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 here:

This web site list some selected blog entries below. There is also a full list and services "approved by the Planetskier". The Planetskier has skied in 64 countries (53 outdoors on snow, 7 of the remaining indoors on snow, and 4 on some other material). The world map below shows these places:

See also the Planetskier blog articles about caving, urban exploration, climbing, cycling, flying, swimming, and saunas.

Sunny, Extremely Icy
Birthday. I needed some skiing for that. And, the only real skiing on this side of the planet was in Hintertux, the friendly location for year-around skiing on the glaciers. Sadly, the glaciers are shrinking. Now on first of October their state in Hintertux was worse than last year in the worst of the summer in the end of August. That's not good. But, some ice left. A bit of snow also on top in some places, even some unskied snow! But wow, were the main slopes icy. Extremely icy, as the weather forecast indicated.
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2023
Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria


Skiing

Husby Ishall: September Skiing
I had a much needed trip to see colleagues in Kista. Took the train and the boat and the bus this time... not too bad of a travel mode. Also, since the month is soon over I had to find a place to ski. Mini-skis and the snow pile by the Husby ice skating rink did the trick. Maybe three turns. At least. All obviously on different runs on this half a meter high mountain. September skiing is now done!
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2023
Husby Ishall, Husby, Stockholm, Sweden


Skiing

August turns: Check
Mini skis. Lapland. Helicopter. Heli-mini-skiing? And big mistakes and miracle rescues. In any case, the turns for August have been completed. I have to ski every month because not doing so would break the long streak.
Full story
(TGR version)
August 2023
Kopmajoken sivurotko, Enontekiö, Finland


Skiing

Skiing in San Francisco... in a garage... on a treadmill
Wow. I did not plan for this. But when I learned that this was possible, I just had to go. One hour of my Sunday.... spent skiing in downtown San Francisco. In what looks like a garage. And a sloping treadmill. But, make no mistake. Contrary to my usual style, this is not a crackpot hobbyist scheme, but a commercial operation, the Adventurous Sports. And a place to spot and correct your technique, for the treadmill gives you no room to be sloppy with your form.
Full story
July 2023
Adventurous Sports, San Francisco, California, USA


Skiing (Indoor,Substance-Other)

July Desperation
This is a difficult month. Again. But, Leppävaara to the rescue! A constant stream of fresh snow is being delivered outside the ice skating rink. So why not make a ski hill on the nearby slope?
Full story
July 2023
Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo


Skiing

Happy 1st of May!
Traditional 1st of May celebration, on skis. This time on my local hill.
Full story
May 2023
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Tale of three ski ... attempts
A tale of three ski … attempts. First, the nice one was in the evening with Dan and Tero in the Snova Shin Yokohama, an indoor facility with interesting “polymer snow” that is complete harmless to human but should be thoroughly washed before leaving 🙂
Full story
April 2023
Snova Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama*, Japan; Sun Meadows Kiyosato Ski Area, Yamanashi**, Japan; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen***, Finland


Skiing* (Snow,Indoor); Skiing** (Outdoor,Snow,None); Skiing*** (Snow,Outdoor)

More Yokohama Forever Snow
I've been here before. But now I was again in Yokohama for conference, and also had some friends eager to go skiing. After our meetings were over in Friday evening, Dan, Tero, and me got into a taxi and headed to Snova Shin Yokohama.
Full story
March 2023
Snova Shin-Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan


Skiing (Indoor,Snow)

March Swinghill Madness
My March was super busy at work, and I was also away for extended part of the month. I had to put in my March skiing in early. A Saturday with decent weather seemed like what I should do. I opted for going to Swinghill in Nuuksio, a small but nice hill. The visit turned out to be really nice. The restaurant was booked for some private event, so no snacks for me. But there was a fire in the fire pit outside, which I loved.
Full story
March 2023
Swinghill, Espoo, Finland


