Author: stu_mcinnes@hotmail.co.uk

Skiing in Finland

After a busy year we thought we’d go Skiing in Finland, for an actual holiday! It’s not often I go on holiday (yes most people think my life is just one long holiday…) so I was super excited to head to Finland. We’d booked there due to the guaranteed snow early season, and it being pretty well priced (unless you’re gonna eat out every meal then take out a bank loan!).

Looking at the forecast in the run up, we knew we’d made the right decision do go skiing in Finland as opposed to the usual spots of France, Italy etc, as the snow was just so good there in comparison. We were unsure what the shorter daylight hours would mean (Ruka was near but not in the Arctic circle), but the pistes were so well lit up we needn’t have worries, with the slopes open every day till 7pm, and night skiing till 11pm on a Friday!

The next concern was the temperature! Now I’m pretty used to super cold temps having done lots of Alpine winter climbing and high altitude stuff, but be prepared if your used to the Alpine temperatures! On our coldest day the air temp was 30 below, with the wind putting it closer to minus 40 Celcius… Luckily the runs weren’t too long, but any exposed skin was tingling to say the least! Fortunately at the bottom of the runs (and sometimes the top or even part way down) they have got nice big wooden huts with fires alight! A luxury, and a great spot to grill your sausages at lunch, or to stop and have your flask of coffee whilst you defrost…

The slopes at Ruka were well sized for a week, and well looked after, the big bonus was how quiet it was – often doing several runs without passing another soul.. The off-piste was limited, but there was some very nice skiing between the trees. There were jumps, half-pipes, rails, enough to keep everyone entertained. As well as the skiing, there was heaps to do, not that we did anything but ski! You could ice-fish, skidoo, reindeer and husky sleigh ride, spot the northern lights, cross country ski, go bear spotting, and obviously being Lapland – see Santa!

Being a decent priced, guaranteed snow spot in Europe, I’d definitely go skiing in Finland again!

Some powder in the trees Skiing in Finland

The big ski jump!

The winters sun over Ruka

Over the weekend we’ve been working alongside some other local companies to deliver some different outdoor courses to a bunch of people who won a competition run by Visit Wales. The ‘my welsh adventure’ competition winners had to send in a video of why they should get a free weekend away, and they stayed various different local accommodation providers, and did different outdoor activities with several local companies.

Visit Wales competition winner Huw, climbing at Porth Clais…

We were lucky enough to be working alongside our mates at Dragon Activity Guides, delivering climbing sessions to a lovely bunch of people.

Alun and Briony from Dragon Activity Guides belaying at the top of Porth y Fynnon in the sun!

We had some surreal weather for the start of November, and all the Visit Wales competition winners had a fantastic time, did some brilliant climbing, and hopefully made lots of new friends!

Looking out over the St David’s area Southern Bays…

This week has been another busy one, with both Learn to Lead and Scrambling Courses going on… We’ve had a mixed bag with the weather, but it turned out ideal for the courses we were running! There been a lot of driving back and forth between Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia, but it’s been well worth it! The start of the week saw us coming back from Snowdonia, after running an ML refresher over the weekend there, so we stopped at Cadair Idris on the Monday on the way back for a quick trip up there, usually a hill we just drive straight past on the way to the more popular areas of North Wales, but it is well worth the stop – a lovely hill…

On Cadair Idris

Once back home in Pembrokeshire, we had Alec with us, on a learn to lead climb course for the week. We had a top few days climbing at several different crags, looking at lots of different rope work and movement skills, as well as climbing a heap of amazing routes. Alec did some awesome leads, and will go onto being a very competent climber if he manages to get out enough with his hectic schedule…! Thanks go to Alun for coming out with us to hold Alec’s rope…

Alec leading Red Wall, Porth Clais

Alec top roping at Porth Clais

Then it was back up to North Wales! the weather was decidedly windier and wetter than Pembrokeshire, but we made the most of it on our Intro to Scrambling course with Paul. First up we did the mega classic Bochlwyd Horseshoe (Tryfan North Ridge, Bristly Ridge and The Cribyn). We covered all the movement skills and mountain sense needed to keep yourself safe in the hills and looked at some navigation.

Looking towards Tryfan

Near Tryfan’s summit

In Sinister Gully

Due to high winds and general dampness, we decided to change our original plan of Crib Goch, to do the South East Ridge of Moel Siabod. Being slightly lower and in a more sheltered position form the prevailing weather, it proved a great decision. We had a lovely day, with Paul leading the way and making decisions and risk assessments. Hopefully Paul now has the confidence to go off on his own and tackle the steep scrambles of Snowdonia!

Moel Siabod’s South East Ridge

Finding steep ground on Moel Siabod

It’s been great to be back in the hills this week. After a warm sunny start to the week in Pembrokeshire, we had some time in the mountains both personally for fun, but also running an ML refresher.

Sunny Plumstone Mountain in Pembrokeshire – awesome bouldering spot…

After a last minute cancellation on our Navigation Course in the Brecon Beacons, I took the opportunity to get out and explore a part of the Beacons I had not been to before. It was a glorious spot with amazing Autumn colours.

Walking in the Brecon Beacons

Then it was up to North Wales to run a 2 day ML refresher course for Ben and Jack before an upcoming ML assessment. On the first day we looked at fine-tuning the guys navigation on the way up Cwm Tryfan, with a scramble up the south ridge, and on the way down the north ridge we explored different group management skills.

Coming down the North Ridge of Tryfan on an ML refresher course

On our second day of the ML refresher, we headed into the Crimpau, a great spot to look at the different micro navigation skills required on your ML assessment. Full of ring contours and re-entrants, you can get loads of quality practise in there. We found some short craggy bits to look at the steep ground and rope-work side of things, how to protect clients up and down steeper bits in an emergency, how to get yourself down with the rope, and some confidence roping.

Confidence roping on our ML refresher

What a week of weather, such a treat at this time of year…

Oh and this week we got our SPA provider-ship!  If you are looking for an SPA training or assessment in south west Wales at all, please get in touch. We will out dates on the website and CMS form this coming Spring!