Skiing the Planet

"Mongolia is kind of close, right?" Story about an attempt to ski everywhere in the world where there's snow. And in some places where there isn't. On and off-piste skiing on all continents, skiing into craters of live volcanoes, climbing, photography, and travel.

The blog about skiing around the world. The most recent blog articles can be found in Blogspot. This page lists all the skiing-related articles from this blog series.

Walking
This is very embarrassing, but I have never walked to a ski hill. I've taken airplanes, cars, boats, and even helicopters and horses, but never walked the whole way to a ski hill. But today I walked to my home hill.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2014, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

24h Liveblog
This weekend I am participating in the Ylläs 24h competition. The Ylläs Gondola lift will stay open through the night, and teams and individuals will compete on how many runs they can do. The one with most runs will win.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2014, Ylläs, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Brazil
It is 5am and I have just arrived in São Paulo, Brazil. It is a sunny day and the temperatures will hit 25-30 C later in the day. But a couple of hours later I'm skiing on a local ski hill.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2014, Ski Mountain Park, San Rogue, Brazil
Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

Singapore
If at first you do not succeed, try again. And fail. Then fail again. Then give up all hope. But in the end, you may be surprised...
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

March 2014, Snow City, Singapore, Singapore; Tanjong beach, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore
Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Sliding (Indoor, Snow)

Torre
New day, new country, skied all ski areas. Both of them. Portugal is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about places to ski, but Torre (1993 m) is higher than anything in Finland. And it has more snow than we have.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

March 2014, Serra da Estrala, Torre, Portugal; Skiparque, Portugal
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

Cannon Mountain
In the last ten days, my new skis have flown 35 000 kilometres. Yet, they have never touched snow. The airlines keep losing the bag, so the skis travel a day or two behind me.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

February 2014, Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Mountain High
No wonder there is a discount: no snow anywhere and there is cactus next to the rental place. But I think I can find snow. And I need the rental skis, because airlines keep losing my skibag.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

February 2014, Mountain High, California, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

First Week
How does Chamonix powder compare to Los Angeles sand dunes? What protective gear do you need in Chamonix town centre at New Year? Can you ski in New York's central park?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Verbier ski areas, Verbier, Switzerland; Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA; Central Park, New York, New York, USA; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Sand)

Avalanche
"Avalanche!" Just a second later the avalanche hits us, moving at the speed of a high-speed train. I scream and try to fight, but it does not seem to have any effect.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Banff
Only twelve ski areas had opened in North America in early November, but travel to eleven of them would take too long. No choice, really: I had to go to Banff.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

January 2014, Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta, Canada; Nakiska, Banff, Alberta, Canada; Banff, Alberta, Canada
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Skiing Accident
Accident. On my way to skiing, just 5 miles from the slopes. Accident, Maryland is a sleepy town in western Maryland. And an infinite source of sign comedy: "Welcome to Accident". "Accident Fire Department". "150 Years in Accident". You can't make this stuff up.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2013, Accident, Maryland, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Independence Day
Dec 6th. Independence. Freedom. Important stuff. Well, freedom is still a bit difficult for us skiers, there not being enough snow yet for freeskiing in Southern Finland.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2013, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Dark Xmas
We call this the "musta joulu" or dark Christmas in Finland. No snow. But there is rain, darkness, and depression. No matter, I have found a steep, muddy hill in Kauniainen
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2013, Kauniala, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Mud)

Volcano Camping
The summit ridge lights up, seemingly rising to the sky. The sunrise is about to start. I forget the cold night and the two vertical kilometers of climbing to get here. It is a magical moment to be at the top. I had not realised it would be possible to see the entire island of Bali in one view, as if I was in space.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

November 2013, Gunung Agung, Bali, Indonesia
Climbing (Mountain); Skiing (Outdoor, Rock, Sand, Ash)

Sarcophilus Satanicus
Sarcophilus Satanicus. Satanic meat lover. Better know as the Tasmanian Devil. We did all we could to ski with the devil, like we did with the kangaroo, but alas, it was not to be. Turns out the devil is in trouble. The numbers of this previously common animal are down at least 80% and maybe as much as 99% from 1990s, due to a mysterious infectious cancer.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

November 2013, Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, Tasmania, Australia; Ben Lomond, Tasmania, Australia; Mt. Mawson, Tasmania, Australia
Travel; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain)

Kangaroo Run
Turn right. Jump left. Turn left. Jump right. I'm speeding down on the backside of Tasmania's second highest mountain, Legges Tor, and a kangaroo is jumping on the snow in front of me. She must be equally surprised by the largest snow fall in the decade as we were.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

October 2013, Ben Lomond, Tasmania, Australia; Perisher, New South Wales, Australia; Thredbo, New South Wales, Australia; Mount Kosciouszko, New South Wales, Australia
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

This is the 16th set of articles. The previous sets were set 1, set 2, set 3, set 4, set 5, set 6, set 7, set 8, set 9, set 10, set 11, set 12, set 13, set 14, and set 15. The next sets are set 17, set 18, set 19, set 20, set 21, set 22, and set 23.

