At the beginning of April Veera Soini threw a tightly packed, moderate-sized backpack on his back and flew abroad after a long time, behind a backpack.
Arriving in California, the thirty-year-old woman from Helsinki had 2,560 miles or 4,265 kilometers of hiking trails ahead of her in varying terrains and half a year off from work.
– I decided to explore one of the three well-known hiking trails through the United States called the Pacific Crest Trail, Soini says.
My boyfriend and dog stayed at home in Punavuori. Soini also took a break from her job as a data analyst at Musti and Mirri, which specializes in pet supplies, or more officially Musti Group.
– I have always liked being outside, hiking and walking in the forest. The subject is close to the heart, a young woman times.
The start of the more than 4,200 km long Pacific Crest Trail is right on the Mexican border, next to the wall built on the border.
The beginning of the hike continued along the wall for a long time.
– From there we started towards the north, through the desert. It was quite a hot and open area. After that, the trail led to the Sierra Nevada mountains and to the highest point of the route, 4,000 meters.
In Northern California, the altitude differences eased, but in their place was a heat wave ahead.
After California, it was the turn of the states of Oregon and Washington and the forest fires.
The finish loomed after many months at the border of Kanda, but we will get there only later – if we come at all.
Good equipment is also inexpensive
Veera has returned from her hiking trip back to Finland a few weeks ago. We will meet in Helsinki in Vuosaari’s Mustavuuori outdoor recreation area.
Upon request, Veera has taken her backpack that has served her for almost half a year, which includes, among other things, a tent. He is wearing pink trail running shoes. The last ones of the trip. Six pairs of shoes were worn out during a hike of more than four thousand kilometers.
Inside the rucksack, you can also find a small camping stove, a package of warm clothes such as a beanie and wool socks, a small bag of hygiene items and pharmacy goods, sandals and ice chains that can be installed on the shoes.
– The choice of equipment was a big part of planning the hike. Assembling the lightest possible backpack required qualification and thinking about how much money you are willing to spend on new equipment, he says.
The trip, which started at the beginning of April, was preceded by about ten months of rigorous planning, searching for and purchasing suitable equipment.
– Of course, during that time we also had to find out additional information about the hiking route itself. For example, what kind of weather is expected along it, Soini says.
In addition to the tent, walking poles and an ice pick went on the side of the backpack.
– Admittedly, the ice pick was only on the way for a short while when we were in the Sierra Nevada mountains. There was still quite a lot of snow and ice there at the end of May. However, luckily I didn’t need it, I didn’t come across such a steep and slippery spot, Veera laughs.
You get used to walking
The opposite is now a fit young woman, for whom hiking became “second nature” during the trip.
There were only painkillers, cold gel and plasters.
– I got blisters on my feet a few times, but nothing worse.
The bumps were all transient.
The legs endured thousands of kilometers of walking just as well as the head. According to Veera, you should only think about the trip in smaller parts. Not how much there is still to tame. It kills motivation.
– Looking back, the trip required even more head than legs. That you can sometimes also tolerate the feeling of discomfort, Veera times.
Along the way, Veera stayed mostly in a tent.
However, walking on a well-known hiking trail felt safe all the time, because there were many other like-minded people from different parts of the world hiking – even a few Finns.
– I also had a small satellite communication device with me the whole way, with which I could text and e-mail my loved ones that I was alive.
The same device was constantly drawing Veera’s route on a map that friends and family could follow.
Like-minded people on the route and on social media
Veera is not alone with her idea of solo hiking. He has shared photos and stories from his trip in the Facebook Hiking group with other hiking enthusiasts.
– In terms of scenery, the path is wonderful. I took a lot of pictures and enjoyed the scenery, says Veera.
Forest fires started along the route in late summer. Veera first smelled a burnt cane at night in her tent in Northern California.
Veera’s hiking friend walked a little ahead of him and ended up in the middle of the fire, from where he was rescued.
– Annoyingly, the very last section of the route was closed due to forest fires.
How does it feel now?
A few weeks after returning home, the months of hiking are still felt in the legs, on the soles of the feet.
Access to the Canadian border was therefore blocked, and of the 4,265 kilometer route, Veera ended up covering 3,800. Due to the forest fires, almost 500 kilometers remained unwalked.
Like other hikers, Veera had to turn around before the finish line and return to Seattle, from where he finally flew back to Finland.
Now Veera knows that she will get used to walking.
– I’ve already been asked if I’m going to a trail running marathon, he laughs.
He would be ready for a similar hiking trip again.
You can discuss the topic until 11:00 p.m. on October 31, 2022.
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