Skiing

Skiing the Mount Parnassus
Early morning by the olive trees. Too early, but I have a long drive, 3-4 hours from my hotel to Mount Parnassus, a premier ski resort in Greece. It is perhaps the resort that is known, if anyone has heard of any. A quite magnificent ski resort, I think. Slightly lover than the other one that I visited, Kalavrita, but with more slopes, lifts, and because Mount Parnassus stands alone (prominence: 1,590 m) it feels a much bigger mountain. There is a vast area of snow up there, and only tiny fraction of it is in the ski resort. This would be a wonderful place to do so ski touring!
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2023
Parnassos Ski Centre, Polidrosos, Greece


Skiing

Kalavrita: Highest vertical ski resort in Greece
Greece: I have always pictured it as a land of sunshine, warm beaches, and white sand. I clearly had no idea. It is those things, too, particularly in the summer. But in the winter it is surprisingly cold, has a lot of mountainous areas, and yes, IT HAS SNOW AND SKI RESORTS! I tried two of them in February 2023...
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2023
Kalavrita Ski Resort, Kalavrita, Greece


Skiing

Jasná Nízke Tatry - Chopok
Our second day of skiing in Slovakia was on Jasná Nízke Tatry, also called Chopok. Chopok is the name of the 2024 meter peak by the highest lift station, few meters lower at 2004 meters. I did climb to the peak as well, going up was easy but coming down was treacherous as it was quite icy. And speaking of ice ... I think either my skis were a bit off sharpness, or the slopes were extremely ice. Actually maybe both. It was difficult to control speed on the steep black runs from the top.
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2023
Jasná Nízke Tatry - Chopok ski area, Demänovská Dolina*, Slovakia; Chopok, Horná Lehota**, Slovakia


Skiing*; Climbing** (Mountain)

Tatranska Lomnica
Foggy day. At the top, at least. No matter. Let's ski.
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2023
Tatranska Lomnica, Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia


Skiing

Rain, darkness, and wind: GREAT Zakopane ski experience!
Their official name is Koziniec-Ski Sp. z o.o. Czarna Góra - Stacja Narciarska, but I have no idea what any of that means. But they appeared with their lights and ski lifts on from the wet darkness of miserable drive through rain and sleet as we were nearing Zakopane on our return trip from Slovakia. And I needed to ski properly in Poland. In 2011 I was on a through trip and managed to hike up a closed ski hill. Nice, but now I when had an opportunity to ski on an actual open and lit ski slope, I needed to take it!
Full story
January 2023
Koziniec Ski Stacja Narciarska, Nadwodnia, Czarna Góra, Poland


Skiing

LEGO snow cat
Want.
Full story
January 2023
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing (None,Equipment)

December snow at Vihti
While my car was broken again (long story...) I got a ride from a friend to visit Vihti ski center again. I started my Finnish ski season here in November, but it seems that I'm skiing here again in December. No complaints, it is a great place to ski in. And the snowmageddon in southern Finland has laid plenty of nice powdery stuff on the hill.
Full story
December 2022
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland


Skiing

London skiing. On a side of a building.
One thing you do not expect when strolling in London is a huge mural on the side of a building, depicting skiing and ski lifts. Well done, South Kensington!
Full story
November 2022
Reece Mews Ski Mural, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom


Skiing (None,Media)

October turns at the x-country ski hall
The city of Helsinki maintains a previously commercial Kivikko indoor ski hall. It has been scheduled for closing, however, due to rising energy costs and small number of users. Hopefully that decision can be turned! But. It is an *x-country* ski hall, how can one enjoy it for downhill skiing? To begin with, I was wondering if I'd be allowed in with my ski boots and alpine skis. But no one batted an eyelid... and I put them in touring mode, which made progress on the track nice. And then .. there is about a 4-5 meter slope along the track... I switched to "skating" mode and side of the track... voilà!
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2022
Kivikon hiihtohalli, Helsinki, Finland


Skiing (Indoor)

Taking the chairlift to September runs
I try to ski every month and September is always a difficult one. Today’s run was short, but with full service.
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2022
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Snowdog finds snow, Planetskier skies it
Snowdog found snow! And I skied it, of course :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2022
Kauniaisten jäähalli, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing; Hiking

Last drive?
Only three days of legal driving left. The Volvo goes to a last-ditch cheap attempt to fix it, but, the odds are not great. Took the car for a spin today, along with the 'Genuine Accessories' aka the Volvo 740 skis. Just like the car, however, the skis are aging, one binding's plastic parts disintegrated. No prob, one ski is enough.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2022
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing; Car