See also the Planetskier blog articles about caving, urban exploration, climbing, cycling, flying, swimming, and saunas. There is also a full list of all articles regardless of topic, a list of services "approved by the Planetskier, and a world map of all skiing related destinations from the blog series:

	Walking This is very embarrassing, but I have never walked to a ski hill. I've taken airplanes, cars, boats, and even helicopters and horses, but never walked the whole way to a ski hill. But today I walked to my home hill. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) April 2014, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	24h Liveblog This weekend I am participating in the Ylläs 24h competition. The Ylläs Gondola lift will stay open through the night, and teams and individuals will compete on how many runs they can do. The one with most runs will win. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) April 2014, Ylläs, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Brazil It is 5am and I have just arrived in São Paulo, Brazil. It is a sunny day and the temperatures will hit 25-30 C later in the day. But a couple of hours later I'm skiing on a local ski hill. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) April 2014, Ski Mountain Park, San Rogue, Brazil Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

	Singapore If at first you do not succeed, try again. And fail. Then fail again. Then give up all hope. But in the end, you may be surprised... Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) March 2014, Snow City, Singapore, Singapore; Tanjong beach, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Sliding (Indoor, Snow)

	Torre New day, new country, skied all ski areas. Both of them. Portugal is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about places to ski, but Torre (1993 m) is higher than anything in Finland. And it has more snow than we have. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) March 2014, Serra da Estrala, Torre, Portugal; Skiparque, Portugal Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

	Cannon Mountain In the last ten days, my new skis have flown 35 000 kilometres. Yet, they have never touched snow. The airlines keep losing the bag, so the skis travel a day or two behind me. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) February 2014, Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Mountain High No wonder there is a discount: no snow anywhere and there is cactus next to the rental place. But I think I can find snow. And I need the rental skis, because airlines keep losing my skibag. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) February 2014, Mountain High, California, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	First Week How does Chamonix powder compare to Los Angeles sand dunes? What protective gear do you need in Chamonix town centre at New Year? Can you ski in New York's central park? Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Verbier ski areas, Verbier, Switzerland; Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA; Central Park, New York, New York, USA; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Sand)

	Avalanche "Avalanche!" Just a second later the avalanche hits us, moving at the speed of a high-speed train. I scream and try to fight, but it does not seem to have any effect. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Banff Only twelve ski areas had opened in North America in early November, but travel to eleven of them would take too long. No choice, really: I had to go to Banff. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) January 2014, Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta, Canada; Nakiska, Banff, Alberta, Canada; Banff, Alberta, Canada Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Skiing Accident Accident. On my way to skiing, just 5 miles from the slopes. Accident, Maryland is a sleepy town in western Maryland. And an infinite source of sign comedy: "Welcome to Accident". "Accident Fire Department". "150 Years in Accident". You can't make this stuff up. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) December 2013, Accident, Maryland, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Independence Day Dec 6th. Independence. Freedom. Important stuff. Well, freedom is still a bit difficult for us skiers, there not being enough snow yet for freeskiing in Southern Finland. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) December 2013, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Dark Xmas We call this the "musta joulu" or dark Christmas in Finland. No snow. But there is rain, darkness, and depression. No matter, I have found a steep, muddy hill in Kauniainen Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) December 2013, Kauniala, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Mud)

	Volcano Camping The summit ridge lights up, seemingly rising to the sky. The sunrise is about to start. I forget the cold night and the two vertical kilometers of climbing to get here. It is a magical moment to be at the top. I had not realised it would be possible to see the entire island of Bali in one view, as if I was in space. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) November 2013, Gunung Agung, Bali, Indonesia Climbing (Mountain); Skiing (Outdoor, Rock, Sand, Ash)

	Sarcophilus Satanicus Sarcophilus Satanicus. Satanic meat lover. Better know as the Tasmanian Devil. We did all we could to ski with the devil, like we did with the kangaroo, but alas, it was not to be. Turns out the devil is in trouble. The numbers of this previously common animal are down at least 80% and maybe as much as 99% from 1990s, due to a mysterious infectious cancer. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) November 2013, Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, Tasmania, Australia; Ben Lomond, Tasmania, Australia; Mt. Mawson, Tasmania, Australia Travel; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain)

	Kangaroo Run Turn right. Jump left. Turn left. Jump right. I'm speeding down on the backside of Tasmania's second highest mountain, Legges Tor, and a kangaroo is jumping on the snow in front of me. She must be equally surprised by the largest snow fall in the decade as we were. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) October 2013, Ben Lomond, Tasmania, Australia; Perisher, New South Wales, Australia; Thredbo, New South Wales, Australia; Mount Kosciouszko, New South Wales, Australia Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)