Wild greetings from Estonia!

[BEARDMASTER]

Hei!

Greetings from a Finno-Ugric lands, Estonia!

I do handmade leather-work for a living. When not working on leather, I am usually out- tracking, hunting/gathering or building a dug-out canoe - a very old style of finno-ugric canoe called "haabjas" in Estonian.

It is likely that these kind of canoes were used since the last ice-age and are still being made and used today, mostly in south-east of Estonia and in many other Finno-Ugric tribes in Siberia.

As you might have guessed, I am also interested in history and mythology of northern tribes.



I hope to meet new like-minded people here as well as do some trading. And who knows- maybe even get to meet some of you and spend some time together in the great outdoors.


Safe travels and try tinder,
Beardmaster

 

[Wayne]

A warm welcome to you. I’m looking to visit Estonia very soon to go canoeing and camping.

I’m interested in your experience.

 

[BEARDMASTER]

A warm welcome to you. I’m looking to visit Estonia very soon to go canoeing and camping.

I’m interested in your experience.

Greetings!

Canoeing season is closing fast as the lakes are starting to freeze soon. But there is plenty of hiking and camping to be done. I highly suggest snowshoeing in the bogs if you come to visit!

 

[Wayne]

Just came back from Latvia last week. Was in Gauja National Park looking at canoeing and bushcraft locations. Plan to visit Estonia to find routes and locations for courses etc.

Your dugout looks great.

 

[BEARDMASTER]

Just came back from Latvia last week. Was in Gauja National Park looking at canoeing and bushcraft locations. Plan to visit Estonia to find routes and locations for courses etc.

Your dugout looks great.

There are some good hiking trails across Estonia. Two of the most famous ones are 375km and 800+ km long. And of course, there are many-many good trails that are shorter than that.
Along the trails there are also many wilderness huts, free of charge. Some of them are simple shelters, some are log cabins.

There are also many good locations that are off the beaten track without any trails other than wildlife trails. That is usually where I go. Wildlife is usually nothing to be afraid of here. I have tracked bears and slept in their winter-beds without any problems. One in honored to see a bear or find him/herself near a wolf pack. And if the location is chosen well, there are plenty of wildlife around.

If you have any questions, I would be happy to help you out!

 

[crosslandkelly]

Hi, welcome and enjoy.

 

[Toddy]

Hello, and welcome to our virtual campfire

M

 

[John Fenna]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Madriverrob]

Hello and welcome ......

 

[Dreadhead]

welcome aboard from another leatherworker, some stunning work you do

 

[BEARDMASTER]

Thank you very much everyone and nice to meet you all!

Dreadhead, by looking at your website, you are not doing bad yourself! Well made, hand sewn, beautifully carved! Always a pleasure to see well made leatherwork!

 

[bopdude]

Hi and welcome to the forum, great pictures of you and you're work, the dug out's, for personal pleasure or do you sell them ?

 

[BEARDMASTER]

Hi and welcome to the forum, great pictures of you and you're work, the dug out's, for personal pleasure or do you sell them ?

This one is for personal use. I will, however, start building a second boat as soon as this one is finished (depends also if I manage to find the right tree for building). And at that point, I will probably sell one of them.
The master boat builder who guides me sells these boats 1000€ per meter. The price comes from the axe-work. If you wish, I can get you in contact with him. I believe he might have some dugouts ready for sale.

 

[bopdude]

This one is for personal use. I will, however, start building a second boat as soon as this one is finished (depends also if I manage to find the right tree for building). And at that point, I will probably sell one of them.
The master boat builder who guides me sells these boats 1000€ per meter. The price comes from the axe-work. If you wish, I can get you in contact with him. I believe he might have some dugouts ready for sale.

Thanks for the reply, as for buying one, way outta my league but thanks.

 

[BEARDMASTER]

Thanks for the reply, as for buying one, way outta my league but thanks.

Yep, that is a small fortune to pay.
The other option is to attend a dugout canoe building camp. These are usually few days of helping to make one and later a day or two when the dugout is laid out. Should take place every year in august, Soomaa national park.