Eduskuntatalo fail
I have long wanted to ski the Parliament House stairs. And I thought today's "Valtteri" winter storm was the perfect opportunity to do that. However... when I got to the chairs, it turned out they are being heated, and snow-free even in a once-in-a-decade storm. Sigh. What a letdown. And maybe also waste of energy :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
January 2022
Eduskuntatalo, Helsinki, Finland; Temppeliaukion kirkko, Helsinki, Finland


Skiing

Santa Claus skiing
Time for the traditional Xmas eve ski run. Maybe the best one ever was on the steps of the cathedral in Helsinki, but skiing my local hill in Santa Claus costume and a bag of presents was also nice!
Full story
(TGR version)
December 2021
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

It's dark, we're wearing sunglasses, and ski season just opened
It is pitch dark. Raining heavily. The whole place is closed. But I'm on a mission, so I grab my skis and walk to the bottom of the hill in my boots, as there's a rumour that there's some snow in the hill. And when I get to the bottom, what I find is a group of teenagers with just a couple of flashlights -- skiing, jumping the jumps, riding the pipes and rails. Wonderful!
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2021
Hyvinkään Sveitsin hiihtokeskus, Hyvinkää, Finland


Skiing

Birthday trip, full of fun!
How much fun can you pack into one birthday trip? I started with a drink ... non-alcoholic, of course. And then things starting going faster after that: a sauna at the Oberstegen, continued with skiing on the Hintertux Glacier, went for a SUP paddling tour in an ice cave river under that glacier, and ended up climbing to the Grafenloch and Rossstall caves, and doing a 3D model of them. Not bad, and that was just the first day! Maybe for my next birthday I'll try to come with an active program.
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2021
Hintertux, Austria*; Hintertuxer Gletscher Eispalast, Hintertux, Austria**; Grafenloch, Oberaudorf, Germany***; Rossstall, Oberaudorf, Germany***; Gasthof Oberstegen, Stockach, Söll, Austria*****; Gasthof Oberstegen, Stockach, Söll, Austria******


Skiing*; Caving** (Basic,Boating,Surveying,Ice); Caving*** (Basic,Rock,Rock-Limestone,Surveying); Hiking****; Sauna (Normal,Infrared)*****; Travel******

Swinghill Season's Opening
It is snowing in Swinghill, the lift is running, and I opened the season. Cool.
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2021
Swinghill, Espoo, Finland


Skiing

July skiing done at the last moment
This month's skiing - check. Falling & road rash - check. Edges didn't work so well on rock.
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2021
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

June and the Grani hill is still going strong
It is June 6th, and Grani ski hill *still* has snow! Thanks go to the ski hill maintenance team who made and piled a lot of snow during the season.
Full story
(TGR version)
June 2021
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Yet Another Abandoned Ski Area
While looking for ski areas I could go ski at, I came across a nearby ski hill that I had not even heard about: Klaukkala's Tornikeskus, or Tower Hill. Unfortunately, they just closed permanently. That doesn't mean I couldn't go ski there, of course :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2021
Tornikeskus, Klaukkala, Finland


Skiing

Not broken
It isn't broken. It just needs more duct tape.
Full story
(TGR version)
October 2020
Ruka, Kuusamo, Finland


Skiing

Birthday skitrip
This month's skiing was a bit of a challenge. Travel is difficult, unlike in August. Many of things that one could do were already done.
Full story
(TGR version)
September 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing (Outdoor,Grass,Snow)

Turns All Year
Well, it is a turn. And I was desperate.
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2020
Kauniaisten jäähalli, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

A different Ylläs 24
I decided to do my own Ylläs 24 event, to replace the one cancelled in April. It is already June, not a lot of snow remains. But some, and what a wonderful sunshine for the entire 24 hours - midnight sun was shining, as Ylläs is far above the arctic circle.
Full story
(TGR version)
June 2020
Ylläs, Finland


Skiing

A tour of three closed ski areas
Wow. Three closed ski areas on one day. 500 kilometers of driving, though, on this avoid-contact-with-others trip.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Himos, Jämsä, Finland; Kasurila, Siilinjärvi, Finland; Tahko, Finland


