Finland: A Fitting Farewell

We woke this morning to our final day on this incredible trip, and though it was bittersweet, we made the most of every moment. First things first: coffee. A quick dash out for one last Helsinki brew, and then it was time to vacate the apartment. With our bags in tow, we strolled back to the train station and popped them into storage—our pickup point for the day’s adventure was just nearby. Perfectly convenient.

Liesjärvi National Park

Jeff and Max from Taiga Times arrived right on schedule to collect us—four friends with a love for the outdoors—alongside two lovely women from Texas and a cheerful guy from Poland. After warm introductions and a good bit of banter, we settled in for a 90-minute drive to Liesjärvi National Park. We made a pit stop along the way for snacks and a bathroom break, and then it was onwards into the Finnish wild.

The weather was, frankly, a bit dramatic. Snow flurries, bursts of sunshine, whipping winds—sometimes all three at once. When we arrived at the trailhead, Jeff offered extra layers to anyone who wanted them. I gladly accepted. No such thing as too warm today.

We set out on a flat, easy trail through the national park, pausing here and there to identify local flora. Lingonberries—yep, we ate some!—and bilberry plants (the local version of blueberries), though they weren’t in season just yet. Chanterelle mushrooms were also on our radar, just starting to appear for the season.

The further we walked, the colder it got—but the scenery more than made up for it. Eventually, we arrived at a traditional kota, a wooden shelter used in Finnish wilderness culture. Max got a fire going in no time, and we huddled close, warming up while the snow outside blew sideways in true Nordic fashion. He also set about fashioning chopsticks out of birch—cutlery was mistakenly forgotten! It didn't matter, the homemade implements were perfect. Lunch was absolutely magic: smoked rainbow trout soup, lovingly prepared by Jeff, cooked over a BBQ fire right inside the tent. Served with Finnish rye bread and followed by a sweet berry pastry, it was the definition of comfort food. So good, in fact, that Jeff handed out recipe cards at the end.

We stayed in the kota about an hour before heading back into the weather. On the way out, Jeff shared some fascinating insights into Finnish culture. For example, firewood is supplied by the government at campsites and shelters, along with axes to chop it. There's a deeply rooted belief in shared responsibility and care for the land and for one another. It’s not just about camping—it’s how they live. Take only what you need. Leave things better than you found them. Make space for others. It’s taught from the youngest school years, even before academic subjects. The result? Low crime, high trust, and a peaceful, honest way of life that’s honestly inspiring.

Warmed from the inside out, I felt ready to tackle the rest of the hike. Even when my hands and feet went numb again, I didn’t mind, because it meant that I was hiking in Finland! The trail wove through forests “new” by Finnish standards (a mere 120-150 years old), with signs of careful land regeneration aiming to return these areas to old-growth forests someday—something that takes 350+ years. We walked boardwalks over bogs and even tasted cranberries straight from the marsh (sour!). In Finland, foraging is a right—anyone can pick berries and mushrooms as long as they’re not plucked from the plants while growing. Nature belongs to everyone.

Back at the van, we cranked the heat and thawed out as the sun set on our last Nordic adventure. We returned to Helsinki, bid farewell to Jeff and Max, and reclaimed our bags from storage. The boys and I squeezed in a final gym, but my head wasn't really in it—I was thinking about everything this trip meant to me.

Goodbye, Scandinavia

Soon after, we all boarded the train to the airport, watching heavy snow begin to fall outside. It felt like Finland was giving us one last wintry send-off. Jackets zipped, then packed away for the last time. We checked in, headed to the lounge for showers, and readied ourselves for 23 hours of travel ahead.

This trip has been everything I hoped for and more. Better in real life than on paper. Fulfilling. Uplifting. Grounding. Eye-opening. Fun.

My heart is full. I’m ready to go home… and start planning the next adventure!