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On An Autumn Excursion While Inspecting REITTI

Chief Inspector of Finland’s Ministry of Interior Erkki Mäntyharju accomplished the project inspection focusing on the development projects by the Centre for Wilderness and Nature Tourism in Satakunta i. e. Hikers’ Info Centre Sataseitti or “Retkikeskus Sataseitti” from 13th to 14th October 2005. As part of the inspection an about 9 km-long field trip was made, out in the field around Joutsijärvi, our itinerary starting from the western shore of the lake and ending at Kustaa’s Smokey Cottage i.e. ” Kustaan savupirtti”. Participating in the excursion were, in addition to Chief Inspector Mäntyharju, Administrative Manager Misa Törmä – of the  Satakuntaliitto, the regional alliance of municipalities that approved auxiliary finances – as well as  EU Co-ordinator Mia Kangasniemi. The town of Ulvila was represented by Tourism Consultant Kimmo Aalto, and Project Co-ordinator Risto Tuunainen served as guide.

Within the rainy period there came – by convenient chance – a dry interval, where our field trip just fit in, so we managed to get through the trip with dry feet and gears. Autumn – a bit cold and free from mosquitoes – was once again jointly admitted to be almost the best for hiking, even though the stony ground in this weather demanded more attention than when moving around on more solid surface in summer.

After having accomplished the starting stage of the hike without any trouble, we were getting more and more excited while approaching to Kirkkosunti, the first branch of the triple strait which we had to cross by a hand operated two-passenger cable ferry. The first crew managed to cross the water steadily in all respect, whereas the second crew, Kimmo and Mia, stalled the boat in the middle between the two banks – which appeared to be so very funny to watch from the other side! Despite several repeated attempts the result always remained the same: namely, the boat stopped approaching the wooden ferry platform just a bit before it could have reached there. From the bank, good advice was indeed given about how to rely on swimming or on waiting till the lake would freeze – all of which was for some reason turned down by those in the ferry boat! Following this – indeed indeliberate – all in all nearly acrobatic boat swinging the precious load was received on the opposite bank, and hiking could be continued.

After the upper episode the bridge over Keskinensunti, the middle branch of the triple strait, just seemed a well built structure, meanwhile we were premeditating the tactics of crossing over the third branch, Isosunti, by the second tiny cable ferry. As one of the preferable alternatives it was suggested that Kimmo could cross the water alone in the boat this time! At the third strait branch, Isosunti, there were no problems, anyhow, crossing the water went with more balanced heart pulse, and still all hikers’ names could be entered in the guests´ logbook in the nearby wilderness cottage at Tuurunkangas.

We stopped for a while at Turkinkangas to enjoy our drinks brought with for the hike, before continuing our hike towards the wilderness cottage at Sisälmystenkangas. There awaited us several huge unleashed dogs and a bunch of men just awaking, so that was the pause place that we rushed to leave behind, and turned our toes towards North. At the nearby forest road, Kakkurintie, we saw a car, which confirmed that our suspicion was well-grounded: the wilderness cottage was misused against hikers’ ethics; they came to spend the night there arriving by car, and not by moving around relying on muscle power. During the development work this problem we have had to face rather frequently, and especially in the case of the wilderness cottage at Sisälmystenlahti, namely that those really touring around relying on muscle power may eventually be deprived of their right for staying over night in the safe of the cottage built actually for them, just because those who move around by motor vehicle would keep on using the wilderness cottage as if it were their own summer apartment. For this problem we have been seeking a solution, and as a possible mean shifting the status at least of one of the conventional free access wilderness cottages out of the two on the shore of Joutsijärvi – reclassifying it as bookable cottage for rent – was flashed up in the discussion.

Our hiker group gently passed by the well that is right beside Kakkurintie, for we all did know that to the end point of our itinerary, Kustaa’s Smokey Cottage, there was only a good kilometre to go, and that indeed at our destination refreshing drinks and thick campfire coffee awaited us. There, at Kustaa’s Smokey Cottage also awaited us Tiina Paavilainen and Wille Rautell of the Legenda Safari, who had while making our coffee also fixed some light snack for us, but before eating, some story telling was on about the history of this sooty cottage, and in fact Tiina also made us hikers stretch and relax our tense muscles. The timing of our hike – we had to realize – was just perfect, for right when we got in the tipi for coffee it just started raining heavily, which was nice to listen to while sitting inside with a hot cup in the hand, telling and hearing legendary wilderness stories. We all agreed on the conclusion that the excursion was such a success that we ought to carry on hiking down to Tampere, right away. However, strict schedules did not stretch to allow us to. Nevertheless, we all made ourselves a promise – we shall return and carry on!

Translated from Finnish to English by Volford Péter.