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.

Fire and Ice
On New Year's Eve the celebrations usually involve fireworks. It seems appropriate to post a video about fire, pyrotechnics, and, of course, skiing. And sacrificial pagan rituals, naturally.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2012, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2012, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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.
Full story
Alternate link

November 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Grass)

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
Full story
Alternate link

September 2012, Hernel Hempstead, London, United Kingdom
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

Zoetermeer
Amsterdam. Such a nice place to go skiing.
Full story
Alternate link

September 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Skiing (Indoor, Snow)
Amsterdam, what a nice place to go skiing! from The Planetskier on Vimeo.

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
Alternate link

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

World's southernmost ski resort
What might be the world's southernmost ski resort? Internet claims that the answer is Cerro Castor, outside Ushuaia, on the southern end of Argentina. But, that is actually NOT the right answer. Glaciar Martial, a small ski slope in the city of Ushuaia is actually south of Cerro Castor. But wait, even that is NOT right. There's an even smaller ski slope, Club Andino Ushuaia, south of Glaciar Martial. Or is there?
Full story
Alternate link

August 2012, Cerro Castor, Ushuaia, Argentina; Glaciar Martial, Ushuaia, Argentina
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Boots on a Plane
I am on my way to Argentina and Patagonia for twelve days of snow fun. Well, six days of snow fun and six days of travel.
Full story
Alternate link

August 2012, Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain
Travel; Flying; Skiing (None)

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.
Full story
Alternate link

August 2012, Caviahue, Argentina
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Buildings); Swimming (Outdoor, Thermal-Bath, Water, Waterbody-Lake)

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
Alternate link

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

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
Alternate link

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

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
Alternate link

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
Alternate link

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
Alternate link

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

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
Alternate link

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
Alternate link

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

This is the 20th 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, set 18, and set 19. The next sets are 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:

	Fire and Ice On New Year's Eve the celebrations usually involve fireworks. It seems appropriate to post a video about fire, pyrotechnics, and, of course, skiing. And sacrificial pagan rituals, naturally. Full story Alternate link December 2012, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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. Full story Alternate link December 2012, Chamonix ski areas, Chamonix, France; Peuramaa, Kirkkonummi, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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. Full story Alternate link November 2012, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Skiing (Outdoor, Grass)

	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 Full story Alternate link September 2012, Hernel Hempstead, London, United Kingdom Skiing (Indoor, Snow)

	Zoetermeer Amsterdam. Such a nice place to go skiing. Full story Alternate link September 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands Skiing (Indoor, Snow)	Amsterdam, what a nice place to go skiing! from The Planetskier on Vimeo.

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

	World's southernmost ski resort What might be the world's southernmost ski resort? Internet claims that the answer is Cerro Castor, outside Ushuaia, on the southern end of Argentina. But, that is actually NOT the right answer. Glaciar Martial, a small ski slope in the city of Ushuaia is actually south of Cerro Castor. But wait, even that is NOT right. There's an even smaller ski slope, Club Andino Ushuaia, south of Glaciar Martial. Or is there? Full story Alternate link August 2012, Cerro Castor, Ushuaia, Argentina; Glaciar Martial, Ushuaia, Argentina Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Boots on a Plane I am on my way to Argentina and Patagonia for twelve days of snow fun. Well, six days of snow fun and six days of travel. Full story Alternate link August 2012, Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain Travel; Flying; Skiing (None)

	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. Full story Alternate link August 2012, Caviahue, Argentina Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Climbing (Mountain); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Buildings); Swimming (Outdoor, Thermal-Bath, Water, Waterbody-Lake)

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

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

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

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