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.

Druskininkai
Country number 36 is Lithuania. I visited Snow Arena in southern Lithuania, near the border to Poland and Belarus. Snow Arena is a unique indoor-outdoor ski center, something that I have not seen before anywhere. The indoor ski hall operates throughout the year, but during the winter they open an exit from the top of the structure. An elevated "bridge" carries the upper part of the outdoor slope, which then continues along the natural terrain.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2013, Druskininkai, Lithuania
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

Season Is NOT Over
The skiing season is not over at all, not even here in the Helsinki region. Grani and Swinghill were still operating today, and Grani will run a couple of more days in the coming week. And in the other ski areas you can always hike up. And the weather is excellent. Get up, get out, get up, and come down!
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2013, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Swinghill, Espoo, Finland; Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Mankkaan lumenkaatopaikka, Mankkaa, Espoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

NOBODY Expects the Spanish Off-Piste
Who would have thought there is incredible off-piste skiing in Spain? Let alone at La Molina, a beginner's ski area that we thought we had already scouted last year. It turns that that the second lift takes you to some interesting terrain. Including some hairy routes where falling is not a good idea.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

March 2013, La Molina, Catalonia, Spain; Grandvalira, Andorra; Vallnord, Andorra
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Denmark
Sunshine, snow, skislope, grill, loud Schlager music... Clearly, I must be in ... Denmark. This is a yet another one of my quick Sunday trips, this time to collect my 35th country.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

March 2013, Hedeland Skibakken, Copenhagen, Denmark
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Vuokatti
This sunday's random ski trip almost went to Denmark or Hungary. But we ended up going to Vuokatti instead. I knew where I wanted to go, as soon as ski area closures, flight availability, wife's non-negotiable requirements, and teenager's changing opinions became clear :-)
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

February 2013, Vuokatti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Inverted Heliski
Gotta love the French. Masters of bureaucratic directives. Or circumventing them. Take heliski, for instance. Heliski is illegal in France. But here we are, spending a day with skis and helicopters. For only 60€, to boot. It turns out that it is illegal to use a helicopter to take us to a mountain. But there is nothing that prevents using one take us from a mountain.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

February 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts, Heli, Car); Sauna (Normal); Flying

Flagstaff, Arizona
Skiing and pine trees in Arizona? Oh yes. I spent the day following Ben, the ski patrol guy, and Kyle, a base jumper on his off day, through beautiful, dense forests on the steep hills of the Arizona Snowbowl ski area.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

February 2013, Snowbowl, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Underground Skiing
Does anyone remember the arcade game where you stood on skis? I loved that game, and one of the interesting tracks in the game goes through a cave. Ever since playing the game I have wanted to experience skiing underground. This week I was visiting Alpe d'Huez, France, and my wish was fulfilled. The "Le Tunnel" slope begins with a 200 meter tunnel through the mountain. And then continues as the most difficult black run the ski area has to offer.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

January 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France; Val d'Isere, France
Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Caving (Man-Made); Caving (Rock, Rock-Limestone, Skiing)

Black in Liechtenstein
Innovation. Desire to do something new is not enough, you also need an opportunity and a catalyst. This time the opportunity was returning from a ski trip in Austria, with a flight leaving late in the day. And the catalyst was finishing the excess alcohol we had in the cabin. Suddenly I found myself staring at the Google Maps screen. The route via Liechtenstein would be almost the same length as going straight back to the airport in Munich. Why not?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

January 2013, Malbun, Liechtenstein; Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Peuramaa vs. Chamonix
This is the burning question everyone has. Should you spend your ski vacation in Peuramaa or Chamonix? The Planetskier is here to answer this difficult question once and for all.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2012, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Fire and Ice
On New Year's Eve the celebrations usually involve fireworks. It seems appropriate to post a video about fire, pyrotechnics, and, of course, skiing. And sacrificial pagan rituals, naturally.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2012, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Seasons in Kauniainen
My local hill may soon be opening, as they predicted over a foot of snow today. It has not yet arrived, but lets hope it will. Anyone want to join for a pre-season ski run this evening? Bring your old skis... could be grassy or even rocky.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

November 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Grass)

Zoetermeer
Amsterdam. Such a nice place to go skiing.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

September 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)
Amsterdam, what a nice place to go skiing! from The Planetskier on Vimeo.

Ski Trip to London
I'm on a ski trip to London. To the site of the 2012 winter Olympics. To the shades of the Tower of London, the highest peak in the country. To the powder fields of Paddington and the couloirs off the Big Ben... Dream on. But I
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

September 2012, Hernel Hempstead, London, United Kingdom
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

World's southernmost ski resort
What might be the world's southernmost ski resort? Internet claims that the answer is Cerro Castor, outside Ushuaia, on the southern end of Argentina. But, that is actually NOT the right answer. Glaciar Martial, a small ski slope in the city of Ushuaia is actually south of Cerro Castor. But wait, even that is NOT right. There's an even smaller ski slope, Club Andino Ushuaia, south of Glaciar Martial. Or is there?
Full story
(TGR version)

August 2012, Cerro Castor, Ushuaia, Argentina; Glaciar Martial, Ushuaia, Argentina
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Volcan Copahue
So close, yet so far. I wanted so much to ski down from Volcán Copahue (2953 meters), but despite trying very hard it was not going to happen.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

August 2012, Caviahue, Argentina
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Buildings); Swimming (Outdoor, Thermal-Bath, Water, Waterbody-Lake)

This is the 18th 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, set 15, set 16, and set 17. The next sets are 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:

	Druskininkai Country number 36 is Lithuania. I visited Snow Arena in southern Lithuania, near the border to Poland and Belarus. Snow Arena is a unique indoor-outdoor ski center, something that I have not seen before anywhere. The indoor ski hall operates throughout the year, but during the winter they open an exit from the top of the structure. An elevated "bridge" carries the upper part of the outdoor slope, which then continues along the natural terrain. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) April 2013, Druskininkai, Lithuania Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

	Season Is NOT Over The skiing season is not over at all, not even here in the Helsinki region. Grani and Swinghill were still operating today, and Grani will run a couple of more days in the coming week. And in the other ski areas you can always hike up. And the weather is excellent. Get up, get out, get up, and come down! Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) April 2013, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Swinghill, Espoo, Finland; Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Mankkaan lumenkaatopaikka, Mankkaa, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	NOBODY Expects the Spanish Off-Piste Who would have thought there is incredible off-piste skiing in Spain? Let alone at La Molina, a beginner's ski area that we thought we had already scouted last year. It turns that that the second lift takes you to some interesting terrain. Including some hairy routes where falling is not a good idea. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) March 2013, La Molina, Catalonia, Spain; Grandvalira, Andorra; Vallnord, Andorra Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Denmark Sunshine, snow, skislope, grill, loud Schlager music... Clearly, I must be in ... Denmark. This is a yet another one of my quick Sunday trips, this time to collect my 35th country. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) March 2013, Hedeland Skibakken, Copenhagen, Denmark Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Vuokatti This sunday's random ski trip almost went to Denmark or Hungary. But we ended up going to Vuokatti instead. I knew where I wanted to go, as soon as ski area closures, flight availability, wife's non-negotiable requirements, and teenager's changing opinions became clear :-) Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) February 2013, Vuokatti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Inverted Heliski Gotta love the French. Masters of bureaucratic directives. Or circumventing them. Take heliski, for instance. Heliski is illegal in France. But here we are, spending a day with skis and helicopters. For only 60€, to boot. It turns out that it is illegal to use a helicopter to take us to a mountain. But there is nothing that prevents using one take us from a mountain. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) February 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts, Heli, Car); Sauna (Normal); Flying

	Flagstaff, Arizona Skiing and pine trees in Arizona? Oh yes. I spent the day following Ben, the ski patrol guy, and Kyle, a base jumper on his off day, through beautiful, dense forests on the steep hills of the Arizona Snowbowl ski area. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) February 2013, Snowbowl, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Underground Skiing Does anyone remember the arcade game where you stood on skis? I loved that game, and one of the interesting tracks in the game goes through a cave. Ever since playing the game I have wanted to experience skiing underground. This week I was visiting Alpe d'Huez, France, and my wish was fulfilled. The "Le Tunnel" slope begins with a 200 meter tunnel through the mountain. And then continues as the most difficult black run the ski area has to offer. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) January 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France; Val d'Isere, France Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Caving (Man-Made); Caving (Rock, Rock-Limestone, Skiing)

	Black in Liechtenstein Innovation. Desire to do something new is not enough, you also need an opportunity and a catalyst. This time the opportunity was returning from a ski trip in Austria, with a flight leaving late in the day. And the catalyst was finishing the excess alcohol we had in the cabin. Suddenly I found myself staring at the Google Maps screen. The route via Liechtenstein would be almost the same length as going straight back to the airport in Munich. Why not? Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) January 2013, Malbun, Liechtenstein; Baden-Württemberg, Germany Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Peuramaa vs. Chamonix This is the burning question everyone has. Should you spend your ski vacation in Peuramaa or Chamonix? The Planetskier is here to answer this difficult question once and for all. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) December 2012, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Fire and Ice On New Year's Eve the celebrations usually involve fireworks. It seems appropriate to post a video about fire, pyrotechnics, and, of course, skiing. And sacrificial pagan rituals, naturally. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) December 2012, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Seasons in Kauniainen My local hill may soon be opening, as they predicted over a foot of snow today. It has not yet arrived, but lets hope it will. Anyone want to join for a pre-season ski run this evening? Bring your old skis... could be grassy or even rocky. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) November 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Grass)

	Zoetermeer Amsterdam. Such a nice place to go skiing. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) September 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands Skiing (Indoor, Snow)	Amsterdam, what a nice place to go skiing! from The Planetskier on Vimeo.

	Ski Trip to London I'm on a ski trip to London. To the site of the 2012 winter Olympics. To the shades of the Tower of London, the highest peak in the country. To the powder fields of Paddington and the couloirs off the Big Ben... Dream on. But I Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) September 2012, Hernel Hempstead, London, United Kingdom Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

	World's southernmost ski resort What might be the world's southernmost ski resort? Internet claims that the answer is Cerro Castor, outside Ushuaia, on the southern end of Argentina. But, that is actually NOT the right answer. Glaciar Martial, a small ski slope in the city of Ushuaia is actually south of Cerro Castor. But wait, even that is NOT right. There's an even smaller ski slope, Club Andino Ushuaia, south of Glaciar Martial. Or is there? Full story (TGR version) August 2012, Cerro Castor, Ushuaia, Argentina; Glaciar Martial, Ushuaia, Argentina Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Volcan Copahue So close, yet so far. I wanted so much to ski down from Volcán Copahue (2953 meters), but despite trying very hard it was not going to happen. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) August 2012, Caviahue, Argentina Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Buildings); Swimming (Outdoor, Thermal-Bath, Water, Waterbody-Lake)