Winter climbing in Finland

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I am going to be in Finland (Helsinki) at the end of Jan and I was hoping to maybe do some winter/ice climbing. I am a complete novice at winter stuff so would need a guide/course. 

Google only seems to bring up a company called Bliss adventures which only do a single day course and its a 1 hourish flight away. I  was wondering if people knew of anything closer to Helsinki? I asked at a climbing wall last time I was there but I think what I was asking was lost a bit in translation.

TIA James 

 HeMa 10 Dec 2019
In reply to Professor_Professorson:

There might be an artificial icewall in Helsinki by then, but not sure If they will farm this year or not. 
 

said company will rent out gear though. Adventure Partners is the company. 
 

There are numerous crags within say 1.5h drive from HELLsinki catering everything from mellow ice to hard mixed. 

 TobyA 10 Dec 2019
In reply to Professor_Professorson:

Years ago I wrote an article about ice climbing in southern Finland for Climb magazine, you can see bits of it at least here https://tobyarcher.tumblr.com/post/54164626506/a-four-page-feature-article-...

Plenty of places that are actually quite good for learning ice climbing near Helsinki - Kauhala most obviously - dead easy to walk round and set top ropes up etc. but actually pleasant enough icefalls for a short visit for more experienced climbers.

I think your main issue will be finding anyone who teaches or guides. Most Finns learn climbing through the Finnish Alpine Club or the Finnish Climbing Association, with uni or scout clubs, or from friends - its not really a big enough thing for there to be guides or companies doing much beyond abseiling for stag weekends and the like. Adventure Partners, as HeMa said, is the only company that I know of like that in the south. There ice wall would be the perfect place to have a go, but HeMa has probably heard something if he says he doesn't know if they will ice farm there or not. Here is the bit from their website in English https://adventurepartners.fi/briefly-in-english/ I'm sure you'd get a quick response from them if you email to find out if it will be possible to try in January.

Otherwise, and particularly if you have your own gear, you might through one of the Helsinki climbers facebooks groups someone who is willing to go out climbing with you, although then of course it all gets a bit random as to who you meet.

 HeMa 10 Dec 2019
In reply to TobyA:

Haven’t heard anything. But it has been warm and AFAIK AP hasn’t started farming yet (I think the prime farmer is biking in Spain at the moment).

oh, and I did forgot that there’s a drytooling tower now in Paloheinä. More info (in finnish) here:

https://www.alppikerho.fi/paloheinan-draikkatorni

In reply to Professor_Professorson:

Thanks for everyone for the answers they were really helpful! and sorry for the late reply. 

In reply to HeMa:

Sorry for me not understand but what do you mean by farming? 

Also do you know if there is an English version of the dry tooling page?

In reply to TobyA:

Thanks Toby your article looks really interesting! I just wish I had some to climb with whilst I was out there. 

I am actually a PhD student Aalto university but I couldn't find any information about a climbing or mountaineering club there. Although I just discovered this https://www.aaltomountaineering.com/ does anyone know about this? 

I have had a look for the finish alpine club and climbing club but as a non-finish speaking person I haven't seemed to have found any regular meet ups. 

In reply to HeMa:

Hi HeMa, I contacted Adventure Partners about this but they haven't got back to me. Do you know if they are still operating? It has been nearly a month. I noticed it says out of office on there webpage, but wasn't sure if this was a bad translation by google lol

 HeMa 07 Jan 2020
In reply to Professor_Professorson:

No icefarm in Pirunkoski.

But they are farming in Nuuksio, if there would be below freezing temps (not at the moment).
Info (in finnish) here: https://adventurepartners.fi/nuuksion-jaapuisto/?fbclid=IwAR07-9paYP0M-QYQL...

Also via their FB page (I assume quicker response also). https://www.facebook.com/adventurepartners/

 ad111 08 Jan 2020
In reply to Professor_Professorson:

Winter conditions haven't arrived (as yet) in Helsinki - today it's +6 and drizzling. Could be worth thinking about going further North.

There is a really nice sleeper train that will take you to Ylläs and some reliable winter.

 HeMa 08 Jan 2020
In reply to ad111:

Also Rovaniemi, from where Bliss will take ya to Korouoma for the best ice climbing venue in Finland.

 TobyA 09 Jan 2020
In reply to HeMa:

I just saw the article in today's Helsingin Sanomat - it appears from my reading (and a lot of Google Translate support!) that the city have stopped climbing there because of liability fears - so Adventure Partners have had to move the ice farming to Nuuksio?

I guess that might account for why the OP hadn't been able to find out what was happening.

Is it still +6 and raining with you lot?

 HeMa 09 Jan 2020
In reply to TobyA:

> Is it still +6 and raining with you lot?

Yes and no... +6, but no rain (today).

AFAIK we are getting sub-zero temps during the nights, so perhaps the winter can still make an appearance... I would like that very much, as I still have a few lines I wish to climb...
vimeo.com/321432461

This one has an alternative start and a few other options there-abouts as well... and a few other locales.


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