Suggestion for a long-distance skating excursion
Safe beginners’ ice or daring tours at the edge of the open sea? By
the end of November the ice on shallow inland lakes in Åland is strong
enough to carry the most eager long distance skaters on the premiere
tour of the season.
From inland lakes to the rim of the sea
In a normal winter in Åland
the conditions for long distance skating are good
and the skating progresses according to the same pattern during the season.
First there is skating on shallow inland lakes on the main island,
for example Bjärströms träsk that is near the main road in Finström. All it takes is a few windless nights with clear skies and temperatures falling below zero for some of the lakes to become skatable. When
the ice has settled on the inland lakes, it's time to skate on the
innermost sea bays, for example Vandöfjärden, that also is near the
main road in Finström and easily accessible.
When the ice has thickened the skaters try out other sea bays that
are wider and deeper, among them Svartsmarafjärden and Ivarskärsfjärden.
"Then we gradually move further out as the ice settles. In February and
March there is usually wonderful ice in the northeast of Åland, for
example on Simskälafjärden," says Mikael Wennström, one of Åland's skating enthusiasts. Normally the conditions of the sea ice in the northern parts of Åland are better than in the south.
A cultural tour
Mikael gives a tip for a fun
cultural tour on skates. Start off from the castle in Kastelholm in
Sund and skate on Lumparn to Bomarsund's fortress ruins, about two to
three hours. If you like, you can continue north towards Tengsödavik in
Saltvik.
Great skating ice is not something you get on command. Nature makes all the decisions and what is good ice today may be bad ice tomorrow.
"That's why you have to seize the opportunity and skate when it's possible to do so," says Mikael Wennström.
Åland as a skating world has its advantages. There are areas in the
archipelago that are scarcely populated and lacking channels made by boats in the ice. But civilisation and roads where a taxi can pick you up
are rarely very far away. That way you can vary your round tour with going from
one place to another.