Aug 26 2010

Helo's product development on the roof of Europe – Finnish sauna culture peaks on Mont Blanc

A Finnish expedition has climbed Mont Blanc – which at 4,810 metres is the highest mountain in Western Europe – and placed the first sauna there. The exploit was a positive way to promote Finnish sauna culture internationally. Participating in the expedition to conquer Mont Blanc by sauna were Kari Härkönen, Pietari Kauttu, Tuomas Poikela and Sami Vähänen. The project was supported by Helo, engineering company Aaro Peltoniemi, Savotta and Scandinavian Outdoor Store.

When members of the expedition presented their plans to Helo, Development Manager Pekka Tolkki was immediately interested. Producing a special sauna oven suitable for the expedition required the joint efforts of Helo and its long-time partner, the engineering company Aaro Peltoniemi. The result was a wood-burning oven weighing in at some four kilos, which is considerably lighter than had been expected at the beginning of the project. Lightness was a key factor, as carrying extra weight up the mountain was not deemed productive. In addition, the design of the special sauna oven had to take into account how wood burns at such a high altitude.

Beforehand the members of the expedition trained with professional mountaineers by spending time at high altitudes each week. Training camps were conducted, complete with carrying the official sauna equipment (the Helo sauna oven and Savotta’s sauna tent) as well as a complete set of other gear required for the climb. The sauna tent and oven were also tested in mountain conditions.

The actual sauna bath at the top of the mountain required suitable weather: a still day and clear weather, which happened on Saturday, August 21, 2010. The expedition left at night, as the aim was to set up the sauna tent before dawn: depending on the snow, it can be advisable to descend the mountain by afternoon. On reaching the peak, expedition members set up the tent and heated the sauna. Having enjoyed the heat of the sauna, the first message of a goal fulfilled came from Kari Härkönen: ‘The sauna was hot and we were sweaty – mission successfully accomplished.’ Härkönen says the experience was indescribable. ‘The sauna got so hot that it felt quite refreshing to wash up in the snow at five below.’ After enjoying their sauna bath, the expedition dismantled the tent and began their descent.

The expedition was documented in its entirety and the footage has been edited. The material is available at www.vimeo.com/saunamontblanc/.