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.

Mud Skiing
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was a sunny, powder-filled day, touring the backcountry of Cerro Catedral (2405 m). And evening in the famous Bariloche after-ski scene. In five different bars, all the way to 4AM. But today I'm not feeling so good. A headache. Breakfast that wants to return. I must have caught some illness. And did I mention the powder? It is raining and the powder is gone. There's only mud in the ground.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

August 2012, Cerro Catedral, Bariloche, Argentina
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Mud); Afterski

Moguls in Manchester
I like skiing, and my youngest son likes to visit aviation museums. When I booked a family trip to UK, both two randomly selected cities that we are staying at turned out to have an indoor ski hall and a museum with Concorde. What are the odds?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

July 2012, Chill Factore, Manchester, United Kingdom
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

Plastic Ice
This ski area is so hot that it melts your skis. Water would help, and also make the skiing faster. But their sprinkler system is being replaced, and this also happens to be the only day on our vacation when it does not rain.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

July 2012, Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

Midnight Sun at Riksgransen
Many of my friends are regulars at Riksgränsen. But I had never been to this place that calls itself "Sweden's most legendary ski area". The legends are true. It is an amazing place. For starters, we were there in midsummer, skiing at midnight. In bright sunshine! The ski area is far above the arctic circle, and for about two months in the summer the sun does not set.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

June 2012, Riksgränsen, Sweden
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Afterski; Sauna (Normal); Urban-Exploration (Buildings)

Two Feet High
We went to Matinkylä, southern Espoo today. One of the largest shopping malls in Finland, Iso Omena ("Big Apple") is located in Matinkylä. But they are also known as the site of M2, a mountain with icy slopes even in the middle of the summer. The steep slopes of M2 rise a whopping two feet above the surrounding landscape, scaring skiers and mountaineers alike. Indeed, very few climbers have climbed it.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

June 2012, Matinkyla, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Imported-Snow); Urban-Exploration (Skating-Rinks)

Glacier du Kauniainen
Global warming is real. I can tell it by the speed that Glacier du Kauniainen is melting. Luckily the glacier always grows back in December for some reason. Maybe some temporary ice age that always hits us at that time.
Full story

May 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Grass)

Snowless in Oulu
I am amazed how bad the snow situation is. I am in Oulu, 600 kilometers north from home, but there is much less snow here than on my local hill. But I have to try to find skiing, given that I dragged my skis along for this trip.
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

May 2012, Köykkyrin hiihtokeskus, Oulu, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Grani Summer Ski
I am at the summer ski center in Kauniainen. It is +15 degrees Celcius in hot sunshine and a gentle, warm wind. It is a perfect day to go skiing, in my swimsuit. Today is First of May, a national holiday in Finland. Most people party hard or gather in crowds in the city center to do silly things. I've chosen to do my silly things here on my local ski hill.
Full story

May 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal)

Carrying Skis to 17,000 ft
I don't know where to start. Skiing at 17,000 ft? Ice climbing? A night in a tent at 5 kilometers? No acclimatization? The close call with tragedy?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

May 2012, Tarija Peak, Cordillera Real, Bolivia
Climbing (Mountain, Ice); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)
Skiing at 17,000 ft in Bolivia from The Planetskier on Vimeo.

Grani Still Going Strong
May 20, and we are still skiing in Kauniainen. Or Grani, as it is affectionately called. My local ski hill is a treasure that just keeps on giving. I have lost count how many times I have written about the last ski run of the season on this hill, just this year. And there is still snow!
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

May 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Bolivia Is Kind of Close
I have finished my meeting in Washington DC and more work awaits me next week in California. But first things first. There's a weekend in between, and what better way to spend the weekend than to fly 16,000 kilometers to Bolivia?
Full story
(Suomenkielinen versio)

May 2012, Tarija Peak, Cordillera Real, Bolivia
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain, Ice)

Sukset paskana
Both of my skis went to the repair shop today, in anticipation of the shop closing after this week. I need my skis in good shape as - obviously - the season continues. The guys at the shop gave their expert opinion about my skis: they are in shit condition. Or "paskana" in Finnish. Oh well, maybe they are fixable.
Full story

April 2012, Kaprun, Austria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Equipment

Spring in Chamonix
Chamonix is arguably one of the best ski destinations in the world. If not the best. But can you ski in there in early April, when the rest of France sports sunshine and temperatures nearing +20 degrees?
Full story

April 2012, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Two Countries in Eight Hours
The primary challenge with my trip was time. I could only burn one day on this and I had only one choice of flights in and out. But there was quite a bit of driving, not a lot of room for making navigation errors, and frankly too little time for the actual skiing. But in the end I was able to ski for one hour in the first place and a bit more than an hour in the second.
Full story

April 2012, Kakisklans, Latvia; Kuutsemae, Estonia
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Hero or Bonehead?
While the opinions were split among the spectators that came to talk to me afterwards ("are you the guy who skied that?"), I think the answer is definitely "bonehead". This was just too dangerous. I need to go back to skiing safer slopes.
Full story

April 2012, Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun, Austria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain); Sauna (Normal)

Planetskier, The Next Generation
My 9-year old son was the first to ski the local hill at Kauniainen this winter. And now he announced that he wants to be the last one as well.
Full story