Skiing

Skiing Tahko on May 30th
What a wonderful experience, hiking up the 200 meters high ski hill in deserted Tahko, in sunshine. And taking a sunset ski run back to the lake, almost all of it on still preserved snow.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Tahko, Finland*; Tahkolahden ranta, Tahko, Finland**


Skiing*; Swimming* (Outdoor)

Voitelu kunnossa. Summer waxing.
Skiing in the summer takes waxing skill. But, this time I think I managed it.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland


Skiing

Summer has been CANCELLED
I was sure that the season is over. Then... it started snowing.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Last snow in Grani
Now THIS is really the last snow. Two meter long snow patch left... it will be gone by tomorrow. Skied the slope, nevertheless :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing (Snow,Grass)

Patchy skiing in Vihti
Tero and I went to Vihti to see if we could still ski it. Vihti is the best, much snow left! A few parts not covered in snow, but one can ski through them!
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland


Skiing (Snow,Grass)

Wappurun
Wappu. There's still plenty of snow for a ski run in Vihti.
Full story
(TGR version)
May 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland


Skiing

Meltdown lockdown
It is the end of days. A meltdown, of the snow on the local ski hill.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Finally, the final run (?)
Now THAT may have been the last run of the season.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

One more time?
One more skiing run? Why not. Also, I have not been to Swinghill in Nuuksio yet this winter. So Tero and I decided to go see if we could ski it. While staying far enough apart to not infect each other :-)
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Swinghill, Espoo, Finland


Skiing

It's a snow day! We can stay home! ... Oh... wait
It's a snow day! We can stay home! ... Oh... wait
Full story
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Snowing in Vihti
It still wasn't the last run of the season! Vihti rules!
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland


Skiing

Social ski-distancing
I wanted to go skiing with my friend Jarmo. But, the dangers of infecting others... Fortunately, we found a solution: skiing at the same time on two separate slopes.
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland


Skiing

Another day, another conference call, another ski run
Another day, another conference call, another ski run
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Quarantine skiing
The last run of the season, under an increasingly tight lockdown. No police barricades were bypassed when making this video, though. And no people approached closer than the 100 meter social distancing limit.
Full story
(TGR version)
March 2020
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing

Minefield skiing in Israel
Back in the pre-Covid world, I had order cheap Black Friday for a quick stop in Israel, to collect yet another country for skiing. Yes, you can ski in Israel, at Mount Hermon on the border towards Syria and Lebanon. The trip turned out to be apocalyptic both because of the virus and impending world shutdown, but also because of skiing on an area that was just recently a war zone, and near the borders. Got told by the solders multiple times to not continue further.
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2020
Mount Hermon, Israel


Skiing

It really was the last trip...
It really was the last trip... for a while.
Full story
March 2020
House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland


Travel

Ski mask fashion 2020?
Is this the ski mask fashion 2020?
Full story
(TGR version)
February 2020
Mount Hermon, Israel


Skiing

Forest Powder in Kopaonik, Serbia
Kopaonik is the premier ski resort in Serbia. And I got the premier weather arriving there, in heavy snowfall.
Full story
(TGR version)
December 2019
Kopaonik Ski Area, Kopaonik, Serbia


Skiing

Singapore Skiing. Finally.
I've been trying to do this for almost six years. Obviously, it is not easy to find skiing in Singapore. I've been forbidden to ski when there was snow, arrived right after a skiing place had bankrupted, found alternative skiing on off-limits sand, and hidden in despair in caves and abandoned bunkers. But Sport Quest to the rescue! Today I finally managed to ski in Singapore with the help of Sport Quest's indoor facilities at the Snow City. Snow, ice, cold, and on skis. Wonderful!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

November 2019
Snow City, Singapore, Singapore


Skiing (Indoor)

Rescue team
I was worrying about the fate of the locked-up snow, when all of a sudden, some guy in black clothing and black miniskis jumped over the fence and liberated the snow. Amazing!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

