Expedition Report
Two students planned to complete a 375km north-south traverse fastpacking expedition along the RMK route across Estonia during September. They were to be completely self-supported and arranged several food drops along the route to minimise the load they carried, and they would also have to negotiate swamp areas, peat land and forests.
The first stage of just over 100km from Oandu to Hiieveski was completed in four running days, commencing from the Lahemaa National Park, and passing through the Kõrvemaa Landscape Reserve, Soomaa National Park and Pärnu County and finishing at Liivi Bay, where the pair visited the Aegviidu Nature Centre to collect a food drop. Stage two from Hiieveski – Mukri was about 104km and was completed in three running days with a day’s rest. However they were expecting to collect two food drops during this stage, but only one was delivered.
The third section from Mukri to Kopra Tare comprised 88km and again was covered over three hard days, with a rest day in between. This involved an overnight stay at the Sooma National Park which contains Europe’s largest bog. The team were able to make their way through the bog, however they encountered large numbers of mosquitoes, and so suffered several bites as a result. The final stage from Kopra Tare to Ikla was 92km long and was completed over two hard days and two rest days. The expedition ended in Ikla village on the border of Estonia and Latvia.
During the expedition the pair had to wade through bogs, endure louse flies in the forests and mosquitoes, having intruders open the entrance to their tent during the night, and then running away, having to plan for a missed food drop, and the experience of one day when they did not see any other person.
