the sauna adventure
It was pretty nerve wracking to start the project because there are so many different ways of building a sauna and I wanted to make sure everything is done right! I learned quickly to trust the process and focus on one step at a time. Getting the 400lb Kuuma Stove in there and installing the chimney was the biggest milestone! Easy Flowing after that!
During my months of sauna research I came across Saunatimes with a lot of useful information and an Ebook available for purchase, Sauna Build, From Start to Finnish, written by Glenn Auerbach. After reading the Ebook I was ready for a phone consultation with Glenn with questions I had prepared. It was pretty hard to start the project because I had never done anything even close to this before but he told me, “You have now read the book, you will always learn as you go and what works for you!” There are a lot of different ways to build a sauna. The first saunas that were used in Finland were pretty straightforward, made of giant logs with no fancy insulation and stove options that are available today. With that being said, I put the fear of building it wrong behind me and started my sauna build!
After reading about a lot of different wood options you can use for saunas most people recommended Cedar so that is what I went with! Ended up finding a pretty good deal on some Tongue and Groove Cedar at Yoder Cedar Works. The following day me and uncle Fred headed down to Plains, MT!
There are quite a few different insulation options you can use. I really wanted to use a more eco-friendly option like rockwool or hemp wool but due to size limitations of my trailer I decided to use Polyisocyanurate Foam Board. Easier to work with and more cost efficient.
the stove
Choosing anything else but a wood-burning stove was out of the question because being able to be completely off-grid is the main purpose of a traveling sauna. There are quite a few options of wood-burning stoves on the market and the stove is the heart of the Sauna so I knew this was going to be an important purchase. When I first came across the Kuuma Stove it was a lot more pricey than what I was expecting, but the more I researched, the more I knew I had to bite the bullet and go for the Cadillac of sauna stoves. That the stove cost more than the trailer should be a pretty good selling point! I have absolutely no regrets.
The Kuuma stove is designed to be clean-burning, safe and versatile. Built with heavy-duty steel, making them incredibly durable and able to withstand years of intense use. The materials used in construction, including high-quality stainless steel components, ensure longevity and resistance to the high heat and humidity of sauna environments.
The wrap
The Eclipse was the main image I had in my vision. I have been chasing the Total Solar Eclipse since 2012, which was in Australia. 2015 was in Sulawesi, Indonesia. 2017 was in Oregon, USA. 2020 was in Argentina but we all know that year was a wash for us fellow travelers. Then the most recent one in Texas 2024.
Wraphive in Kalispell, MT made my vision come true and I could not be more happy with the results!
I think the Total Solar Eclipse is such a magical phenomenon and to be surrounded by amazing humans tops it all! When you are on top of a mountain and see the darkness begin on the neighboring mountain, wildlife go crazy and then you enter the stillness of totality, stars are making themselves known and you have reached a blissful state or mind.
sauna benefits, cold plunge & the elements of mother earth
The list of benefits are long! Saunas have been a tradition in Finland for thousands of years mainly used for relaxation and pleasure and it is becoming increasingly popular in many other populations.
Sauna benefits may include easing pain, reducing stress, and improving cardiovascular health. When a person sits in a sauna, their heart rate increases and blood vessels widen. This increases circulation and may help reduce muscle soreness, improve joint movement, and ease arthritis pain. Sauna use may also be associated with lower blood pressure and enhanced heart function.
I can keep on going with all the different health benefits but the internet has all the information for further health benefits research.
sauna benefits
The combination of cold plunges and saunas, also known as contrast therapy, is a centuries-old wellness practice in Nordic cultures. The practice of immersing oneself in cold water, often in natural bodies of water or specially designed plunge pools. The Vikings, known for their resilience, would often follow sauna sessions with a plunge into icy waters. This combination has many health benefits, including improved circulation, reduced inflammation, and enhanced mental clarity.
Living in Montana and having countless natural cold plunges in lakes and rivers make the mobile sauna reach its full potential of this therapy. I also decided to purchase a portable cold plunge for convenience where natural cold plunges are not available. Nothing beats the feeling you get after experiencing the hot and cold combination creating a natural high mentally and physically.
Cold plunge
Elements of Mother Earth
With Air helping the Fire from the wood stove heat up the granite rocks (Earth) and Water tossed on these hot rocks create the rejuvenating steam that we are all looking for. The Finnish word löyly translates to "steam" but also means "spirit" or "soul". The steam is more than just a physical phenomenon, it is seen as an awakening or release of the sauna's spirit.
In Finnish sauna culture, the earth element is often associated with the mythical figure "Tapio," the forest spirit, who is considered the guardian of the natural world.
