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.

Kangasalan jäähalli gives me the cold treatment
I had failed. Did not find skiable snow in May in Tampere. Not on the ski hills, not by the skating hall that was next to the swimming hall I went to. Nowhere. Until... I stopped for gas in Kangasala, and happened to see a glimpse of the coveted white stuff. Finally, a cold treatment!
Full story
Alternate link

May 2025, Kangasalan jäähalli, Kangasala, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

May turns on the melting slope
May ski turns on the melting local ski hill, some snow still left despite the early spring. Also a visit to the smoke saunas in Kuusijärvi that were empty due to the May Day.
Full story
Alternate link

May 2025, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Kuusijärvi, Vantaa, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Smoke); Swimming (Outdoor, Waterbody-Lake)

Kiuaskallio late session. Very late.
Visited my friends Duncan and Suvi near Jalasjärvi, and was surprised to find out that there's a ski hill. It was late April... they won't operate this late, but would there be any snow left? No ski resorts on my way here had any snow left.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2025, Kiuaskallio, Jalasjärvi, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

I skied in the olympics!
It isn't easy to get to ski in the olympics. There's only one, of course. It isn't clear if you'll succeed even if you get there, because the conditions are difficult and your vision about how your run should go may be foggy. And the road there is difficult. So difficult, that unlike all the other Washington State ski resorts, you need to have chains. And the rental agencies did not rent them ... Oreilly Auto Parts to the rescue (with free returns :-) ). I am or course talking about the Hurricane Ridge ski resort in the Olympic National Park. A historic ski resort opened in 1958, operated by a non-profit association for enabling skiing in the mountains of the park.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2025, Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Washington, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Skyresort Mongolia's best (and only) ski resort
I finally made my dream come true, to ski in Mongolia! I had dreamed about this for fifteen years... then I landed on the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, and there I was... Mongolia's only ski resort, Sky Resort was waiting for me just outside the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Just a tiny issue, that it was very cold, up to -36 during nights, though now only a balmier -24 during the day. But I headed to the ski resort, and it was wonderful!
Full story
Alternate link

February 2025, Sky Resort, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Kivikko
First turns of the year in Greenla… I mean Kivikko, in eastern Helsinki. Nice powdery stuff with a firm rock and grass base underneath. Good day.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2025, Kivikon lumilautailurinne, Kivikko, Helsinki, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

Ski Canaro 43€ for one beginner ski run. Worth it?
I'm in a rush. But while I've skied in Andorra before, maybe there's an opportunity to ski in a new ski area, before exiting the country on our way to our next destination? Ski Camaro to the rescue. But it is a children's practice run. Is it really worth 43€ for the day ticket. And "no exceptions!", they said :-)
Full story
Alternate link

December 2024, Ski Canaro, Soldeu, Andorra
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Grani Season's Opening with Stored Snow
My November and December ski outings werer brief visits to Vihti - first one to open in my region - and Kauniainen - my local hill, opened today Dec 7th. Brief visits because still recovering from post-C additional health issues. Vihti was foggy snow spot in otherwise snowless muddy darkness, reported in the other article. Kauniainen was wintery as colder conditions have returned to the area. Both opened with help of stored snow from last year.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2024, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Snowgun shower at Serena
Did a quick few sets of runs at the Serena Ski today. They're setting up the slopes, all snow guns running at full blast. And only the street slope is open. But I did ski couple of the closed ones, too... wonderful colors and snow flying all over the place.
Full story
Alternate link

December 2024, Serena, Espoo, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Foggy November ski run in Vihti
November was running out, and on the last two days I had a party to organize. So today, November 28, was the final day to do my month's skiing. Fortunately, I had just today gotten my Volvo back from six months sitting at the garage, so I had wheels. Also fortunately, Vihti Ski Center had already been open for some time, despite all the other ski areas being closed and the weather being ... rainy... foggy... and all natural snow that had fallen earlier in November had already melted. Well done, Vihti!
Full story
Alternate link