May 2019
Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo, Finland


Skiing

So close, yet so far
I saw snow today! Outside the Leppävaara skating rink... behind bars. What did that snow do, and why is it locked up, and we're not allowed to play?
Full story
(TGR version)
April 2019
Leppävaaran jäähalli, Espoo, Finland


Skiing

El cheapo ski weekend
An el cheapo weekend activity: at Ylläs up North but since we're doing the 24 hour race, u don't need a hotel. 2 hours in, 22 to go. A lot of fun, old friends and, well, basically going fast & non-stop
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2019
Ylläs, Finland


Skiing

Lidingö mountain range: Ekholmsnäsbacken
Another week, more work for me in Stockholm. But, I also got to visit another ski hill. My friend John also joined to try out Ekholmsnäsbacken in the small community in the Lidingö island.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

March 2019
Ekholmsnäsbacken, Lidingö, Sweden


Skiing

Tokyo commute. With skis.
I only have an evening, not enough to take a Shinkansen to the real mountains. But I do have time to visit yet another Tokyo indoor ski place. This time, the Snova Mizonokuchi! It was fun to ride through downtown Tokyo with my skis and boots, through the train system.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

January 2019
Snova Mizonokuchi, Kawasaki, Tokyo, Japan


Skiing (Indoor)

No car, no skilift, no problem
No car, no skilift, no problem! My car is broken, but fortunately, since I live in the world's happiest town, I can walk to the ski hill, ski down to the bus stop, take the public transport to the public swimming pool, and lock my skis in the bike rack. And return by train.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2018
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Keski-Espoon Uimahalli, Espoo, Finland


Skiing; Sauna; Swimming (Indoor)

Slow start to the season: Hahnenkamm
The season's first run on the Streif, the famous downhill run from the Hahnenkamm. Why first? Because it was partly on grass...
Full story
(TGR version)
November 2018
Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel, Austria


Skiing
Opening day at Siberia... I mean Peuramaa
Local slopes are open! Peuramaa opened on Nov 30th, Serena on Nov 27th, Vihti Nov 23th, and I don't know about Grani or Swinghill but both are running their snow guns so hopefully soon!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

November 2018
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland


Skiing
Largest indoor ski hall... somewhere between North Korea and Siberia
I'm stuck at a meeting in northern China, somewhere between North Korea and Siberia. Abandoned concrete housing projects fill the rainy horizon in this city that no one seems to have heard of. But this does not mean that the locals cannot have nice things. Or me. World's largest indoor ski hall, for instance?
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

September 2018
Wanda Ski Park, Harbin, China


Skiing (Indoor)

Black Snow. Again.
I was again at Hintertux for summer skiing, at the low point of the yearly snow cycle. The glaciers were dark... black even.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

August 2018
Hintertux, Austria


Skiing

Skiing San Marino... on the rocks
countries_skied++; San Marino!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

July 2018
Cesta, Monte Titano, San Marino, San Marino


Skiing; Climbing

Canadian Heatwave Snow
I had a great Sunday, starting with work work work, with some progress I think, then went skiing, and finally returned to have a nice sauna and a swim at the hotel. And afterwards met some fun new Argentinians from my meeting at a late reception.
Full story
(TGR version)
July 2018
Mont Saint-Sauveur Versant Avila, Quebec, Canada


Skiing

Kazakhstan Pioneer Camp Skiing
Back in the Soviet times, pioneer camps were known to be a place for kids to have summer camps, as well as a forum for pushing socialism ideals. But can you find powder at a winter pioneer camp? Apparently you can, as long as you are ready to ride the death trap lifts. And pay your lift rides with vodka.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

February 2018
Elik-Sai Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan; Almatau Pioneer Camp, Almaty, Kazakhstan


Skiing

Holy Vappu!
Reject spring. Ski in Pyhä! Party glasses on and champagne in backpack!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2018
Pyhä, Finland


Skiing

Ski software update
Will software update be enough or should I stop at the repair shop?
Full story
May 2018
Pyhä, Finland


Skiing; Equipment

LA Caving
Cave of Munits is a wonderful cave and a sacred site on Simi Hills in San Fernando Valley, half an hour from Los Angeles downtown.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

March 2018
Cave of Munits, Los Angeles, California, USA; Bronson Caves, Los Angeles, California, USA


