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.

Wisconsin
Welcome to the US, the land of lawyers and liability wavers! I had to sign a long liability waiver for just getting the ski pass for the day. Not seen that for mere tickets, though it is of course standard for hiring guides and the like.
Full story
Alternate link

April 2017, Granite Peak, Wisconsin, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Japan!
Finally, the long awaited trip to Japan is starting. Janne and I are sitting on the Finnair plane at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport, and ready to fly to Tokyo, and then continue on to Sapporo, and finally Niseko. There are two bus trips along the way, but hopefully we'll get there without problems.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2017, Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Travel; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Backcountry Onsen
Sometimes skiing isn't just about the skiing. I can also be about hot springs in the middle of the backcountry skinning trip. We climbed Mt. Niseko Annupuri (1308m), skied the backside of the mountain and found an onsen, a Japanese hot spring.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2017, Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool, Thermal-Bath)

Der Après-ski Zug
This is a brilliant idea. The Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn doesn't just take you to the ski slopes, it also serves beer and after-ski music on the way there. Even on the 9:30am train.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2017, Nätschen, Andermatt, Switzerland; Oberalppass, Switzerland; Sedrun, Switzerland; Disentis, Switzerland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Afterski

Kinderskilift
We took an airplane. A train. And hiked. For this? A kid slope half the size of my home slope in Grani. But it turns out we got to ski a route down liike no other: down the railroad tracks. And collect seven more ski areas.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2017, Obergoms, Switzerland; Realp, Switzerland; Gemsstock, Andermatt, Switzerland; Nätschen, Andermatt, Switzerland; Oberalppass, Switzerland; Sedrun, Switzerland; Disentis, Switzerland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Backpacks Are DEATH
"It is not about your experience with backpacks, it is about PEOPLE DYING". The ski patrol's inexplicable rule prohibits me to take my backpack to the ski hill in New York.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2017, Thunder Ridge, New York, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Sotkamo Dress Code
"Can you take my skis to the clothes check?" "Why not, we also take baseball bats." Dressed in a black suit, I'm on my way to a bar, to Zach's birthday party in Sotkamo. With boots and skis... my hotel is at the top of the hill.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2017, Vuokatti, Finland; Sotkamo, Finland; Paljakka, Finland; Vimpelinvaara, Kajaani, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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)

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)

This is the 13th 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, and set 12. The next sets are 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:

	Wisconsin Welcome to the US, the land of lawyers and liability wavers! I had to sign a long liability waiver for just getting the ski pass for the day. Not seen that for mere tickets, though it is of course standard for hiring guides and the like. Full story Alternate link April 2017, Granite Peak, Wisconsin, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Japan! Finally, the long awaited trip to Japan is starting. Janne and I are sitting on the Finnair plane at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport, and ready to fly to Tokyo, and then continue on to Sapporo, and finally Niseko. There are two bus trips along the way, but hopefully we'll get there without problems. Full story Alternate link March 2017, Helsinki-Vantaa, Vantaa, Finland; Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan Travel; Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Backcountry Onsen Sometimes skiing isn't just about the skiing. I can also be about hot springs in the middle of the backcountry skinning trip. We climbed Mt. Niseko Annupuri (1308m), skied the backside of the mountain and found an onsen, a Japanese hot spring. Full story Alternate link March 2017, Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Swimming (Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool, Thermal-Bath)

	Der Après-ski Zug This is a brilliant idea. The Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn doesn't just take you to the ski slopes, it also serves beer and after-ski music on the way there. Even on the 9:30am train. Full story Alternate link February 2017, Nätschen, Andermatt, Switzerland; Oberalppass, Switzerland; Sedrun, Switzerland; Disentis, Switzerland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Afterski

	Kinderskilift We took an airplane. A train. And hiked. For this? A kid slope half the size of my home slope in Grani. But it turns out we got to ski a route down liike no other: down the railroad tracks. And collect seven more ski areas. Full story Alternate link February 2017, Obergoms, Switzerland; Realp, Switzerland; Gemsstock, Andermatt, Switzerland; Nätschen, Andermatt, Switzerland; Oberalppass, Switzerland; Sedrun, Switzerland; Disentis, Switzerland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Backpacks Are DEATH "It is not about your experience with backpacks, it is about PEOPLE DYING". The ski patrol's inexplicable rule prohibits me to take my backpack to the ski hill in New York. Full story Alternate link February 2017, Thunder Ridge, New York, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Sotkamo Dress Code "Can you take my skis to the clothes check?" "Why not, we also take baseball bats." Dressed in a black suit, I'm on my way to a bar, to Zach's birthday party in Sotkamo. With boots and skis... my hotel is at the top of the hill. Full story Alternate link February 2017, Vuokatti, Finland; Sotkamo, Finland; Paljakka, Finland; Vimpelinvaara, Kajaani, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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)

	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)