Sakke Raappana
A wilderness trekker specialising in survival skills
Sakke Raappana is a wilderness trekker specialising in survival skills who has led his expedition across a glacier in Svalbard to the summit of Newtontoppen, paddled through the wilderness of Lapland to the Arctic Ocean and survived in the Vätsäri wilderness without equipment. Below, he explains in his own words how it all began and what he wears when the weather turns harsh.
Freebird
Adventurous engineer
I take part in a range of adventure sports: skiing, paddling, climbing, hunting and fishing. There are many activities, but always one direction: independent treks and trips deep into the wilderness or the Arctic.
"I have always been fascinated by what lies beyond the next hill."
Combining the natural sciences with experiences in nature is close to my heart. I have sometimes introduced myself, tongue in cheek, as an adventurous engineer, but at times it describes my interests surprisingly well.
Being active outdoors has been part of my life since childhood, and today it is also reflected in my home life. I live in a log house that is over 120 years old, grow potatoes, gather wild herbs and hunt all the meat my family eats.
It all began in Ilomantsi
I spent my childhood summers with my grandparents in Ilomantsi. My grandfather was a border guard, and we went on fishing and hunting trips to cabins and wilderness areas in the border zone. The cottage had a smoke sauna, but no electricity or running water. With my grandparents, we went hiking, fishing and berry picking. Whatever we caught was always prepared for a meal.
Day trips and camping trips in the Helsinki metropolitan area and elsewhere in Finland were a regular way to spend weekends with my parents. From there, I went on to trips of my own and eventually expeditions.
At the summit of Newtontoppen
My biggest project to date has been the Arctic Journey expedition. The team I put together trained together for around two years. We eventually skied for 16 days across a glacier in Svalbard, pulling heavy pulks, and climbed to the summit of Newtontoppen, the highest peak in the archipelago.
"After all the setbacks, it was rewarding to stand on the summit above the clouds."
My major adventures also include a paddling expedition of almost 400 kilometres through several wilderness areas in Lapland, all the way to the Arctic Ocean. For the television series Love of the Wild, I was flown by seaplane into the heart of the Vätsäri wilderness, from where I managed to make my way out without food, a tent, a sleeping bag, a map or a compass.
Plan, execute, see what went wrong
My approach to setting goals is straightforward: aim high and work towards it.
"It is always acceptable to fail, but you must never stop trying again."
In my view, the best way to develop your outdoor skills is to plan an adventure, carry it out and review carefully what went wrong and what you would do differently next time. Then repeat the process.
Sometimes, however, it is also worth taking training courses to learn more advanced skills and gain an outside perspective on your thinking. I have completed demanding survival training in every season, an international swiftwater rescue certification, and glacier and climbing courses. I am currently completing the internationally respected Wilderness First Responder first-aid course.
I also teach survival and wilderness skills on Erätaidot.fi, where I share the experience and knowledge I have gained over the years through hikes, expeditions and training.
Sakke’s layers from glacier to campfire
Why have you chosen Svala as part of your kit?
Sakke: “I bought Svala’s Airbase set and a Merino Extreme top several years ago, almost by chance. With few preconceptions, they simply proved their worth trip after trip and became part of my basic kit on long treks. When I was preparing for a glacier trek in Svalbard, I started to think things through more seriously, from my typical engineer’s point of view. On technical grounds, the Airbase set and the Polartec Power Stretch Pro fleece seemed the best choice for my first and second layers. I felt I had found the best possible combination for a demanding ski trek. Turning it round, you could also say that perhaps Svala had designed the best combination, and I had the sense to start using it.”
What are your tips for layering?
Sakke: "Svala's Airbase-underwear is the perfect starting point for any outfit, regardless of the season. What comes next depends on the season and activity. On wilderness trips and around the campfire, I wear a Merino Extreme-shirt as the next layer. On expedition-style ski tours, however, I prefer a fleece made from Polartec Power Stretch Pro-material. It retains less moisture than wool and also offers some wind resistance. On warm days, I can therefore take my shell jacket off completely and ski in just the fleece. For hunting, fishing and activities around the campfire, on the other hand, Merino Extreme is better because dirt and odours do not cling to it easily, and it withstands sparks better."
If you could choose just one Svala product for your next adventure, which would you take – and why?
Sakke: "If I could choose just one product, it would be the Airbase-underwear set. It has served me well on sweaty ascents on a glacier in Svalbard and helped me survive cold nights without a sleeping bag in Vätsäri."
Sakke’s favourites from Svala
Sakke is a Freebird who shares his best tips with the Svala community on clothing that works in challenging conditions.
Follow Sakke
Follow Sakke’s journey on these channels:
Instagram, YouTube and Facebook
Visit Sakke’s website too: sakkeraappana.com
Svala For freebirds.
Svala Freebird collaboration
We have a commercial partnership with Sakke Raappana. He tests Svala products and shares his experiences in his own words.
