Not sure if this is a good idea or no, but I thought I'd share my plans for summer 2006 with you lot, see if anyone is interested.
I'm planning to travel from near Tromsø in northern Norway to Tornio on the Gulf of Bothnia, about 400mi. To start with I'll follow Jan Baalrud's celebrated and fateful route (incredible story, map here and highly recommended book here), like it is followed every year as a tribute, using folding canoes (right now I think Ally Canoes from Bergans). Then a relatively short trek across the border to one of the many tributaries of the Lainioälven. This runs into the Torneälven, which meets the sea at Tornio. There are a fair few rapids but not many falls on the rivers, which makes them ideal canoeing material.
Most importantly for us bushcrafters, it's perfect for BC'ing. The river apparently holds more salmon than half of Russia (real stat), so no problems for food. We can have use of the enormous expanse of forest, with possibly animals to hunt as well. There is the odd town along the river so we could spend a few nights in bars as well
It should not take more than two weeks from when we hit the river, and no more than a week for the first part.
Please do post and ask questions if you're interested, or even if you aren't. I'm also completely open to any suggestions - what you see here is as far as I've planned.
I realise it's a long time away, but something like this takes planning. You lot seem a good bunch and up for meetups off the net, and since all my friends are cowering at the thought of more cold and hard work, I thought I'd see if anyone is interested.
Cheers,
Chris :wave:
I'm planning to travel from near Tromsø in northern Norway to Tornio on the Gulf of Bothnia, about 400mi. To start with I'll follow Jan Baalrud's celebrated and fateful route (incredible story, map here and highly recommended book here), like it is followed every year as a tribute, using folding canoes (right now I think Ally Canoes from Bergans). Then a relatively short trek across the border to one of the many tributaries of the Lainioälven. This runs into the Torneälven, which meets the sea at Tornio. There are a fair few rapids but not many falls on the rivers, which makes them ideal canoeing material.
Most importantly for us bushcrafters, it's perfect for BC'ing. The river apparently holds more salmon than half of Russia (real stat), so no problems for food. We can have use of the enormous expanse of forest, with possibly animals to hunt as well. There is the odd town along the river so we could spend a few nights in bars as well
It should not take more than two weeks from when we hit the river, and no more than a week for the first part.
Please do post and ask questions if you're interested, or even if you aren't. I'm also completely open to any suggestions - what you see here is as far as I've planned.
I realise it's a long time away, but something like this takes planning. You lot seem a good bunch and up for meetups off the net, and since all my friends are cowering at the thought of more cold and hard work, I thought I'd see if anyone is interested.
Cheers,
Chris :wave:
The only real constraint is finding food while there, and sheer logistics of that many people - canoes getting lost/left behind, no space on flight :?:
