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.

Fischen Small but pretty
Stinesser Lifte is a ski hill near our hotel near Obertsdorf on our January visit to German and Austrian ski resorts. A maybe a "hill", it is just a small hill. Maybe even smaller than my local hill back home. Ah, no, according to skiresort.info it still has 130 meter vertical difference, three times as much as my local hill :-)
Full story
Alternate link

January 2022, Stinesser Lifte, Fischen i. Allgäu, Germany
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Oberstdorf Germany's longest ski run
When we were spending the few days after the 2022 New Year's in Oberstdorf, we mostly skied in Austria near the border. But of course we also tried the local slopes! Oberstdorf's Nebelhorn was the obvious choice in town. Modern ski lifts and, lots of vertical, and very long slopes for Germany attracted us! The skiing was good, and so were the views!
Full story
Alternate link

January 2022, Nebelhorn, Oberstdorf, Germany
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Knee testing
Today is the first time I'm on skis, after starting to have knee pains since the beginning of the year. A test on the local hill. Wish me luck!
Full story
Alternate link

January 2022, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Hörnerbahn gelbe Kugeln
We were going to ski in Oberstdorf. Seven kilometers outside Oberstdorf we had spotted a medium-size ski area, Hörnerbahn. It seemed inviting, so before heading to Oberstdorf slopes, we wanted to try it as well for an hour or two. Their main lift cabins looked like yellow eggs, quite striking :-)
Full story
Alternate link

January 2022, Hörnerbahn, Hörnerdörfer, Germany
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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
Alternate link

January 2022, Eduskuntatalo, Helsinki, Finland; Temppeliaukion kirkko, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

More ski training for the twins
I just love the colours of night skiing. And in Finland, we only have night skiing, because usually there's either no light or very little light. And I also love taking my sister's twins for skiing, this time in Talma, Sipoo's great ski resort, 30 minutes outside Helsinki.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2021, Talma Ski, Talma, Sipoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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
Alternate link

December 2021, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

Chased by a snow cat in Sappee
My first visit to the Sappee ski resort east of Tampere. It looks like a great ski hill, and had a nice run. Or maybe a half of a run. May have to return when they are open, I was told to leave the closed ski hill. This is understandable of course. But I wasn't so happy about being chased by the snow cat.
Full story
Alternate link

November 2021, Sappee, Salmentaka, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

First fall of the season!
My first time this season on the Kauniainen ski hill. With my crappy, duct taped skis because, well, no need for the better skis in potentially rocky conditions. But the conditions were not rocky. It -8, solid ice blown from the new "snow" machines, probably meter or two thick at places. My skis did not have the edges to stick to the ice, so I fell... and fell further... and further. Had even difficulties to get back up to fetch the pole I left in mid-slope :-)
Full story
Alternate link

November 2021, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

First time in movies again!
October 2021 -- my first time in movies since the beginning of the pandemic. I joined the Banff Mountain Movie Festival in Helsinki, with many interesting ski and other adventure movies.
Full story
Alternate link

October 2021, Savoy Theater, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (None, Social, Media)

Namco's Alpine Racer
I visited Tampere's game museum -- maybe the best museum of this kind that I've seen anywhere. Many. interesting things, displayed and playable in the setting of the time. But for me the jewel of the museum was Namco's Alpine Racer arcade game. I wish I had one at home...
Full story
Alternate link

October 2021, Suomen pelimuseo, Vapriikki, Tampere, Finland
Skiing (None, Media)

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
Alternate link

October 2021, Hyvinkään Sveitsin hiihtokeskus, Hyvinkää, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

Swinghill Season's Opening
It is snowing in Swinghill, the lift is running, and I opened the season. Cool.
Full story
Alternate link

September 2021, Swinghill, Espoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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
Alternate link

September 2021, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria; Hintertuxer Gletscher Eispalast, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria; Grafenloch, Oberaudorf, Germany; Rossstall, Oberaudorf, Germany; Gasthof Oberstegen, Stockach, Söll, Austria; Gasthof Oberstegen, Stockach, Söll, Austria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Boating, Surveying, Ice); Caving (Basic, Rock, Rock-Limestone, Surveying); Hiking; Sauna (Normal, Infrared); Travel

This is better skiing than last week
Last week I skied on my own yard, with snow carried in cardboard boxes. This week I'm skiing in Austria's glaciers. Not too shitty, as we say in Finland!
Full story
Alternate link

August 2021, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Bus parking
So this is where the busses are parked in the summer...?
Full story
Alternate link

August 2021, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria
Skiing (None)

This is the 7th set of articles. The previous sets were set 1, set 2, set 3, set 4, set 5, and set 6. The next sets are set 8, set 9, set 10, set 11, set 12, set 13, set 14, set 15, set 16, set 17, set 18, set 19, set 20, set 21, set 22, set 23, set 24, and set 25.

