Christmas Day 'Snow Lynx' hike in Southeastern Estonia increasingly popular
A few hundred people spent Christmas Day on the snow-covered slopes of Haanja to conquer the 20 highest peaks in Estonia.
Inspired by the "Snow Lynx" series of hikes which began nearly 20 years ago, the Christmas Day hike is getting more popular by the year, attracting hikers from across the country.
The Tartu Students' Nature Conservation Circle first took on the quest to hike Estonia's 20 highest peaks, each of which has its own unique name, in 1998.
"Each peak is over 280 meters high — these are the 20 highest peaks in Estonia," said hike coordinator Hillar Irves. "The coolest names are definitely Olgluiõmägi, Vänni Korgõmägi, Iisraelimägi, and Lukumägi is of course here as well."
Everyone to successfully hike all 20 peaks would earn the title of lumeilves, or Snow Lynx. The Christmas Day hike inspired by the original series, led by Haanja Extreme Park and with the same goal as the Snow Lynx hike, took place on Monday for the 11th time.
"These mountains are actually spread across 16 square kilometers," Irves noted, adding that the snowy hike is on average 24-25 kilometers in length.
Suur Munamägi ("Big Egg Mountain") is the highest peak both in Estonia and the Baltics, reaching 318 meters above sea level.
Editor: Aili Vahtla