This year Wappu offered us fins an extra holiday, so what a good excuse to go out for a three night hike out to the woods of the eastern border lands.

First destination was to drive to a small village of Möhkö…

…and from there few kilometers to the military historical area of Öykkösenvaara from where was about a 5 km walk to a wilderness hut at the Pohjoinen Pitkäjärvi.

Drive to the location started Thu evening, but as the trip was almost 5 hours of driving, I got the car parked around 01 in the night. The walk in the dark of the night took about two hours from Öykkösenvaara to the Pohjoinen Pitkäjärvi.

The full moon and clear sky was a beautiful sight when walking on ridges between lakes towards the wilderness hut. Could hear many animals active around the forest, the best being the sound of an Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) that pierced the darkness clearly few times.

Didn’t take pictures on my way to the hut, as it was more about making there in one piece after a workday and a long drive, so it was more about just walking and trying to get into location.
…but still weather was nice, the Moon in the Sky and the reflection at the lake’s surface was mesmerizing. Was a nice walk in the darkness after all. Haunted by the sound of a eagle-owl.

Sunrise at the lake shore at the hut.

Sunrise from the hut window.

The wilderness hut at the daylight next day.

Few more pics around the hut…

A rare sight at a wilderness hut: they had a trash and a recycling facilities usable. Tho I try to take my own trash with me from the wilderness always and not leaving anything but foot prints behind.

The lake shore was swampy, but one could take a dip if really wanted to do so. Tho the water temperature was below +10°C so I skipped this opportunity this time.

Only one tent spot near the hut.

My backpack ready to leave the location.

Slept there cozy two nights.

The place is quite popular day trip location. Especially when approaching from the north one can get car parked quite near. Met few day trip people during the one full day spent in the hut.

Took some pics when walking back to the car…
…the pics are taken “backwards”, as I turned towards the hut to take these. Thought I’d post them in reverse order, so it would look like walking to the hut, but decided to post them in the order taken when writing this blog.

The remains of a old dugout (korsu) from the war times…

There was like two steep hills to climb, this being the other one that I descended on my way back to the car.

Bridge at the old mill’s place.

Met a grass snake (rantakäärme) having a cozy time at the sunlight at the top of the ridge.

Do bears shit in the forest?
…a statement at the path about who were here in these forests first? ❤

Forest changes at the beginning of the path when leaving/arriving to the Öykkösenvaara.

Before the path is a dirt road and a gate…

A meal at the dirt road side near the car parking.

Tour around the Möhkö village was nice stop after the hike. Stopped at the Möhkön Manta, an old housing boat for lumber workers that serves nowadays a cozy cafe.

Friendly service and good cake, what more one could ask for? ❤

In overall the first part of the wappu adventure was very rewarding. The walk in the darkness of the night gave whole different feeling for the route compared to the walk back at the daylight.

Pogostan kierros and Susitaival are very worth of visiting by this small take on the subject. Also visiting the one of the most eastern villages of Finland and walking near the Russian border gives it’s own vibe to things in here, tho at no point did I feel myself unsafe in anyway. – And yes, people do live here like this everyday.

Next pt.2… >>>