Caving (Rock,Man-made); Urban-exploration (Tunnels,Quarries)

Skiing in Romania
The winter is running out, and even the HR department though that I had too little vacation. So I decided to take some last-minute cheap flights to Romania to ski in my #57th country.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

March 2018
Sinaia, Romania


Skiing; Urban-exploration (Ruins)

Croatia!
Europe... the continent of many countries. So many that it is difficult to ski all of them... but on Christmas break I was able to visit Croatia, and finally ski its nice ski areas. What a wonderful experience to ski on mountains towering above the Adriatic Sea, sunshine, powder...
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2017
Sljeme ski area, Zagreb, Croatia; Platak ski area, Soboli, Croatia


Skiing

A Kilometer Inside
This is an exceptional opportunity that only opens once a year. Janne and I are crawling in the cave, guided by friendly cavers from the Swedish Speleological Association. We get to see amazing things, from stalactites to "Inre Sjön", a small lake (or rather, a pool) a kilometer into the cave.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

June 2017
Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden; Kanalen, Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden; Bryet, Lummelunda, Gotland, Sweden; Galgbergsgrottan, Visby, Gotland, Sweden


Caving

Biking to the ski hill, in boots
This morning I woke up and asked myself what would be the most stupid thing I could do today. Can you bike to a ski hill, on your ski boots? Turns out the answer is yes. Although maybe not advisable...
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

May 2017
Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing; Biking

Dead Cat Margarine
Dead cats were blended into margarine and fed to humans. We're going to a secret, abandoned tunnel to meet the ghosts of the cats. But it won't be easy to get there.
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2017
Undisclosed Finnish location, Finland


Urban exploration (Tunnels); Caving (Man-made)

Skiing with a drone
A few weeks ago I got a present from my IETF friends: a Mavic Pro drone. Thank you! We've already played a lot with it, me, Olli, Janne, and many of our friends, with everyone having loads of fun with the device!
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

April 2017
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Sahara, Kauniainen, Finland


Skiing; Equipment; Flying

The Korkberget Files
I want to take you to a special place. Janne and I have spent there over 20 days by now. And every day of exploration rewards us with more finds. It is nearby. An old friend. But did we know all of its secrets before? I certainly didn't. Caves in Finland are small. What if I told you about a complex system of caves, with hundreds of meters of tunnels and fifty entrances, including one that you can drive a boat in?
Full story
(TGR version)
(Suomenkielinen versio)

December 2016
Korkberget, Kirkkonummi, Finland


Caving

Yongpyong. Not Pyongyang.
Fortune favours the unprepared, as long as you pick the destination in the right Korea. I didn't know where I was going, or even if there'd be snow, but suddenly I was at the 2018 winter olympics village. Country #53.
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November 2016
Yongpyong, South Korea


Skiing (Outdoor,Snow,Grass)

Breithorn, 4164m
Third time's a charm! I finally managed to ski down from Breithorn. Two failed attempts... and what a wonderful third one, with a high speed ski run down. So much fun to pass the climbers on a long trek, me going at 80 km/h while screaming from the top of my lungs as I passed them :-)
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August 2016
Breithorn, Zermatt, Switzerland


Skiing; Climbing

Srsly, Smearing Caves with Vaseline???!!
We had a disturbing visit to a cave today. Somebody had not only blocked access to this cave, but also smeared vaseline all over the cave, spread broken glass, and so on. Sigh.
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August 2016
Mätikän luola, Masku, Finland


Caving

Anti-Gravity Lift Towers
The Swiss are clever innovators. The latest example of this that I saw were the lift towers in Saas Fee. Floating in mid-air, not standing on ground like regular towers. Anti-gravity in action!
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August 2016
Saas Fee, Switzerland


Skiing; Caving (Ice)

Bruxelles Ski de Plastique
Brussels has run out. They do not have enough for themselves, let alone for Greece. The Eurocrisis is getting worse. We're out of snow.
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April 2016
Yeti Ski, Brussels, Belgium


Skiing (Outdoor,Plastic)

Paraguay on Miniskis
Have skis, can carry snow, will ski anything. First descent of Paraguay's highest mountain, Cerro Tres Kandu.
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April 2016
Cerro Tres Kandu, Paraguay


