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Last run of the Ski trip at Big Wood ski resort

Walking back to Big Wood Ski resort after a day in the backcountry of the Khibiny Mountains

Wanting to make the most of our final day of the trip we purchased a two hour ticket to Big Wood Ski resort. While it’s not the greatest resort it does have some fun sidecountry and our plan was to show our friend Ben what Bigwood ski resort had to offer.

After a great morning at 25 Km ski center we drove towards Big Wood noticing that some clouds were coming in. It seemed they were hovering just above the summits so we bought our tickets and were on our way up the Gondola.

Walking towards Big Wood Ski resort in the Khibiny Mountains of Arctic Russia

Ben making his way up the T-bar at 25 km ski center

We got up early in the morning for the hour drive from Monchegorsk to Kirovsk so we could make it to 25 km ski center for first chair or should I say T bar. As one of two resorts in the Kirovsk area it is by far the superior resort when it is a powder day as I’ve never been to a resort that accesses great backcountry terrain easier. For powder days it is all about 25 km ski center but for groomer days Big Wood is a superior resort. With that being said there was powder so we were going to 25km ski resort.

Driving through Kirovsk on our way to 25 km ski center

When we arrived in the parking lot it was snowing heavily and white out conditions. While most people would not be excited we knew the terrain from previous trips and we had the terrain mostly to ourselves with constant reloading of the powder from wind.

Ben snowboarding into the sunset in the Khibiny Mountains of Russia

One of our main goals on our week long ski vacation to to do a base camping mission in the Khibiny mountains. From the day we arrived in the Kola Peninsula we watched the weather forecast and on the 3rd day of the trip we had a 3 day weather window. The good thing was that it would be clear skies but the bad thing is the temperatures would dip down to -30 c at night. So after a long morning of getting our gear dialed we were off on a basecamping mission. This would be our first time camping after a few years of exploring the Kirovsk area.

When we arrived at the end of the road we were next to a massive lake we would have to skin across to get into the Khibiny Mountains. It would be about 15kms to get into the range and we would be on a race to put up camp before darkness arrived.

This year was a big change in my life as I decided to take a break from full time ski mountaineering and focus my attention on going to school and learning a the Finnish language. With that said we had a week vacation in early March so the plans were put together between my friends Ilkka, Ben and I to heading out to the Khibiny Mountains of Russia and explore different zones compared to the previous 3 trips to the Kola Peninsula. On Thursday night my friend Ben’s plane landed in Rovaniemi, Finland where I live and after a full day of Finnish culture and packing we were off on the 6 hours drive to some of the most unique mountains I’ve ever experienced.

Driving in the khibiny mountains kola peninsula Russia

Preparing to snowboard into the Otkol Cirque in the Khibiny Mountains of Russia

The Otkol Cirque is one of many different alpine bowls in the Khibiny Mountains stacked with couloirs. being a 30 kilometre drive from the town of Kirovsk is a great ski tour while in the area. This zone has anything from wide open chutes to no fall couloirs that are nearly vertical. While the mountains surrounding aren’t the biggest there are more then enough steep lines to keep one busy.

For our last day of the trip we decided to go check out a couloir we had seen off in the distance from 25kms ski resort a few days prior. It was calling for pretty nasty weather but hopefully we could get some clearing inbetween. Even it if was stormy hopefully being in a steep couloir we would be able to ride while in the clouds.

Driving towards the Otkol Cirque we were happy that the weather was looking good. The forecast wasn’t looking promising but everything was in the sun.

Mount Aikuaivenchorr is the main summit of the Bigwood ski resort in the Khibiny Mountains of Russia. While the lift accessed area in nice it is the backcountry that makes the area stand out. While I had visited the sidecountry numerous times we were wondering what was off the backside of the area. The plan … Read more

Mount Juksporr South Chutes

Mount Juksporr is one of those lines that grabs your attention immediately while driving through the Khibiny Mountains. The road crosses the southern slopes we numerous chutes going from the summit ridge back down to the road. With the ability to park right at the base and with steep slopes from top to bottom this is one of the better steep skiing tours in the Khibiny Mountains.

On our way back to the house the night before we saw a group of five ride down the main couloir. With only around 15 kms of new snow it helped make us feel comfortable with heading out to Mount Juksporr and ride for a few hours.

