Why are we here?

Occasionally I get asked a really good question which needs a fairly involved answer which often seems  'Too Big’ for e-mail, so I decided to start building a website where I can deposit my more comprehensive answers for the convenience of all concerned.

 

I’m not trying to compete with snopes or any of the many online forums on specific subjects, but simply to share my experiences, links, shortcuts and favourite things in a way which others may (hopefully) find useful.

 

Thanks for looking

 

GsyMoo

 

Oh, and by the way, please feel free to sign my guest book.

Hi Beastdude

Sorry I took so long to answer, you’ve probably looked yourself already, but re your questions on http://www.youtube.com/gsymoo  Skidoo Husky and Ski Lapland February 2006

 

beastdude (3 months ago)

what hotel did you stay in, how cheap is the shopping (for self catering), how cold is it, what was the snow like (hard, soft, powdery, icy), how much did your trip cost, and would you go back again? (sorry for all the questions but it looks like an awesome place but i've not got any info on it at all, and as u've already been there.)

 

Firstly, I usually stay in a self catering log cabin. The more people in the cabin the cheaper it becomes so if a group of you go you can really cut down on cost. That particular cabin in the video was a 10 person (4 private bedrooms). We had 6 people in for 2 weeks plus 2 more coming for 1 week which worked out £19.86 a person a night, which is about normal for a mid-range cabin with it’s own sauna (must have) and BBQ hut. Here’s a link to the one we had. Sorry it’s in Finnish.

http://www.yllaksenmatkailu.fi/akaslompolo/keskusta/vuonkuma.html

 

Food shopping in the local Markets isn't too bad, most stuff I didn't find much different from home. They have the biggest range of sausages you've ever seen plus all the standard stuff. Drinking and eating out is a bit pricey, especially slope side but the local beer is pretty good and all bottles and cans are money returnable in the machines outside the markets, 2.40Euro returned for a full crate of empties.

 

This year we also stayed in a slope side luxury apartment for a few nights as a treat just for me and the Mrs and that was about £90 for the double apartment with sauna and all that. Pricey but VERY nice.

http://www.levinalppitalot.fi/eng/alppitahdet2.shtml?menu2

 

The trip in the video was 2006 and we went for 2 weeks, going via London / Helsinki / Kittila with BA and Finnair, the cost for 2 weeks stay with flights and accommodation worked at £510.30 a person.

 

If you need a car hire there, that’s a bit expensive, but last time we had a little Toyota Yaris for about £150 a week with Budget, worth it if you like to stay out in the styx, but only if you are confident to drive on sheet ice! Otherwise bus and taxi services are good, with many resorts operating free busses when you show your ski pass.

 

Skiing. If you are used to the Rockies or the Alps you will find the slopes relatively short, but they are kept in excellent condition, with lots of natural snow, topped up from snow cannons where needed and groomed every night. The bulk of the slopes are intermediate, and if you’re an expert you’ll probably not find many slopes to really challenge you but if like me you’re average only skiing 2 weeks a year you’ll find them great. I would also say for beginners there are some really great wide slopes, and if they don’t end in a bar they’ll be pretty much deserted.

A 5 day pass is about £85 this year at the top Finnish resorts and kit about £55 for 5 days or £70 for Superior kit, which I think is worth it.

 

Climate wise, the beginning of February can be VERY cold. When we got off the plane 2006 it was -33c, rising all the way to a balmy -18c for the next weekend.

This year we went at the end of March and it was much warmer, just hovering around freezing with even some + degrees at the end. Personally I like it right at the end of Feb / beginning of March where it’s still cold enough for the snow to be really powdery. The pack depth is usually between around 1 meter with even coverage at all levels.

 

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