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.

Denmark
Sunshine, snow, skislope, grill, loud Schlager music... Clearly, I must be in ... Denmark. This is a yet another one of my quick Sunday trips, this time to collect my 35th country.
Full story
Alternate link

March 2013, Hedeland Skibakken, Copenhagen, Denmark
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Flagstaff, Arizona
Skiing and pine trees in Arizona? Oh yes. I spent the day following Ben, the ski patrol guy, and Kyle, a base jumper on his off day, through beautiful, dense forests on the steep hills of the Arizona Snowbowl ski area.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2013, Snowbowl, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Vuokatti
This sunday's random ski trip almost went to Denmark or Hungary. But we ended up going to Vuokatti instead. I knew where I wanted to go, as soon as ski area closures, flight availability, wife's non-negotiable requirements, and teenager's changing opinions became clear :-)
Full story
Alternate link

February 2013, Vuokatti, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

Inverted Heliski
Gotta love the French. Masters of bureaucratic directives. Or circumventing them. Take heliski, for instance. Heliski is illegal in France. But here we are, spending a day with skis and helicopters. For only 60€, to boot. It turns out that it is illegal to use a helicopter to take us to a mountain. But there is nothing that prevents using one take us from a mountain.
Full story
Alternate link

February 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts, Heli, Car); Sauna (Normal); Flying

Underground Skiing
Does anyone remember the arcade game where you stood on skis? I loved that game, and one of the interesting tracks in the game goes through a cave. Ever since playing the game I have wanted to experience skiing underground. This week I was visiting Alpe d'Huez, France, and my wish was fulfilled. The "Le Tunnel" slope begins with a 200 meter tunnel through the mountain. And then continues as the most difficult black run the ski area has to offer.
Full story
Alternate link

January 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France; Val d'Isere, France
Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Caving (Man-Made); Caving (Rock, Rock-Limestone, Skiing)

Black in Liechtenstein
Innovation. Desire to do something new is not enough, you also need an opportunity and a catalyst. This time the opportunity was returning from a ski trip in Austria, with a flight leaving late in the day. And the catalyst was finishing the excess alcohol we had in the cabin. Suddenly I found myself staring at the Google Maps screen. The route via Liechtenstein would be almost the same length as going straight back to the airport in Munich. Why not?
Full story
Alternate link

January 2013, Malbun, Liechtenstein; Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

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)

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

	Denmark Sunshine, snow, skislope, grill, loud Schlager music... Clearly, I must be in ... Denmark. This is a yet another one of my quick Sunday trips, this time to collect my 35th country. Full story Alternate link March 2013, Hedeland Skibakken, Copenhagen, Denmark Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Flagstaff, Arizona Skiing and pine trees in Arizona? Oh yes. I spent the day following Ben, the ski patrol guy, and Kyle, a base jumper on his off day, through beautiful, dense forests on the steep hills of the Arizona Snowbowl ski area. Full story Alternate link February 2013, Snowbowl, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Vuokatti This sunday's random ski trip almost went to Denmark or Hungary. But we ended up going to Vuokatti instead. I knew where I wanted to go, as soon as ski area closures, flight availability, wife's non-negotiable requirements, and teenager's changing opinions became clear :-) Full story Alternate link February 2013, Vuokatti, Finland Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	Inverted Heliski Gotta love the French. Masters of bureaucratic directives. Or circumventing them. Take heliski, for instance. Heliski is illegal in France. But here we are, spending a day with skis and helicopters. For only 60€, to boot. It turns out that it is illegal to use a helicopter to take us to a mountain. But there is nothing that prevents using one take us from a mountain. Full story Alternate link February 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts, Heli, Car); Sauna (Normal); Flying

	Underground Skiing Does anyone remember the arcade game where you stood on skis? I loved that game, and one of the interesting tracks in the game goes through a cave. Ever since playing the game I have wanted to experience skiing underground. This week I was visiting Alpe d'Huez, France, and my wish was fulfilled. The "Le Tunnel" slope begins with a 200 meter tunnel through the mountain. And then continues as the most difficult black run the ski area has to offer. Full story Alternate link January 2013, Alpe d'Huez, France; Val d'Isere, France Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Skiing (Snow, Outdoor, Underground, Lifts); Caving (Man-Made); Caving (Rock, Rock-Limestone, Skiing)

	Black in Liechtenstein Innovation. Desire to do something new is not enough, you also need an opportunity and a catalyst. This time the opportunity was returning from a ski trip in Austria, with a flight leaving late in the day. And the catalyst was finishing the excess alcohol we had in the cabin. Suddenly I found myself staring at the Google Maps screen. The route via Liechtenstein would be almost the same length as going straight back to the airport in Munich. Why not? Full story Alternate link January 2013, Malbun, Liechtenstein; Baden-Württemberg, Germany Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts)

	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)