“The Arctic is not like Vegas. What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. The major changes that we see in reduction in sea ice, reduction in spring snow cover extent, increasing vegetation that changes the radiation balance of the surface, potential changes in greenhouse gas fluxes, those are all …implications that extend beyond just the Arctic region to the rest of the world”.
Howard E. Epstein, University of Virginia
Lavvu Arctic Camp has been a lively experience in a lively community in the Arctic region of Finnmark, in Norway, 400 km north of the Arctic Circle. The name comes from the Lavvu, the Sami tent so simple and yet perfect shelter to dwell in the harsh Arctic winter enviroment. True is that “Less is more” and with less we can really do more.
HOW: The camp. Three small Lavvu, made with organic cotton, heated by high efficiency stoves, and a big one for cooking and socializing around a bonfire.
Local food from the fjord, and the few herders and farmers, zero waste, composting toilets and a polar greenhouse to produce our own vegetables. And a little wooden hut to help us building the camp during the dark months.
We wanted to set a Social and Enviromental experiment. Live and host friends in the Arctic without harming or contaminating this precious, extraordinary and delicate enviroment.
WHEN: The Lavvu Arctic Camp has been active since January the 20th 2018 to spring 2019.
WHERE: Loppa is an archipelago between the Norwegian regions of Finnmark and Nord Trøms, around the 70 North parallel. It is the northermost place in the world where birch trees, pine trees, larches and other alpine species can grow thanks to the Gulf Stream. The fjords are rich in many species of fish, 31 type of edible sea weeds, and it is plenty of clean fresh water. An archipelago offering 4 glaciers, rivers, torrents, many lakes, mountains rising from the sea up to 1200 meters and the Finnmarksvidda, the second biggest, and roadless, plateau of Europe stretching from the North Atlantic Ocean to Russia. A wilderness temple.
An archipelago with a real community of people living with nature and not against it, and the Sami, the oldest and only real nomadic people of Europe. So much to learn from them.
The kind of experience we offered was all about living in the snow with respect and love, enjoying the incredible playground that the Arctic winter can offer, without disturbing the fauna and flora, so delicate here.
Skiing in the silence of white forests, observing the reindeer migrations, meeting a moose or an arctic fox, watching the magic of the Northern Lights, kayaking among orcas and whales or sailing traditional wooden Norwegian and Sami boats, the predecessors of the most known Viking boats, and, probably, the most loved experience, sleddoging across the Finnmarksvidda Plateau, stopping for a tent camp in the white, or in one of the cabins, meeting incredible people, sharing, learning how to live with less. To say nothing about the ski touring experience, from sea to summit, and where the only lift is you, or snowkiting in the best area in the world. In other words “Skiing by Fair Means”.
All the gear we used were sustainably built, the result of our projects, working with companies who are seriously committed to an ethical and clean way of building the best equipment, following the principle of the Circular Economy.
No frills, no gas, no noise.
We shared the experience of being an active part of a beautiful place and community.
We accepted 6 persons per week because this is the maximum sustainable number to be light with the enviroment and the community.
The last wilderness of Europe needs attention and care.
Thanks to:
