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.

Holy
"This is your last chance, Neo. You take the white door—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the orange door —you stay in the Holy land, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more."
Full story
Alternate link

December 2014, Pyhä, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Grani Opened
Snow report for the Kauniainen ski hill: frozen dirt bumps, covered by a layer of rocks and pieces of two-by-fours. And a dusting of snow on top. Everything is ready for the season to start!
Full story
Alternate link

November 2014, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Death Valley
Death Valley, 5am. My skis have dislodged a layer of sand. The flow continues long after I have stopped. But at the moment fresh rattlesnake tracks in front of me scare me more than possible sand avalanches.
Full story
Alternate link

October 2014, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Hiking

Sandhill
My friend Patrick (see his "Mad Pat" blog) told me about this magical place in Ontario. Sandhill. He had conquered its steep sand slopes. And now I was on my way to Toronto and wanted to see if I can repeat the experience.
Full story
Alternate link

August 2014, Sandhill, Ontario, Canada
Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Climbing (Mountain)

Capitol Hill
Today we are visiting Washington DC, and trying out a Planetskier recipe: take a grass slope, two miniskis, ice cubes from the hotel ice dispenser, and mix them together. And there we have, another ski destination!
Full story
Alternate link

July 2014, Capitol Hill, Washington DC, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Grass, Imported-Snow)

Ich bin ein Berlin(ski)er
The Berg - a creation by architect Jakob Tigges - is the latest source of pride for Berliners. This artificial mountain covers almost the entire Tempelhof, an old airport. A park like no other. And I am in Berlin to make the first descent!
Full story
Alternate link

June 2014, Tempelhof airport, Berlin, Germany; Arkko summer cottage, Teisko, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Substance-Other); Urban-Exploration (Airports)

Liquid Nitrogen
A long, hot summer. And boring. But then I found some leftover liquid nitrogen from an overclocking experiment. Would skis work on liquid nitrogen?
Full story
Alternate link

June 2014, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Substance-Other)

Walking
This is very embarrassing, but I have never walked to a ski hill. I've taken airplanes, cars, boats, and even helicopters and horses, but never walked the whole way to a ski hill. But today I walked to my home hill.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2014, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Brazil
It is 5am and I have just arrived in São Paulo, Brazil. It is a sunny day and the temperatures will hit 25-30 C later in the day. But a couple of hours later I'm skiing on a local ski hill.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2014, Ski Mountain Park, San Rogue, Brazil
Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

24h Liveblog
This weekend I am participating in the Ylläs 24h competition. The Ylläs Gondola lift will stay open through the night, and teams and individuals will compete on how many runs they can do. The one with most runs will win.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2014, Ylläs, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Torre
New day, new country, skied all ski areas. Both of them. Portugal is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about places to ski, but Torre (1993 m) is higher than anything in Finland. And it has more snow than we have.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2014, Serra da Estrala, Torre, Portugal; Skiparque, Portugal
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

Singapore
If at first you do not succeed, try again. And fail. Then fail again. Then give up all hope. But in the end, you may be surprised...
Full story
Alternate link

March 2014, Snow City, Singapore, Singapore; Tanjong beach, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore
Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Sliding (Indoor, Snow)

Cannon Mountain
In the last ten days, my new skis have flown 35 000 kilometres. Yet, they have never touched snow. The airlines keep losing the bag, so the skis travel a day or two behind me.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2014, Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Mountain High
No wonder there is a discount: no snow anywhere and there is cactus next to the rental place. But I think I can find snow. And I need the rental skis, because airlines keep losing my skibag.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2014, Mountain High, California, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

First Week
How does Chamonix powder compare to Los Angeles sand dunes? What protective gear do you need in Chamonix town centre at New Year? Can you ski in New York's central park?
Full story
Alternate link

January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Verbier ski areas, Verbier, Switzerland; Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA; Central Park, New York, New York, USA; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Sand)

Avalanche
"Avalanche!" Just a second later the avalanche hits us, moving at the speed of a high-speed train. I scream and try to fight, but it does not seem to have any effect.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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

	Holy "This is your last chance, Neo. You take the white door—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the orange door —you stay in the Holy land, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Full story Alternate link December 2014, Pyhä, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Grani Opened Snow report for the Kauniainen ski hill: frozen dirt bumps, covered by a layer of rocks and pieces of two-by-fours. And a dusting of snow on top. Everything is ready for the season to start! Full story Alternate link November 2014, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Death Valley Death Valley, 5am. My skis have dislodged a layer of sand. The flow continues long after I have stopped. But at the moment fresh rattlesnake tracks in front of me scare me more than possible sand avalanches. Full story Alternate link October 2014, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Hiking

	Sandhill My friend Patrick (see his "Mad Pat" blog) told me about this magical place in Ontario. Sandhill. He had conquered its steep sand slopes. And now I was on my way to Toronto and wanted to see if I can repeat the experience. Full story Alternate link August 2014, Sandhill, Ontario, Canada Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Climbing (Mountain)

	Capitol Hill Today we are visiting Washington DC, and trying out a Planetskier recipe: take a grass slope, two miniskis, ice cubes from the hotel ice dispenser, and mix them together. And there we have, another ski destination! Full story Alternate link July 2014, Capitol Hill, Washington DC, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Grass, Imported-Snow)

	Ich bin ein Berlin(ski)er The Berg - a creation by architect Jakob Tigges - is the latest source of pride for Berliners. This artificial mountain covers almost the entire Tempelhof, an old airport. A park like no other. And I am in Berlin to make the first descent! Full story Alternate link June 2014, Tempelhof airport, Berlin, Germany; Arkko summer cottage, Teisko, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Substance-Other); Urban-Exploration (Airports)

	Liquid Nitrogen A long, hot summer. And boring. But then I found some leftover liquid nitrogen from an overclocking experiment. Would skis work on liquid nitrogen? Full story Alternate link June 2014, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Substance-Other)

	Walking This is very embarrassing, but I have never walked to a ski hill. I've taken airplanes, cars, boats, and even helicopters and horses, but never walked the whole way to a ski hill. But today I walked to my home hill. Full story Alternate link April 2014, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Brazil It is 5am and I have just arrived in São Paulo, Brazil. It is a sunny day and the temperatures will hit 25-30 C later in the day. But a couple of hours later I'm skiing on a local ski hill. Full story Alternate link April 2014, Ski Mountain Park, San Rogue, Brazil Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

	24h Liveblog This weekend I am participating in the Ylläs 24h competition. The Ylläs Gondola lift will stay open through the night, and teams and individuals will compete on how many runs they can do. The one with most runs will win. Full story Alternate link April 2014, Ylläs, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Torre New day, new country, skied all ski areas. Both of them. Portugal is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about places to ski, but Torre (1993 m) is higher than anything in Finland. And it has more snow than we have. Full story Alternate link March 2014, Serra da Estrala, Torre, Portugal; Skiparque, Portugal Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Plastic)

	Singapore If at first you do not succeed, try again. And fail. Then fail again. Then give up all hope. But in the end, you may be surprised... Full story Alternate link March 2014, Snow City, Singapore, Singapore; Tanjong beach, Sentosa, Singapore, Singapore Skiing (Outdoor, Sand); Sliding (Indoor, Snow)

	Cannon Mountain In the last ten days, my new skis have flown 35 000 kilometres. Yet, they have never touched snow. The airlines keep losing the bag, so the skis travel a day or two behind me. Full story Alternate link February 2014, Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Mountain High No wonder there is a discount: no snow anywhere and there is cactus next to the rental place. But I think I can find snow. And I need the rental skis, because airlines keep losing my skibag. Full story Alternate link February 2014, Mountain High, California, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	First Week How does Chamonix powder compare to Los Angeles sand dunes? What protective gear do you need in Chamonix town centre at New Year? Can you ski in New York's central park? Full story Alternate link January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Verbier ski areas, Verbier, Switzerland; Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, California, USA; Central Park, New York, New York, USA; Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Sand)

	Avalanche "Avalanche!" Just a second later the avalanche hits us, moving at the speed of a high-speed train. I scream and try to fight, but it does not seem to have any effect. Full story Alternate link January 2014, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)