Teemu Hartikainen explorer of the wilderness

How did you start hiking, what brought you to nature?

Honestly, I have always been in nature. Growing up in Finland, nature started from my backyard. Started my life in a family where orienteering has always been a significant sport, with fishing & hunting grandfathers and common summer weekends at a lakeside cabin. Then when I came of age, started as a cub scout, and Scouts are still a fond hobby of mine. But aside from camps and smaller dayhikes, I only started actual multi-day hiking 7 years ago, after my mandatory military service. Still cannot believe it has already been that long - but life goes by fast, when you fit in a multi-month hike or ski tour each year. I have got into the winter side of things just five years ago, first starting out in reservists' winter warfare training course. It gave a solid base of survival skills to lean on – but the rest, the routines and gear knowledge, I had to gather myself. Most of the classic guidance and information seemed outdated or heavy to me, since I had already done multiple long hikes using ultralight equipment.

My first longer hike was a domestic trail that hadn't been maintained as a whole in decades. I had the happiness in life sucked out in a dead-end security job, where management of personnel was terrible. I had wanted to go on longer adventures in my adolescence, but did not get the chance – or didn't really figure out I had the will and ways to do what I want – until I burned out and my body pushed me out to the nature, to disconnect. This hike was a necessity, to level my head and find a new direction. Direction it did give, and a new joy to life after. 

What are the biggest adventures of your life so far? You can write about these in more detail!

The most significant hikes I have done must be the two early-season starts on the famous Pacific Crest Trail in the US. These were overshadowed by record-high snowyears both times, and the first attempt ending before the halfway marker. Second time was rough as well, but I managed to finish after all. 

Then, last winter I skied through the length of Norway, which comes up to 2700 kilometers of skiing along the Scandinavian mountains. I have done multiple long hikes and ski tours in the Nordic countries prior to this, but there are so many – too many trips – to count  ranging from 300 to 1300 kilometers. In total I have now hiked and skied 16 000 km combined, divided in various different modes of backcountry travel. Sometimes I go fast & light, sometimes ruck a longer carry.

The beauty of hiking here in Finland for is, that you do not need ready-made trails per se - you have the freedom to roam our vast wilderness areas and private lands, so long as you respect the nature and prepare well. The local way of hiking is a bit different, than crushing miles on well-beaten long-distance paths.

To travel in the unbroken terrain requires a higher level of planning to not plan too much - flexibility is key. Sometimes you end up swimming over the largest rivers, or do a 50-kilometer detour to a bridge with too high water levels to cross safely. By luck, you meet someone canoeing down the river, giving you a lift. You will run into vast slow-going bogs, fast to walk open tundra with sometimes vicious weather – and at the other end beautiful, calm pine forests and lakeviews, with rich flora and fauna. 

What were your hardest, most extreme experiences, difficulties?

Dealing with low visibility in steep, wind formed snow up in Norway for weeks on end, I have to say is the most challenging and dangerous obstacle I have encountered on any of my hikes – I was well prepared for any weather in winter, but this was by far the most nerve-racking experience, dodging hundreds of small cornices each day, that could break your leg. Ski poles definitely saw some unconventional use at times, by having to keep throwing them ahead to gain any sense of depth. It wasn't snowing, but overcast weather didn't allow any shadows on the snow, not even with a headlamp attached to my belt.  

Some of my hikes have been riddled with constant breaking down of equipment or stress injuries and illness. My second attempt of the PCT for example turned from 4,5 months to an almost 8-month long journey of gear manfunctions and blown out tendons. And I went through three backpacks, that all malfunctioned in various ways.

What equipment do you use, how do you choose it, what are your criteria? This can also be detailed!

I tend to use quality gear, with thought-out features. Price does not matter at this point, although not everything is by any means expensive. A 25-gram, then 10-euro gas stove has lasted me all 10 000 hiking kilometers. I started out by crafting much of my own equipment with my mother teaching me to work with sewing machines and on garment patterning. I have since understood the value in quality gear, and the lack of proper design in some ourdoor equipment.

Too many pieces of equipment have something on them, that is a dealbreaker for me.

Hiking so many miles a year, makes you picky.

After all, it is all about comfort on a long journey. Zippers on jackets under hipbelts chafe, no armpit zippers on rain jackets make you sweat like no other, outward-pull hipbelts twist your shoulders in awkward positions, to name a few. I like things simple, functional and lightweight. 

Minimalism is essential, but not if it sacrifices usability for a few grams.