Climbing; Skiing

Broken Ribs
I had an accident on a horse, skiing an ancient volcano in Africa. As people do. Broken ribs and a horseshoe-shaped bruise on my side. But I did manage to ski the remaining ski areas in Morocco. And ski down with the broken ribs.
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March 2016
Michlifen, Ifrane, Morocco; Jbel Habri, Ifrane, Morocco


Skiing; Climbing; Riding

Cave Skiing
I like caves and skiing, of course, but it is rare that the two mix. But in Cervinia there's small cave that you can ski through. If you dare.
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February 2016
Cervinia, Italy


Skiing; Caving

Skiing Africa... by Mule
Avalanche pack, check. Skis, check. Mule, check. I am sitting on a mule, on my way to the ski slopes in Oukaïmeden in the Atlas mountains of Morocco.
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February 2015
Oukaïmeden, Morocco


Skiing; Climbing

Bad Snow Year in Africa
Grass. Sun. Lonely wilderness. 4x4 transport. You would expect to find those in Africa. And I did. But I also found mountains, a ski area, olympic athletes, and snow. And the highest bar in South Africa. I'm in Tiffindell, South Africa's only ski area that re-opened this year, after being closed for a couple of years.
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July 2013
Tiffindel, South Africa

Mythbusting
Midsummer. Getting desperate with no snow around. But no matter. I will turn to doing something I have wanted to do for a while: testing skiing on dry ice. There's a claim in the Internet that dry ice isn't slippery. I want to know if that is true. So in Mythbusters style I have built a small test slope. I plan to put some dry ice on it and see if it I can ski it.
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June 2013
Tampere and Kauniainen, Finland

Skiing on the Equator
Headache. Nausea. I have them, but high winds and icy rain are the main culprits for the failure to reach the glacier. No one in the refuge dares to venture higher. The estimated 80 km/h winds would be dangerous on that initial steep rock climb. Particularly with skis on the backpack acting as sails.
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(Svenskt artikeln)

June 2013
Cayembe, Ecuador

June Snow Report
June 2nd. Sunny, temperature 25 degrees Celsius. I should be able to find some skiing, right? But the Grani slope seems all too green. Perhaps I should try skiing in Sahara? But I find only sand. But then my luck turned...
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June 2013
Kauniainen, Finland

Bird Poo
"It is bird poo". I'm looking at the ski area webcam and there is a spot of white on the green. My friend does not believe I'm seeing snow, and she is a local here in Virginia. But I think it is worth a shot, particularly since I have nothing to do on Saturday morning, having completed the week's meetings and heading back to Europe in the evening.
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May 2013
Wintergreen, Virginia, USA

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.
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February 2013
Alpe d'Huez, France

Skiing in Aland
It is mid April and the sun is shining. Is there still some snow left somewhere? There is, at Aland! The Aland islands between Sweden and Finland are known for their sunny summers and flat landscape. I took a boat there to investigate if there'd be any skiing.
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April 2013
Germundo Alpin, Aland, Finland

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.
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March 2013
Hedeland Skibakken, Copenhagen, Denmark

Riders of the Lost Ash
Sunshine. Waves. Jungle. +35C. Weekend alone on a tropical island, with nothing else to do than to listen to the wind and sea. And walk on black sand, or tease the two-meter lizards away from my tent. Wait. Black sand? Giant lizards? What kind of story is this?
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March 2013
Krakatau, Indonesia

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 :-)
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February 2013
Vuokatti, Finland

Church Visit
Christmas is a good time to visit a church. I was dressed up and late from a dinner on Christmas eve. But not so late that I wouldn't have time for some quiet meditation. And a quick ski run.
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December 2012
Helsinki, Finland

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.
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December 2012
Chamonix, France

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.
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November 2012
Kauniainen, Finland

A Night in the Cockpit of a 747
We lost all the instruments. The engines are not responding. I shout mayday to the radio, but the radio is silent. I curse my decision to ever enter the cockpit of this rusty 747-200. This night is going to end badly. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I decide that it is time to exit the cockpit, run down the stairs, and ... order a drink from the steward.
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October 2012
Arlanda, Sweden

A night in the cockpit of a 747 from The Planetskier on Vimeo.


