Hikers embrace litter-free hiking on Hetta-Pallas trail in Lapland

Anni Ohtonen, a hiker from Espoo, shared her experience hiking alone for the first time on the 50-kilometer Hetta-Pallas trail, which became officially trash-free last year. This means that there are no garbage bins located at the huts or resting spots along the route. Inari Ylläsjärvi, lead of the Metsähallitus Nature Services team in Lapland, praised hikers for adopting the principle of litter-free hiking on the Hetta-Pallas route. She noted a surprisingly low amount of litter, alleviating concerns that illegal dumping would increase.

Previously, overflowing trash bins led to litter accumulating in nearby areas. With no bins present now, Ylläsjärvi mentioned the absence of animals spreading litter, which was common when bins were full.

Hiker Tuomas Reiterä, who plans to cover approximately 75 kilometers on the Rauhala-Hetta route, highlights that he carries a separate bag for trash, ensuring he keeps the environment clean. Reiterä noted that he filled only a quarter of a grocery bag with litter during his hike.

Both Ohtonen and Reiterä expressed satisfaction with their hiking experiences, despite starting in heavy rain. Ohtonen remarked that her gear was thoroughly drenched but managed to dry it overnight at a hut. The Nammalakurku shelter, a classic stop on the trail, is noted for attracting many hikers.

With more than 8,000 trekkers exploring the Hetta-Pallas route annually, the area has transitioned to a trash-free status. Hikers are expected to take their waste with them, and waste sorting facilities are provided at nearby nature centers. A new nature center is being constructed to replace the old one at Pallaks, aiming for completion by the end of next year.