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:

	Fischen Small but pretty Stinesser Lifte is a ski hill near our hotel near Obertsdorf on our January visit to German and Austrian ski resorts. A maybe a "hill", it is just a small hill. Maybe even smaller than my local hill back home. Ah, no, according to skiresort.info it still has 130 meter vertical difference, three times as much as my local hill :-) Full story Alternate link January 2022, Stinesser Lifte, Fischen i. Allgäu, Germany Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Oberstdorf Germany's longest ski run When we were spending the few days after the 2022 New Year's in Oberstdorf, we mostly skied in Austria near the border. But of course we also tried the local slopes! Oberstdorf's Nebelhorn was the obvious choice in town. Modern ski lifts and, lots of vertical, and very long slopes for Germany attracted us! The skiing was good, and so were the views! Full story Alternate link January 2022, Nebelhorn, Oberstdorf, Germany Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Knee testing Today is the first time I'm on skis, after starting to have knee pains since the beginning of the year. A test on the local hill. Wish me luck! Full story Alternate link January 2022, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Hörnerbahn gelbe Kugeln We were going to ski in Oberstdorf. Seven kilometers outside Oberstdorf we had spotted a medium-size ski area, Hörnerbahn. It seemed inviting, so before heading to Oberstdorf slopes, we wanted to try it as well for an hour or two. Their main lift cabins looked like yellow eggs, quite striking :-) Full story Alternate link January 2022, Hörnerbahn, Hörnerdörfer, Germany Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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 Alternate link January 2022, Eduskuntatalo, Helsinki, Finland; Temppeliaukion kirkko, Helsinki, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	More ski training for the twins I just love the colours of night skiing. And in Finland, we only have night skiing, because usually there's either no light or very little light. And I also love taking my sister's twins for skiing, this time in Talma, Sipoo's great ski resort, 30 minutes outside Helsinki. Full story Alternate link December 2021, Talma Ski, Talma, Sipoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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 Alternate link December 2021, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	Chased by a snow cat in Sappee My first visit to the Sappee ski resort east of Tampere. It looks like a great ski hill, and had a nice run. Or maybe a half of a run. May have to return when they are open, I was told to leave the closed ski hill. This is understandable of course. But I wasn't so happy about being chased by the snow cat. Full story Alternate link November 2021, Sappee, Salmentaka, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	First fall of the season! My first time this season on the Kauniainen ski hill. With my crappy, duct taped skis because, well, no need for the better skis in potentially rocky conditions. But the conditions were not rocky. It -8, solid ice blown from the new "snow" machines, probably meter or two thick at places. My skis did not have the edges to stick to the ice, so I fell... and fell further... and further. Had even difficulties to get back up to fetch the pole I left in mid-slope :-) Full story Alternate link November 2021, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	First time in movies again! October 2021 -- my first time in movies since the beginning of the pandemic. I joined the Banff Mountain Movie Festival in Helsinki, with many interesting ski and other adventure movies. Full story Alternate link October 2021, Savoy Theater, Helsinki, Finland Skiing (None, Social, Media)

	Namco's Alpine Racer I visited Tampere's game museum -- maybe the best museum of this kind that I've seen anywhere. Many. interesting things, displayed and playable in the setting of the time. But for me the jewel of the museum was Namco's Alpine Racer arcade game. I wish I had one at home... Full story Alternate link October 2021, Suomen pelimuseo, Vapriikki, Tampere, Finland Skiing (None, Media)

	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 Alternate link October 2021, Hyvinkään Sveitsin hiihtokeskus, Hyvinkää, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	Swinghill Season's Opening It is snowing in Swinghill, the lift is running, and I opened the season. Cool. Full story Alternate link September 2021, Swinghill, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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 Alternate link September 2021, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria; Hintertuxer Gletscher Eispalast, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria; Grafenloch, Oberaudorf, Germany; Rossstall, Oberaudorf, Germany; Gasthof Oberstegen, Stockach, Söll, Austria; Gasthof Oberstegen, Stockach, Söll, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Boating, Surveying, Ice); Caving (Basic, Rock, Rock-Limestone, Surveying); Hiking; Sauna (Normal, Infrared); Travel

	This is better skiing than last week Last week I skied on my own yard, with snow carried in cardboard boxes. This week I'm skiing in Austria's glaciers. Not too shitty, as we say in Finland! Full story Alternate link August 2021, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Bus parking So this is where the busses are parked in the summer...? Full story Alternate link August 2021, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria Skiing (None)