The article discusses the tradition of climbing the 20 highest peaks in Estonia, a challenge that began with geographer Taavi Pae's ambition to survey the peaks using GPS technology. Despite Estonia's relatively flat landscape, the challenge, known as the Snow Lynx, has become an annual tradition for outdoor enthusiasts. Participants, including expedition leader Kunnar Karu, have compared the experience to more renowned mountain expeditions, emphasizing the unique physical and navigational challenges it presents. The tradition also includes ending the journey with a visit to a local sauna. The article highlights the advancements in technology, such as LIDAR, that have improved the accuracy of measuring mountain heights over time.

The author recounts a transformative experience with train travel that began during an internship assignment to a surfing competition in northern Scotland, which coincided with the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption disrupting air travel. This led to a train journey that sparked a love for the slow, scenic, and immersive nature of train travel. The article discusses the benefits of train travel, including its environmental friendliness, the increasing availability of routes in Europe, the unique experiences it offers compared to air travel, and the romanticism and relaxation inherent in slower-paced journeys. The author also touches on the social aspects of train travel and the opportunities it provides for genuine interactions with locals and fellow travelers.

Photographer Sarah Gerats, originally from Alkmaar, Netherlands, has spent seven years living in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Norway. She describes her unique lifestyle, including living out of her car and working as a tour guide and polar bear guard. Gerats discusses the challenges and beauty of life in the Arctic, the impact of climate change on the region, and her plans to spend more time alone exploring Spitsbergen. Despite the harsh conditions, she finds fulfillment and a sense of home in this remote location.

Tiit Maran, director of Tallinn Zoo and a European mink biologist, is working on the conservation of the critically endangered European mink on Hiiumaa island in Estonia. The island's natural borders and limited human population make it a potential refuge for the species, which has been driven to near extinction in Europe due to habitat destruction and competition from the invasive American mink. Maran's team has been releasing captive-bred European minks on the island since 2000, and despite initial challenges with captive males' breeding behaviors, the population has now stabilized. The article also discusses broader conservation efforts across Europe, including in Spain, where the government agency Tragsatec is actively managing American mink populations to protect the European mink. Maran emphasizes the importance of both short-term conservation efforts, like reintroduction, and long-term changes in human behavior for environmental protection.