Pushing your boundaries and experiencing nature

Like an explosion in space – the entire sky draped in purple, green and golden pulsating light.

For Kaija Ilomäki, this spectacle in the sky was her first experience of the northern lights on the Hetta-Pallas fell in spring 2023. She had, however, grown up hiking with her parents and three older brothers.

“I attended my first summer camp when I was just eight months old,” Ilomäki says.

For her family, spending time in the great outdoors meant hiking trips to Lapland and skiing expeditions, as well as camping with the Scouts.

Now at 17 years of age, Ilomäki has travelled in Finland in both summer and winter. Her destinations in the north of the country have included Halti, Pallas, Saariselkä and Koli. Although she dreams of visiting far-flung destinations while continuing to explore the hidden gems of Finland, this Espoo native usually sticks closer to home when spending time outdoors.

“I visit Nuuksio every month.”

For Ilomäki, hiking usually means spending time with friends on a day trip to a forest, or spending a night or two in a tent.

“We eat well, sometimes we go to the sauna and relax together while surrounded by nature.”

As an active member of the scouts, Ilomäki also takes part in various excursions and camps through the organisation. She serves as the leader of the 12–13-year-olds’ group in the Viherlaakson Peurat troop.

For Ilomäki and her friends, campfire food is about more than just grilled sausages or porridge made on a camping stove. They enjoy the challenge of preparing more ambitious meals.

“Tortillas make a great base for a pizza. We’ve also used aluminium foil to bake bread on our camping stove,” Ilomäki adds.

For Ilomäki, the best part of hiking is the tranquillity of nature.

“I enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to embrace the pleasures of nature.”

To enjoy your time in the forest, you need to have proper gear and a healthy dose of common sense.

“You need to dress warmly enough and keep in mind that you’ll feel colder when you stop moving. It’s always a good idea to bring a raincoat with you.”

Your attitude is also very important.

“When you’re out in the forest, you need to live in the moment. Just enjoy what’s right in front of you, rather than pining for the comforts of home.”

For Ilomäki, sleeping in a tent is not the be-all and end-all of going on overnight excursions.

“I wouldn’t put up a tent in my garden, but sleeping in the forest is a different matter.”

A hammock is Ilomäki’s preferred sleeping solution on her overnight trips to the forest.

“I have a range of accessories for it: a tarp for rain protection, a mosquito net and an underquilt to keep me warm. I sleep well in my hammock, but it does make you appreciate a good bed.”

When you’re on a hike, there may be times when it’s pouring and you’re feeling hungry. Still, you need to crawl into your tent with your wet socks on.

“At times like that, I find myself wondering what the point of it all is,” Ilomäki says with a laugh.

Nevertheless, she knows from experience that time makes memories sweeter, and overcoming challenges together builds team spirit. She experienced this very recently when she participated in a scout camp to brush up on her wilderness skills.

“The temperature was -25°C and everything was frozen, from our water bottles to our insulated flasks and all of our food. We weren’t quite sure where we were on the map, and it got dark. It took a couple of hours before we were able to eat.”

The next morning, the porridge tasted exceptionally good.

• Do not disturb the local wildlife.
• In national parks, camping is only permitted in designated areas.
• Take all of your belongings and litter with you and leave no trace.

Text: Nora Gullmets.

This article was originally published in the Espoo-lehti magazine 1/2026. Read other Espoo-lehti articles.