I had my birthday this week and got these great snowshoes as a birthday present. Of course I had to try them out! Snowshoes are designed so that you can fit your own shoe inside, and the snowshoe will support you on the snow so that you don’t sink into it. There are metal spikes on the sole of the shoe to help during steep slopes.

We went to the nearby forest, same place where we go skiing. There wasn’t a lot of snow left, but enough to make the snowshoes useful. It was a rewarding feeling to walk where ever we felt like walking, and not be restricted by paths made by others. The shoes worked really well, they gave a good grip so going up and down hills was easy.

Today was a beautiful sunny winter day. The forest was full of tracks and foot prints made by different animals: deer, rabbits, squirrels, foxes.. Forests are full of life even though you don’t always see the animals.

Also some tracks by fatbike and mountain bike bikers and other hikers.

Finns are pretty crazy folks, who else go biking into the forest in the middle of the winter, eh?!

The rocks, icicles and sunlight filtering through the trees into the snow made the forest look really pretty. You could already sense that spring is just around the corner.

Again, so much happiness gained from a walk in the forest!