Lots of FUN

Skiing in Levi

Over the past few weeks, we have been busy with non-sledding activities! Some of my highlights include:

• Skiing in Levi

Five of us (myself, Jessie, Jade, Lou and Lubin) drove north after work, rented an airbnb, and then woke up in Levi the next morning. We had the slopes completely to ourselves, and clear skies all day! We even had the most spectacular auroras during the drive.

• Skiing in Överkalix

The local slope in Överkalix (also known as the Slalom Hill) is only one T-bar lift, and one run. It's quite steep, so you can still have fun. We went after work one day, and all the staff from the hotel joined. Afterwards, we used the hotel sauna and jacuzzi, and a few of us even did a polar plunge in the ice bath.

• Using a friend's sauna

Since this is my second season, I've been lucky enough to maintain some local friends who aren't seasonal to the hotel. One of these friends owns a caravan-converted-sauna, and he invited me to come and use it. I dragged Jade along, and we all drank champagne together and rolled around in the snow between sauna sessions.

• Ice-karting

I've been wanting to try ice-karting forever, and I was finally able to arrange it! We took a little break from work one day when we had no tours, and for half an hour, we raced each other around the ice-kart track. I was smiling so hard that my teeth started to hurt from the cold, but even then I couldn't close my mouth. I got stuck a few times, but I think I was still quite fast.

• Taking Aila for a hike

One day we met up with a french guide from another lodge, and together we stole Aila from the kennel (consensually) and took her for a walk. We also took some sausages and firewood, and had lunch at the top of the hill.

• Going for a hike with friends

Last week, I met up with some friends who work at the hotel! We had breakfast in town, and then walked up the hill. One of the girls had a drone, and she managed to get the most amazing footage - the trees were all covered in snow, so everything looked extra amazing. I also brought firewood and marshmallows, so we had a little snack at the top.

• Driving on the frozen Baltic Sea (the Luleå ice road)

Jessie and I went on an adventure. She had booked a tattoo appointment in Luleå, so we drove down for the day. We found the ice-road that connects a few nearby islands, and while we were driving on it, I read that we were actually driving on the frozen Baltic Sea! Apparently the salt content of the water is a lot lower than normal, which allows the water to freeze between January - April every year. Jessie ended up getting a Lapland-inspired tattoo, and I got my ears pierced.