 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
We are off to Ruka on the 2nd weeks of December for the Santa and skiing, we have booked to see Santa. What activies would a 5 year old like? Im thinking of the huskies and reindeer. I'm hoping to see the northern lights.
I've read that it can be very cold down to -25, is this correct?
Plus whats it like for skiing!
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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this sounds like a great idea - dont have any constructive input i'm afraid
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=3020902&highlight=#3020902
I posted on this thread while I was there. We went with a 5 and 6 year old at half term. Huskies were fantastic, need an adult driver and children sit in the sleigh in front. Go for 5 or 10 Kms with the husky man (you can do shorter rides elsewhere). If they like speed, snowmobiling! You drive and child clings on behind! Remember a hat for when you stop, you'll want to take your helmet off.
There is an ice park on a frozen lake in front of the pistes with slides and things. You can toboggan further along too (easy to hire). Any other questions and I'm happy to answer. Where are you staying? If you want to know about restaurants/pistes/ski school feel free.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hotel cumulus rukahovi
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Very very cold there and make sure the 5 y/o is well kitted out...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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What's the normal temperature?
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Obviously there's no 'normal' temperature. That time I would expect temperatures between +5 and -15. The most shocking thing however will be the darkness even when it's (just) below the arctic circle. But I'm sure it will be enjoyable experience. Good choice!
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The Ruka website is very helpful. This is the 360 deg walk round section. The Cumulus is the massive building in the centre with the red sign (which is now blue). The little bits I saw, it was nice inside, wood panelled corridors, nice restaurant. The building before it is ski hire, tickets and 'Piste' bar/restaurant. It's is right on the slopes. I'm not sure what the red heater-skelter like thing is but if you click on it you get a street level view and can virtually wander around. The supermarket, Kumpare and Alco are through the alleyway between Colorado and Rukashop.
http://virtual.ruka.fi
The coldest I saw was -19C, one day it was still -10C at 3pm. You don't feel cold unless you get wet IME. The most important area is cuffs round the wrists, especially if falling or playing in snow so get the longest mitts you can for your child, and a few pairs. Because the temps at top & bottom are so similar & there isn't much walking around, I found I got much less sweaty than in the Alps so neither hot nor cold. The kids were happy staying out after dark most afternoons too.
I'll have to give you the run down on tickets, lifts and ski school tomorrow as I'm off to bed. You don't say if you have all skied before. In Ruka it is very helpful to be able to get down a very easy slope.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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We are both experienced skiers, my wife is a far better skiier than me.
Our 5 year old learnt on snow and is currently skiing on a dry slope.
We haven't brought any ski passes yet, can't decide on whether to get a full weeks pass. We need to hire skiers and boots for the youngster. How much are lessons?
Im looking forward to it, should be fun skiing in the dark! AND visiting Santa.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Cheers matey for the info.
Looks like I'll be ringing crystal and getting ski hire from them.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Adult lift tickets were cheaper through Ruka website and you pick them up from the same shop as ski hire, next to your hotel so no more difficult than getting them on the bus from Crystal. I got the children's from crystal and adults from ruka website.
Crystal will try and sell lots of trips at the welcome meeting. They weren't any cheaper than organising them yourself last year, despite what they said. Just because I'm on holiday doesn't mean I can't read.
There's an activities shop next door to your hotel (Safari House/Ruka adventures) and another next to the supermarket. Everyone on the desk will speak good English. There was a massive info sheet in our room (or maybe I got it from the lift pass office) giving details of most of the trips and I'd definitely recommend a decently long husky trip 5-10kms. 2.5kms is over in a jiffy and too short. Make sure you go to the husky farm. There you see working dogs with food and shop tacked on. The other place trips go is Lamintipuu cafe. It feels more like a cafe with multiple activities there. We did a reindeer sled ride after snow mobiling there. It was fine but much busier (with cross-country skiers mainly) and the snow mobile ride there and back was more memorable.
The best piste is probably 4 and the best skiing after snow is between the trees down to Kelo or Ruka village. There is a cliff to avoid that you can see from the frozen lake in Ruka.
Pessari area has decent runs. Masto runs are shorter and easier. Saarua is in between (in length and difficulty), but does have a chairlift
Looking at the new piste map, they seem to have renamed Ruka Express as Vuoselli Express and opened up more tree skiing between pistes. Looks like they are also upgrading the lift from Ruka to the summit.
The hardest blue is under Ruka Express, there is a steeper section beside the half pipe in the top half. The lower section is gentle. 26 and 27 are easier routes.
For lunch, the Finns often carry a few sausages in a pocket and cook them over one of the many fire pits (marked on the piste map), they are kept going all day. A hot drink would probably be a good idea too at these as there is just a small shelter & bench at them. We often went back to our apartment for lunch.
On the Vuoselli side, Ski Bistro always seemed very busy so we went for lunch at Ski Booster, skiers left of the beginner area through a car park or off run 16. its in a residential block and is a fairly typical bar, much smaller and quieter.
There are loads of places in Ruka. There is a fancy restaurant at the top of Masto, and Austrian bar at the base of Pessari and a Finnish restaurant at the base of Kelo.
If you think of anything else to ask, I'll probably know.
We didn't see the Northern Lights  , mainly because it snowed almost every night
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