November 2024, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Car

Day trip to Levi
Did a day trip yesterday to Levi for October turns. Levi and Ruka are the only open ski resorts in Finland. Icy experience on the slopes, but glad I went!
Full story
Alternate link

October 2024, Levi, Kittilä, Finland; Levi Hotel, Kittilä, Finland; Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Rovaniemi Airport, Rovaniemi, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Flying; Travel

Train ride to New Jersey .. for one ski run
Making my American Dream come true: working rail transport and a few turns in a shopping mall. Nice!
Full story
Alternate link

September 2024, Big Snow, American Dream, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Travel

Long wait
It will be a long wait for the season to start. But the snow is there.
Full story
Alternate link

September 2024, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland
Skiing (None)

Sand skiing in Jiehtájohka
On the way back home from the Käsivarsi wilderness area heli-hiking trip, we saw a large sand dune near the Jiehtájohka river as we were driving by. We were about to stop at a restaurant few kilometers away, and fortunately Jarmo and Duncan were game for returning after lunch to check out the dune. And indeed, there was sand, it was steep enough to be skied, and I was able to make a couple of turns on my red mini-skis! Enough to call the month's turns done.
Full story
Alternate link

August 2024, Jiehtájohka, Enontekiö, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Sand, Hiking)

Mt. Hood Summer Skiing
Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge is the only (I think) open summer ski resort in North America. Wonderful, good snow and more than 800 meters of vertical in summer! Plenty of out of bounds, too. July skiing: check.
Full story
Alternate link

July 2024, Timberline Lodge, Government Camp, Oregon, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Ski and beach vacation in Järvenpää
There wasn't much snow or sunshine, but hey, there was some. Glad I went!
Full story
Alternate link

June 2024, Järvenpään jäähalli, Järvenpää, Finland; Tervanokan uimaranta, Järvenpää, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Waterbody-Lake, Beach)

This is the 2th set of articles. The previous set was set 1. The next sets are 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, set 19, set 20, set 21, set 22, and set 23.

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:

	Kangasalan jäähalli gives me the cold treatment I had failed. Did not find skiable snow in May in Tampere. Not on the ski hills, not by the skating hall that was next to the swimming hall I went to. Nowhere. Until... I stopped for gas in Kangasala, and happened to see a glimpse of the coveted white stuff. Finally, a cold treatment! Full story Alternate link May 2025, Kangasalan jäähalli, Kangasala, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	May turns on the melting slope May ski turns on the melting local ski hill, some snow still left despite the early spring. Also a visit to the smoke saunas in Kuusijärvi that were empty due to the May Day. Full story Alternate link May 2025, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland; Kuusijärvi, Vantaa, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Sauna (Smoke); Swimming (Outdoor, Waterbody-Lake)

	Kiuaskallio late session. Very late. Visited my friends Duncan and Suvi near Jalasjärvi, and was surprised to find out that there's a ski hill. It was late April... they won't operate this late, but would there be any snow left? No ski resorts on my way here had any snow left. Full story Alternate link April 2025, Kiuaskallio, Jalasjärvi, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	I skied in the olympics! It isn't easy to get to ski in the olympics. There's only one, of course. It isn't clear if you'll succeed even if you get there, because the conditions are difficult and your vision about how your run should go may be foggy. And the road there is difficult. So difficult, that unlike all the other Washington State ski resorts, you need to have chains. And the rental agencies did not rent them ... Oreilly Auto Parts to the rescue (with free returns :-) ). I am or course talking about the Hurricane Ridge ski resort in the Olympic National Park. A historic ski resort opened in 1958, operated by a non-profit association for enabling skiing in the mountains of the park. Full story Alternate link March 2025, Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Port Angeles, Washington, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Skyresort Mongolia's best (and only) ski resort I finally made my dream come true, to ski in Mongolia! I had dreamed about this for fifteen years... then I landed on the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, and there I was... Mongolia's only ski resort, Sky Resort was waiting for me just outside the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Just a tiny issue, that it was very cold, up to -36 during nights, though now only a balmier -24 during the day. But I headed to the ski resort, and it was wonderful! Full story Alternate link February 2025, Sky Resort, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Kivikko First turns of the year in Greenla… I mean Kivikko, in eastern Helsinki. Nice powdery stuff with a firm rock and grass base underneath. Good day. Full story Alternate link January 2025, Kivikon lumilautailurinne, Kivikko, Helsinki, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Hiking)

