Marika Varpenius is a journalist and the founder of Luode magazine, known for revitalizing Finnish nature journalism by bringing greater depth and fresh perspectives to the field. She relocated from Lappeenranta to Kilpisjärvi, where she now lives her daily life surrounded by the fells.
Before launching Luode, Varpenius spent seven years working as an outdoor journalist for various media outlets. She tested gear and wrote extensively about hiking and life in the wilderness. For months each year, she would trek through Lapland, until the desire emerged to do something differently—to give visibility to the world she had encountered on her journeys.
Luode tells authentic stories about nature and hiking—what is discovered when the surface layers of the obvious are stripped away. The magazine redefines how nature is written about and whose voices are heard in those narratives.
As editor-in-chief, Marika Varpenius aims to broaden the perspectives found in outdoor and nature media, to renew its visual language, and to delve into phenomena beyond the surface. The magazine’s strong visual identity and compelling storytelling highlight aspects of nature and hiking that are often overlooked.
Life in a small village in Lapland and the quiet miles walked on remote trails have shaped Varpenius’s viewpoint. She seeks to portray nature as it is experienced—not just as it is usually described.
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