The Finns are undoubtedly great guys. In particular, they seem to have a natural talent for engineering - and engineers are held in high regard.
I think my pictures make it look more intrepid than it really was - at least when on the trail. Trails are very well marked - they have to be, because in winter they become skiing or snowshoeing trails. So there are usually either posts or red ribbons or orange paint on the trees. Also mobile phone coverage is noticeably better than in Scotland's wild country. The land is much flatter than Scotland and hiking is comparatively easy. Off trail is difficult because of frequent bogs - Scotland is often like that too but I definitely thought Finland was boggier. And, of course, you do have to be careful to avoid injury when hiking solo.
There were mosquitos rather than midges - not too bad just now but I still got a few bites, and I reacted more to them than I do to Scottish midge bites.
Organising a trip like this is much easier than you might think. The Foresty service have an excellent website here:
http://www.luontoon.fi/page.asp?Section=4977
Bus and rail timetables are readily available on line, and Ryanair were pretty efficient with the flights.
I'd expected 12 degrees during the day and 0 to 5 at night. I got 26 degrees in daytime, and about 15 at night.
Kit list was Sabre 45 rucsac, Vango Helium tent, 2 season down bag, brasslite alcohol stove, titanium mug and spork, nalgene water bottle, Thermarest Neoair sleeping mat (seriously good kit, the Neoair), Snugpak elite insulated jacket, Grohmann #3 Boat Knife, Laplander saw, Craghopper rainjacket, Fjallraven trousers and le Chameau Mouflon hunting boots. Pack weight was 10kg but this included a kilogram of beer.
Some shelters have a spring, but with others you use the river
Forest
Trail
Duckboard trail
Carved snow goggles in the Arcticum museum
