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.

Vihti by Night
I was contemplating going hiking when Jarmo sent me a message; he was going skiing to Vihti. I decided to join, and I'm glad I did. The late afternoon and evening lights and colours on the hill are great.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2017, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

A Test
The sky is dark, but I can see lights behind. Suddenly a small object flies through the air. A small man. I think.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2017, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Equipment

Bulgarian Powder
What's it going to be, Tero? Shall we fly tomorrow morning for a day trip to Kazakhstan? Or for day and half in Bulgaria? We opted for the latter, because that Tero disliked the ten hour wait at a Moscow airport.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2017, Vitosha, Sofia, Bulgaria; Borovets, Bulgaria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Lustkurven
The sign in Malbun caught my attention: "lustkurven", lust for curves. I think they meant the skiing.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2016, Malbun, Liechtenstein
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

World Eskimo Forum (WEF) in Davos
The world's leading eskimos meet every winter in Davos to collaborate in shaping global, regional, and industry igloos. Well not really, but to my surprise the skiing in this village mostly known for the political and business elite is quite decent.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2016, Parsenn, Davos, Switzerland; Jacobshorn, Davos, Switzerland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Skiing Volcán de Tequila, Mexico
Mexico. I was in Guadalajara for a meeting... but meetings end, and then what? Where's the skiing? Well, I guess there isn't any. But the best I could do was to find a local mountain, bring some ice, and attempt to ski the ice on top of the mountain on my mini-skis.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2016, Volcán de Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico
Skiing (Car, Hiking, Imported-Snow)

Toblerone-lift
At first I thought it was just an oversize advertisement. Then the ski lift took me inside it. I kept wondering what they would do to the lift, it the ski area suddenly switched to advertising M&Ms. Or worse yet, how about insurance or toilet seats?
Full story
Alternate link

December 2016, Lenzerheide, Switzerland; Arosa, Switzerland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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.
Full story
Alternate link

November 2016, Yongpyong, South Korea
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Grass)

Playdoci
I wish I was a gardener, watering plants is so relaxing. Or a ski patroller, spraying the snow on the slopes. I also wish that I'd have a wall socket in my home for "snow" in addition to "power", "Internet", and "vacuuming".
Full story
Alternate link

November 2016, Bucheon, South Korea
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

Burger Place with a Half-pipe
It is darn cold outside. Storm. Better go inside to the Hesburger, because they have an indoor half-pipe. The world's only burger place with one! Also, as far as I know, the only full-size half-pipe indoors in the world! Or is that only half-size, ha!
Full story
Alternate link

November 2016, Vuokatti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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!
Full story
Alternate link

August 2016, Saas Fee, Switzerland; Eispavillon, Saas Fee, Switzerland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Glacier, Basic, Showtour)

South... but not so south
I wanted go far this summer, ski the untried countries. But it was not to be, because work. And because Peru was cancelled.
Full story
Alternate link

August 2016, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Hiking; Travel; Sauna (Normal)

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 :-)
Full story
Alternate link

August 2016, Breithorn, Zermatt, Switzerland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain)

Soleil à Saint-Sauveur
It is late May, and Saint-Sauveur is one of the only two open ski areas in the east. And I've already been to the other one, Killington. And what's more, all the ski crazies are here!
Full story
Alternate link

May 2016, Mont Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal)

Mayday
Wappu, or first of May is a huge celebration in Finland, traditionally celebrated by hiking to a hill and drinking alcohol. This is very different from other festivities in Finland, where the part about the hill is omitted.
Full story
Alternate link

May 2016, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Saunalahden onkalo, Espoo, Finland; Suomenojan siirtolohkare, Espoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Rock, Morphology-Crystallization, Rock-Gneiss); Caving (Basic, Morphology-Boulders, Rock, Rock-Gneiss)

Snowing in May @ The Beast
The morning was warm and sunny both in Canada and US, as it should be in mid-May. Ted was planning to have a sunshine-filled ski day. But by the time we reached Killington, it was snowing. Winter conditions!
Full story
Alternate link

May 2016, Killington, Vermont, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

This is the 14th 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, and set 13. The next sets are set 15, set 16, set 17, set 18, set 19, set 20, set 21, set 22, set 23, and set 24.