Looking at Mount Juksporr in the Khibiny Mountains of Russia

Finding a spot to park we started putting our crampons and ice axes in our packs for the climb. We had made our way up the previous year but with bad visibility we had decided to ski the less technical east bowl. Our ascent route is on the left side of the middle rock band in the photo below.

Mount Aikuaivenchorr is the mountain in which Bigwood ski resort is located within the Khibiny Mountains. Being a long ridge with numerous bowls the ski resort only encompasses 1/5 of the terrain off of the Mountain. There are two ways to access the northern bowl which are 1 using the lifts then after hiking drop … Read more

Kukisvumchorr Backcountry Exploration

With 2 bars dragging you up 1,500 feet you find yourself on the edge of the Kukisvumchorr Backcountry. Located near the middle of the Khibiny Mountains of Russia it is a gateway to the core of the range. This little ski hill is known as the center of freeriding in the Kirovsk area. If you are willing to leave behind the lift accessed area the place could easily keep you busy for a season.

The previous day we had made our way out to the Bigwood Sidecountry and had found good snow. Knowing there was powder in the backcountry we started coming up with a plan. Looking at the weather forecast we had a single day of good weather so we needed to make the most out of it. We would use two Bars and access the Kukisvumchorr Backcountry.

Driving 25 kilometres from Kirovsk we made our way to the Kukisvumchorr parking lot. Leaving our car we were surrounded by dilapidated building from the mining golden days.

Driving through a mountain road in the Khibiny Mountains

Heading for the Kukisvumchorr Backcountry

After purchasing a one time ticket we made our way up the Tbars. Standing on top we had a clear view of the Khibiny Mountains around us. Traversing along the ridge we made our way towards the low col where we would start hiking again. Our plane was to ride 2,500 feet down on the left side before exploring some more terrain within the Kukisvumchorr backcountry.

Snowboarding out to the Kukisvumchorr Backcountry in Northwest Russia

The Bigwood Sidecountry is what makes this small ski resort out of Kirovsk so special. With a gondola ride and a 20 minute hike you are on top of big alpine bowls that drop back down to the groomers. The main bowls are West facing aspects but it wraps around to south facing slopes. With a bit more hiking you can follow the entire ride to another west facing bowl that goes all the way down to town. Everytime I’ve been to the resort my day isn’t complete without doing a bit of hiking.

A trail map of Bigwood Ski Resort near Kirovsk Russia

Making our way Across the Russian Border

The Khibney mountains of NW Russia deep in the Arctic North is a gem I stumbled across on Google Earth while searching for mountains near my home in Rovaniemi, Finland. Within 5 hours of my doorstep I could be in a unique and isolated mountain range still relatively untouched by Western skiers. Over the past 2 years I had been coming to this range from Mid to late March when it’s not to cold but also not to hot. After getting a visa I was off with my friend Ilkka Kopinen to the town of Kirovsk, an old Soviet Mining settlement with 2 different ski resorts with to pull in winter tourism from Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

After a two hour drive through Finnish Lapland we arrived at the border with Russia. Walking into the small room Ilkka was out in 5 minutes but they were interested in my American Passport. What started as one person turned to 5 as they went through all of the pages. In the end everything was fine but they rarely experienced Americans traveling through the border.

Making our way across the Finland Russia Border

Walking Around Kirovsk

Our first day in Kirovsk the weather was quite windy and snowy. Since it was horrible skiing conditions we decided to walk around and get our food situated for the following days. Staying at the base of Bigwood ski resort we had a clear view of the lifts and knew that they were closed for the day.

Walking around the main center of Kirovsk we passed by the cultural building to see if there were any good shows. The year previous we had seen a ballet but there was nothing showing at the moment.

Grabbing the foods from town we had everything sorted for the week and just had to wait for weather to improve. It felt good to be back in the Khibiny Mountains and hopefully the weather would cooperate this time around as the previous season it was stormy almost everyday for a week.

Last run of the Ski trip at Big Wood ski resort

Powder skiing at 25 km ski center

Base Camping in the Khibiny Mountains

Ski touring in Revda, Khibiny mountains Russia

Otkol Cirque in the Khibiny Backcountry

Mount Aikuaivenchorr NE Couloir

Mount Juksporr South Chutes

Mount Aikuaivenchorr North Slopes

Kukisvumchorr Backcountry Exploration

Heading for the Kukisvumchorr Backcountry

Bigwood Sidecountry Testing the Snow

Making our way Across the Russian Border

Walking Around Kirovsk