April 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

This is the 19th 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, set 17, and set 18. The next sets are 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:

	Mud Skiing What a difference a day makes. Yesterday was a sunny, powder-filled day, touring the backcountry of Cerro Catedral (2405 m). And evening in the famous Bariloche after-ski scene. In five different bars, all the way to 4AM. But today I'm not feeling so good. A headache. Breakfast that wants to return. I must have caught some illness. And did I mention the powder? It is raining and the powder is gone. There's only mud in the ground. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) August 2012, Cerro Catedral, Bariloche, Argentina Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Mud); Afterski

	Moguls in Manchester I like skiing, and my youngest son likes to visit aviation museums. When I booked a family trip to UK, both two randomly selected cities that we are staying at turned out to have an indoor ski hall and a museum with Concorde. What are the odds? Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) July 2012, Chill Factore, Manchester, United Kingdom Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

	Plastic Ice This ski area is so hot that it melts your skis. Water would help, and also make the skiing faster. But their sprinkler system is being replaced, and this also happens to be the only day on our vacation when it does not rain. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) July 2012, Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

	Midnight Sun at Riksgransen Many of my friends are regulars at Riksgränsen. But I had never been to this place that calls itself "Sweden's most legendary ski area". The legends are true. It is an amazing place. For starters, we were there in midsummer, skiing at midnight. In bright sunshine! The ski area is far above the arctic circle, and for about two months in the summer the sun does not set. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) June 2012, Riksgränsen, Sweden Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Afterski; Sauna (Normal); Urban-Exploration (Buildings)

	Two Feet High We went to Matinkylä, southern Espoo today. One of the largest shopping malls in Finland, Iso Omena ("Big Apple") is located in Matinkylä. But they are also known as the site of M2, a mountain with icy slopes even in the middle of the summer. The steep slopes of M2 rise a whopping two feet above the surrounding landscape, scaring skiers and mountaineers alike. Indeed, very few climbers have climbed it. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) June 2012, Matinkyla, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Imported-Snow); Urban-Exploration (Skating-Rinks)

	Glacier du Kauniainen Global warming is real. I can tell it by the speed that Glacier du Kauniainen is melting. Luckily the glacier always grows back in December for some reason. Maybe some temporary ice age that always hits us at that time. Full story May 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Grass)

	Snowless in Oulu I am amazed how bad the snow situation is. I am in Oulu, 600 kilometers north from home, but there is much less snow here than on my local hill. But I have to try to find skiing, given that I dragged my skis along for this trip. Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) May 2012, Köykkyrin hiihtokeskus, Oulu, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Grani Summer Ski I am at the summer ski center in Kauniainen. It is +15 degrees Celcius in hot sunshine and a gentle, warm wind. It is a perfect day to go skiing, in my swimsuit. Today is First of May, a national holiday in Finland. Most people party hard or gather in crowds in the city center to do silly things. I've chosen to do my silly things here on my local ski hill. Full story May 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal)

	Carrying Skis to 17,000 ft I don't know where to start. Skiing at 17,000 ft? Ice climbing? A night in a tent at 5 kilometers? No acclimatization? The close call with tragedy? Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) May 2012, Tarija Peak, Cordillera Real, Bolivia Climbing (Mountain, Ice); Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)	Skiing at 17,000 ft in Bolivia from The Planetskier on Vimeo.

	Grani Still Going Strong May 20, and we are still skiing in Kauniainen. Or Grani, as it is affectionately called. My local ski hill is a treasure that just keeps on giving. I have lost count how many times I have written about the last ski run of the season on this hill, just this year. And there is still snow! Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) May 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Bolivia Is Kind of Close I have finished my meeting in Washington DC and more work awaits me next week in California. But first things first. There's a weekend in between, and what better way to spend the weekend than to fly 16,000 kilometers to Bolivia? Full story (Suomenkielinen versio) May 2012, Tarija Peak, Cordillera Real, Bolivia Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain, Ice)

	Sukset paskana Both of my skis went to the repair shop today, in anticipation of the shop closing after this week. I need my skis in good shape as - obviously - the season continues. The guys at the shop gave their expert opinion about my skis: they are in shit condition. Or "paskana" in Finnish. Oh well, maybe they are fixable. Full story April 2012, Kaprun, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Equipment

	Spring in Chamonix Chamonix is arguably one of the best ski destinations in the world. If not the best. But can you ski in there in early April, when the rest of France sports sunshine and temperatures nearing +20 degrees? Full story April 2012, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Two Countries in Eight Hours The primary challenge with my trip was time. I could only burn one day on this and I had only one choice of flights in and out. But there was quite a bit of driving, not a lot of room for making navigation errors, and frankly too little time for the actual skiing. But in the end I was able to ski for one hour in the first place and a bit more than an hour in the second. Full story April 2012, Kakisklans, Latvia; Kuutsemae, Estonia Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Hero or Bonehead? While the opinions were split among the spectators that came to talk to me afterwards ("are you the guy who skied that?"), I think the answer is definitely "bonehead". This was just too dangerous. I need to go back to skiing safer slopes. Full story April 2012, Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain); Sauna (Normal)

	Planetskier, The Next Generation My 9-year old son was the first to ski the local hill at Kauniainen this winter. And now he announced that he wants to be the last one as well. Full story April 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)