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:

	Vihti by Night I was contemplating going hiking when Jarmo sent me a message; he was going skiing to Vihti. I decided to join, and I'm glad I did. The late afternoon and evening lights and colours on the hill are great. Full story Alternate link January 2017, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	A Test The sky is dark, but I can see lights behind. Suddenly a small object flies through the air. A small man. I think. Full story Alternate link January 2017, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Equipment

	Bulgarian Powder What's it going to be, Tero? Shall we fly tomorrow morning for a day trip to Kazakhstan? Or for day and half in Bulgaria? We opted for the latter, because that Tero disliked the ten hour wait at a Moscow airport. Full story Alternate link January 2017, Vitosha, Sofia, Bulgaria; Borovets, Bulgaria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Lustkurven The sign in Malbun caught my attention: "lustkurven", lust for curves. I think they meant the skiing. Full story Alternate link December 2016, Malbun, Liechtenstein Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	World Eskimo Forum (WEF) in Davos The world's leading eskimos meet every winter in Davos to collaborate in shaping global, regional, and industry igloos. Well not really, but to my surprise the skiing in this village mostly known for the political and business elite is quite decent. Full story Alternate link December 2016, Parsenn, Davos, Switzerland; Jacobshorn, Davos, Switzerland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Skiing Volcán de Tequila, Mexico Mexico. I was in Guadalajara for a meeting... but meetings end, and then what? Where's the skiing? Well, I guess there isn't any. But the best I could do was to find a local mountain, bring some ice, and attempt to ski the ice on top of the mountain on my mini-skis. Full story Alternate link December 2016, Volcán de Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico Skiing (Car, Hiking, Imported-Snow)

	Toblerone-lift At first I thought it was just an oversize advertisement. Then the ski lift took me inside it. I kept wondering what they would do to the lift, it the ski area suddenly switched to advertising M&Ms. Or worse yet, how about insurance or toilet seats? Full story Alternate link December 2016, Lenzerheide, Switzerland; Arosa, Switzerland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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. Full story Alternate link November 2016, Yongpyong, South Korea Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Grass)

	Playdoci I wish I was a gardener, watering plants is so relaxing. Or a ski patroller, spraying the snow on the slopes. I also wish that I'd have a wall socket in my home for "snow" in addition to "power", "Internet", and "vacuuming". Full story Alternate link November 2016, Bucheon, South Korea Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

	Burger Place with a Half-pipe It is darn cold outside. Storm. Better go inside to the Hesburger, because they have an indoor half-pipe. The world's only burger place with one! Also, as far as I know, the only full-size half-pipe indoors in the world! Or is that only half-size, ha! Full story Alternate link November 2016, Vuokatti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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! Full story Alternate link August 2016, Saas Fee, Switzerland; Eispavillon, Saas Fee, Switzerland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Glacier, Basic, Showtour)

	South... but not so south I wanted go far this summer, ski the untried countries. But it was not to be, because work. And because Peru was cancelled. Full story Alternate link August 2016, Hintertux, Zillertal, Austria Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Hiking; Travel; Sauna (Normal)

	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 :-) Full story Alternate link August 2016, Breithorn, Zermatt, Switzerland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain)

	Soleil à Saint-Sauveur It is late May, and Saint-Sauveur is one of the only two open ski areas in the east. And I've already been to the other one, Killington. And what's more, all the ski crazies are here! Full story Alternate link May 2016, Mont Saint-Sauveur, Quebec, Canada Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Normal)

	Mayday Wappu, or first of May is a huge celebration in Finland, traditionally celebrated by hiking to a hill and drinking alcohol. This is very different from other festivities in Finland, where the part about the hill is omitted. Full story Alternate link May 2016, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Saunalahden onkalo, Espoo, Finland; Suomenojan siirtolohkare, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Rock, Morphology-Crystallization, Rock-Gneiss); Caving (Basic, Morphology-Boulders, Rock, Rock-Gneiss)

	Snowing in May @ The Beast The morning was warm and sunny both in Canada and US, as it should be in mid-May. Ted was planning to have a sunshine-filled ski day. But by the time we reached Killington, it was snowing. Winter conditions! Full story Alternate link May 2016, Killington, Vermont, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)