My typical baseweight, (weight of all my equipment except food, fuel and water) is typically around 4,5 kilos (low!) in the summer time. 2,5 kg if I run. On my longest hikes, it is actually slightly higher than on the usual hike, since it makes sense to carry charger adapters, towels, and things like that when you go and do a resupply in town along the hike. On week-long excursions you can leave out a few more things like your wallet.

Winter time, it is much more challenging to lighten the equipment past a certain point, and it requires a deeper understanding of what you are doing, and a total shakedown in every piece of kit. I can get down to about 9 kilograms with comfort in -30°C.

I can take advantage of my skis properties far better with a backpack instead of pulling a pulk, for more efficient and faster travel. But in some conditions heavier duty tents are a must, and in skis the design matters more than weight. You may suddenly double that 9 kilos just by using a pulk, and by choosing a stronger tent. 

My winter clothing depends heavily on the trip - my personal ski tours I wear thin and light layers and windshirts as I ski fast, but with a group in same condition I may have two or three more layers on top, that are also thicker than my usual – making up for the lack of bloodflow. On a break, you wear thick down jackets to keep warm. 

By using mesh baselayers and quick-drying thermal layers, sweating does no harm. Typically you are advised to avoid sweating in winter, but anyone that ever pulls a proper sledge will know it is impossible to avoid. The less the material absorbs water, the better.

Usually winters here are cold and dry, but it has become more common to have rain, sleet or freezing rain in the winter too. Usually it's best to still use a more air-permeable jacket and pants, and add a thin rain layer on top only when needed. Same can be done if wind picks up out in the open.

In summer time, especially the clothing and footwear I use, are the most notable comfort factors. Trail running shoes keep feet cool, dry and don't tire you out like heavy and sweaty boots. Toe socks reduce friction and allow a more natural splay of toes in a wider running shoe. Trail runners are also the best kind of water crossing shoe - you just walk right through, maintaining best grip and cushion on slippery riverbeds, and can just keep walking after. With the right choice of shoe design, the water just drains or pumps right out after a bit. In our context, crossing many streams and wet lands each day, it makes more sense to let the feet be wet when terrain is wet. Leather boots will never dry, especially when autumn comes. Light rubber boots have their argument in late fall, since frostbite and trench foot are already significant risks.

We have a tricky situation with the requirements for clothing. Most of Finland being forested, mosquitoes and other biting bugs are a real concern through the summer season. But in the summer, it can also get extremely hot (who would have guessed?) but at the same time it can still dip below freezing in July. 

Light weight, light colors, and well air-permeable but loose clothes are the way to go. If bugs leave you behind in the tundra, you may roll up your sleeves and pantlegs on a hot day. If sun gets too intense, you drop them down again, same with the skeeters. Bugnet and a brimmed hat make bugspray obsolete. The less chemicals you dissolve in the waters you clean yourself with, the better. 

Bright colors in the fall are essential as hunting season opens - but don't make the mistake I made last fall, dressing up bright but in all the wrong combination (picture - I looked exactly like the trees around me..)

In the evening, summer time the sun never sets up north. Light color of tent keeps ot cool, but also requires a sleeping mask for some. When the air cools down, I pull out a puffy jacket to sit in camp, staying warm. At night I roll into my backcountry quilt, which is great for a sidesleeper like me. Camp pillow is something I will not give up in pursuit of low weight packing. The other most important thing I pack are reliable rain clothes, as we get a lot of that wet stuff. Rain skirt and a well designed jacket are a great combo - light when you don't need them, reliable when you do. When colder temperatures arrive, I add neoprene socks to my trail runners, and rain mittens on my hands.

Satellite messengers are a cheap life insurance. These fidgets are not to act as a get out of jail free -card to allow irresponsible style of travel out there, but are a last-resort lifesaver. I have assisted first responders to scene of beesting allergy that was unknown to the hiker they had the allergy. There are many situations that are out of your control, no matter how well you plan. It may be someone else requiring help, where you don't have cell service.

What are your favorite places and why? Whether you have already been there or just want to go there.

Tuntsa Wilderness Area, Finland. Remote, varying but easy-to-travel terrain and trails, with grand mountain views and beautiful forests. I hiked through here on my first hike, and have been longing to return ever since. 

Koli National Park, Finland. Close to where I'm from, the most known national view in lakeland Finland. Gorgeous, more challenging hiking trails in the park, with rich history of original way of life in the area. Venture the trails beyond the main viewpoint to find more solitude. 

Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington, United States. Although relatively small, the most wild-like wilderness I have been to. Remote, challenging terrain to venture off the trails, and so beautiful mountain forests and streams, with trees the sizes us Nordics cannot imagine. After hiking the PCT, this is where I would return to explore. You may notice though, that I like forests and solitude more than mountains and flocks of other hikers.

Helagsfjället, Sweden. They have the most gorgeous view from any sauna ever at the mountain station, directly to the glacier. If you are a sauna fan, do yourself a solid favour. In the vicinity you will also find the Sylan mountains, for a prolonged hiking trip in Swedish mountains and tundra. Breathtaking views and moderate terrain. I walked through on my Gröna Bandet (Green Ribbon) hike in 2019, and skied past on the Norwegian side last winter.

How do you train, do you prepare for the hikes separately?

By doing exactly what I will be doing - hiking. Day hikes mostly, shorter walks and runs. Throw in some resistance training a few months before the trip, to strengthen the supportive muscle groups and ligaments. 

How do you eat, what are your favorite foods? How does this change on long hikes, what do you eat there, what do you take with you, or what do you get in the wilderness?

On long hikes, it depends if you can resupply, or how. Is it by mail or by walking into a store. Whenever I can, I dehydrate my own vegetables and proteins to maintain all necessary nutrients. You can get a whole menu from the grocery store too, but it will be heavier and take more creativity. I tend to have a few meats available, then mix and match with 3-5 sources of carbohydrates like mashed potato powder, ramen noodles, couscous etc. You can make it easy, or not so easy.

On domestic hikes I prepare single meals, but on longer hikes abroad you use what you can and adjust to your caloric needs as the hike advances. I try and keep things simple, but mixing in some exotic fruits or different veggie mixes, spices, seeds and such every now and then keeps it interesting - small changes make a meal.

On a long hikes you definitely want to avoid eating so many snacks throughout the days, or rather eat more at once. It takes a toll on dental hygiene to munch on trail mix from dawn to dusk. This is something the Youtube hikers don't tell you.

Hiking is an endurance sport more than anaerobic weight training - if you pack light. Put more emphasis on long-releasing energy sources like fat and long-chained carbohydrates. On intense elevation gain days, candy bars are your friend. Maintain a steady intake of protein to limit muscle loss. You will learn to know your body after a while, but it can take some monitoring. I have not lost or gained any weight on my recent adventures. When starting out, poor nutrition didn't allow my maximal potential, but I felt rather winded constantly. Improving on ensuring recovery and nutrition has a significant effect in the pleasure of hiking.

How do you manage rest, meals, and water supplies during long hikes?

Rest comes easy. Out in the wild, your natural clock starts working again. I go by no schedule. I get up when I get up, get to camp when I feel like. Sometimes you need to push it if you run low on supplies or there in weather coming in, but my style is more free-form than strict routines. I like to hike and ski fast, for a shorter period of time each day. It is not the most efficient way to spend calories, but it is what I like. I tend to take a very long lunch break during the day, sometimes hours. I don't enjoy many short breaks and never feel a need to them.

My meals are easy and quick to cook, in the style that I just heat up some water and add the food to it, let it sit in a "pot cozy" to save fuel. A thermos in the winter time comes in handy as multi-fuel stoves are a bit more hassle to work with during the day.

Water in summer can be gathered in the wild. Easiest way to save on water weight and to ensure safe drinkable water, is to use a water filter. These are lightweight and many times can be screwed on your typical soda bottle. Do some map research also - farm waters and such are sometimes not safe even with a filter. In the winter you carry the day's water on you, underneath clothing to prevent freezing. Thermos and food jars can also be handy for hot beverages and meals. Usually you melt snow for water, or find a stream if you know where to look.

Surprisingly, it can be even more important to use electrolyte drink mixes in winter compared to hottest summer days, since snow does not contain nearly the same amount of minerals as your ground water. 

Do you have a hobby that is not related to nature? How do you relax and unwind?

I like watching poker game vlogs on Youtube. I do not play myself. 

What would be your motto?

Live a life worth living, and contribute towards others' opportunities to head out safely in the great outdoors.  

What are your most important tips for those who are preparing for similar extreme conditions in the wilderness?

Reach out to people who have done similar things. I cannot stress this enough. You will get a tremendous amount of support and local knowledge. It does not take away from your own joy – no two hikes are the same. But you get the chance to avoid mistakes they made, to make your own.

After all, it is not about planning or doing the thing. When you come home, keep a level head – There is always so much to learn, something that you don't know even after succeeding. You may have got lucky. Face the following adventures with great humility.