor Center or from the Pallastunturi Visitor Center. You can view the reservation huts from this link. There are also wilderness huts in these places where anyone can stay. At Nammalankuru, the wilderness hut was full when the storm hit! There were about 20 people in the wilderness hut, while there were six of us in the reservation hut. If the reservation hut doesn't appeal to you and you want even more privacy, I recommend exploring other places as well. Sioskuru, Hannukuru, and even Montellin Maja. For the second night, I had a reservation at Montellin Maja, but I canceled it when I noticed how quickly I moved forward. 3. Choose your destination with care The route doesn't have to be Hetta-Pallas! Choose a route that suits your current level and schedule. Do you want to spend a night in a reservation hut, or would you rather enjoy the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere? Would you like to take your time and admire the scenery, or would you rather reach your destination quickly? Are you traveling alone or with someone? There are plenty of routes in Lapland for different skill levels! Also, I've been told that in the UK, there's even a "walk" that is more of a stroll through the park. I don't remember the name of the route anymore, but it might have been the Great Glen Way. And, of course, there are plenty of other routes in the world! So, explore the world and your options! <3 4. Trust your abilities As you travel, your abilities will grow and change. There's no shame in turning back if you're tired. Or if you feel like the weather isn't on your side. There are always more trips to come! I promise. After Lapland, I headed to my sister in Norway for a week, and I don't know how many trips there are ahead! And also, I met some really nice people on this trip, and we even ended up meeting up with them in the capital. So, new contacts and acquaintances made along the way!