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?
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May 2012
Cordillera Real, Bolivia

Skiing at 17,000 ft in Bolivia from The Planetskier on Vimeo.


Zoetermeer
Amsterdam. Such a nice place to go skiing.
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September 2012
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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 am on a ski trip to London.
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September 2012
London, UK

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.
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August 2012
Caviahue, Argentina

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.
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July 2012
Edinburgh, UK

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.
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June 2012
Riksgränsen, Sweden

Venice. Fail.
It is the first time this has happened to me, honestly. I am embarrassed. I failed to find skiing on a trip.
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June 2012
Venice, Italy

Ice Climbing in Espoo. In June.
It is Sunday, +10 degrees, raining heavily, and it is the middle of summer in southern Finland. What should I do? Go ice climbing in Espoo, obviously.
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June 2012
Mankkaa, Finland

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.
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June 2012
Matinkyla, Finland

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?
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May 2012
Cordillera Real, Bolivia

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.
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April 2012
Kaprun, Austria

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?
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April 2012
Chamonix, France

Velo avec des Skis
Bike to train station with skis on your back, take the TGV, go skiing. That's what I did in Paris.
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March 2012
Amneville, France

Six Pictures
Everyone has probably seen the Facebook meme on six pictures for what your friends think you do, what you think you, and what you really do. I wanted to make one for skiing.
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March 2012
Val Thorens, France and Vallnord, Andorra

Two More Countries
I'm heading out today for a two day trip to collect Spain and Andorra. But many countries left. It still feels like the planet has an unending supply of unexplored ski destinations.
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February 2012
La Molina, Spain and Vallnord, Andorra

Peuramaa II
I've written about Peuramaa and its playground before. But I noticed something new. What strikes me about these visits is the darkness.
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February 2012
Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland

Moominworld Cliffs
If I have to spend eight days per year in Moominland, it is clear that I need to come up with something interesting to do there. How about skiing down the President's Cliff? Fifteen meters of near vertical rock. Too bad I forgot my ice axes, because the return was even tricker.
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February 2012
Moominworld, Naantali, Finland

Out of Bounds in Les Arcs
I was more worried about falling on that vertical wall than the police catching me, but both were real concerns. And then I caused an avalanche. This is a story about my four day trip to Les Arcs, France.
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February 2012
Les Arcs, France

Russian Ski Stars
I climbed a mountain, and found a ski movie actress from Russia on the top!
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January 2012
Courchevel, France

Magnifique Apres-Ski!
The best after-ski in the world? Could be. Who would have thought we'd find this in France?
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January 2012
Val Thorens, France

Fortress Islands
Saturday evening's exercise.
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January 2012
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland

Slope Infinity
Skiing in Hong Kong? An infinitely long ski slope? Skis that melt? Ski challenges indoors?
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November 2011
Slope Infinity, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Skiing the Highest Pass in South Africa
Falling in the no-fall zone and other interesting stories. Summary of my 156 000 kilometer ski year.
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August 2011
Sani Pass, South Africa

Africa. Snow. AK-47s.
I'm glad to be back home in Finland. It was so damn cold in Africa!
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August 2011
Afriski, Lesotho

Horseback Skiing in the Himalayas
No problem. I had never ridden a horse before, so practicing riding on steep, rocky paths at 3 to 4 kms while carrying ski gear and taking photos sounded like a fun thing to do.
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June 2011
Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh, India



Priorities
Landed in Delhi for some customer meetings. But first things first, Himalaya is kind of close. Sharing a taxi with my skis for the next 600 kilometers. Lets see if I'll find snow.
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June 2011
Delhi, India

Dog Finds Slovenia's Last Snow
Dogs that climb. Dragging skis to top of mountains on our backs. Skiing Slovenia's last traces of snow. Meeting with the guy who skied down from the seven summits.
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May 2011
Češka Koča hut, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Slovenia



Skiing Kauniainen at 3AM
May, 2011. Its 3AM and I'm about to ski on the local hill in Kauniainen.
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May 2011
Kauniainen, Finland