	Ski Canaro 43€ for one beginner ski run. Worth it? I'm in a rush. But while I've skied in Andorra before, maybe there's an opportunity to ski in a new ski area, before exiting the country on our way to our next destination? Ski Camaro to the rescue. But it is a children's practice run. Is it really worth 43€ for the day ticket. And "no exceptions!", they said :-) Full story Alternate link December 2024, Ski Canaro, Soldeu, Andorra Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Grani Season's Opening with Stored Snow My November and December ski outings werer brief visits to Vihti - first one to open in my region - and Kauniainen - my local hill, opened today Dec 7th. Brief visits because still recovering from post-C additional health issues. Vihti was foggy snow spot in otherwise snowless muddy darkness, reported in the other article. Kauniainen was wintery as colder conditions have returned to the area. Both opened with help of stored snow from last year. Full story Alternate link December 2024, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Snowgun shower at Serena Did a quick few sets of runs at the Serena Ski today. They're setting up the slopes, all snow guns running at full blast. And only the street slope is open. But I did ski couple of the closed ones, too... wonderful colors and snow flying all over the place. Full story Alternate link December 2024, Serena, Espoo, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Foggy November ski run in Vihti November was running out, and on the last two days I had a party to organize. So today, November 28, was the final day to do my month's skiing. Fortunately, I had just today gotten my Volvo back from six months sitting at the garage, so I had wheels. Also fortunately, Vihti Ski Center had already been open for some time, despite all the other ski areas being closed and the weather being ... rainy... foggy... and all natural snow that had fallen earlier in November had already melted. Well done, Vihti! Full story Alternate link November 2024, Vihti ski, Vihti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Car

	Day trip to Levi Did a day trip yesterday to Levi for October turns. Levi and Ruka are the only open ski resorts in Finland. Icy experience on the slopes, but glad I went! Full story Alternate link October 2024, Levi, Kittilä, Finland; Levi Hotel, Kittilä, Finland; Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Rovaniemi Airport, Rovaniemi, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal); Flying; Travel

	Train ride to New Jersey .. for one ski run Making my American Dream come true: working rail transport and a few turns in a shopping mall. Nice! Full story Alternate link September 2024, Big Snow, American Dream, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Travel

	Long wait It will be a long wait for the season to start. But the snow is there. Full story Alternate link September 2024, Kauniainen ski hill, Kauniainen, Finland Skiing (None)

	Sand skiing in Jiehtájohka On the way back home from the Käsivarsi wilderness area heli-hiking trip, we saw a large sand dune near the Jiehtájohka river as we were driving by. We were about to stop at a restaurant few kilometers away, and fortunately Jarmo and Duncan were game for returning after lunch to check out the dune. And indeed, there was sand, it was steep enough to be skied, and I was able to make a couple of turns on my red mini-skis! Enough to call the month's turns done. Full story Alternate link August 2024, Jiehtájohka, Enontekiö, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Sand, Hiking)

	Mt. Hood Summer Skiing Mt. Hood’s Timberline Lodge is the only (I think) open summer ski resort in North America. Wonderful, good snow and more than 800 meters of vertical in summer! Plenty of out of bounds, too. July skiing: check. Full story Alternate link July 2024, Timberline Lodge, Government Camp, Oregon, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Ski and beach vacation in Järvenpää There wasn't much snow or sunshine, but hey, there was some. Glad I went! Full story Alternate link June 2024, Järvenpään jäähalli, Järvenpää, Finland; Tervanokan uimaranta, Järvenpää, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Waterbody-Lake, Beach)