Spring is coming, the weather is getting warmer, birds and butterflies are becoming more active, and the overall mood just keeps getting better. This time, six of my active friends and I set out on a two-day, 50 km (31-mile) hike along Latvia’s longest river—Gauja. It was the perfect opportunity to finally put my gear to the test, try out some new equipment, and, of course, cook some great food over a campfire.
Day 1 – The Journey Begins
We started our day early, taking two buses to our starting point with huge backpacks, ready to survive two days and a cold night. The hike began at the mouth of the Gauja River—Brasla. The sun warmed us as we kept moving, but stopping for just a few minutes made the chill set in. With 25 km (15.5 miles) ahead to our campsite, we had no choice but to keep walking.
Along both rivers, we were treated to beautiful views, countless funny moments, and, of course, plenty of sweet snacks to keep us going. One of the funniest moments of the trip was finding a toilet bowl at the top of a hill—definitely not something you expect while hiking!
Campsite and Cold Night
Reaching our campsite, we threw our backpacks into a small wooden hut that looked like a bus stop and sat for a few minutes to finally catch our breath after the long day. Some of us continued to rest, while others started a fire and boiled water for everyone. Luckily, the area where we slept already had a huge pile of firewood, saving us both time and energy. One of the guys used a gas stove to boil water from the Gauja River, while I stuck to more traditional survival techniques and boiled over the fire in my pot.
For dinner, I made probably the craziest meal I’ve ever cooked—rice, spinach, meat, noodles, and carrots all mixed together. The food was great, but there was just so much of it.
When it was time to sleep, all seven of us got into our sleeping bags and tried to rest. The temperature dropped to -2°C (28°F), and while everyone else somehow slept just fine, I couldn’t sleep at all.
Day 2- The Journey Gets Even Better
I started the morning again by lighting the fire and cooking a hearty breakfast—nachos with meat and cheese—while watching the sunrise. Once the fire burned out and we gathered our things, we continued our 25 km (15.5 miles) hike along the Gauja River. On this day, some of us even took a dip in the river to cool off and refresh ourselves for the remaining distance. As we walked for hours, we found ourselves wandering through a cool, park-like area with no signs or markers at the entrance, leaving us unsure if it was a museum or something else. When we reached the exit, a woman stopped us and informed us that we needed to pay 3 euros for entering the area. We explained that we hadn’t seen any signs at the forest entrance, and she understood, letting us leave without paying. As the trail neared its end, we came across a snowy hill where we all slid down, getting a little wet but laughing and enjoying the moment.
Final Thoughts
This was my first real test of my new gear—backpack, boots, and sleeping pad. I didn’t get a chance to try the sleeping mattress, but that’s for next time. With summer approaching, I’m gearing up with even more equipment and planning for longer hikes, more days on the trail, and new meal ideas.
P.S. If you want to see moments from this adventure, check out my instagram @WildRaivo.
