Link: Arild’s posterous
This is about living the urban adventure lifestyle in Tromsø. About cycling, skiing, climbing. . . Adventure living. But also about city life, sustainability, development of the way we are living in a new time. Its about living in the arctic gateway, a fast developing part of the world. About inspiration, sosial nettworking sharing my experience, thoughts and ideas.
| A D V E N T U R E | I N S P I R A T I O N | M O T I V A T I O N |
Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 10:49PM This is a presentation I gave on a scientific conference in Montreal 5th june. The presentation are about the results from the exposure measurments looking at whole body vibration for the drivers of the large trucks in the open mines.
Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 03:45PM Article about Kirovsk the exotic skiing destination in GRUS (an urban newspaper in Tromsø)
WINTER SPORTS, RUSSIAN STYLE
Text: Morten Skandfer/Arild Øvrum
-Kharashaya pagoda! Beautiful weather! You want piva? A smiling Russian in ski outfit enjoys the warm sun rays in early spring. The snow is perfect for skiing, all pists are open, it’s time to enjoy a piva (beer) in the sun. This is the picture that greets visitors in the Russian alpine town of Kirovsk in the middle of the Kola peninsula in April. Not unlike many other skiing destinations, but still very different. Although the town is closer to Tromsø than Trondheim, the short distance is still a journey over many borders, to a large neighbour of increasing importance. And not least, this is an unusual and exiting skiing desstination, as alternative to the trendy and overcrowded resorts in Scandinavia or Central Europe.
In case you have the perception that the Kola peninsula is a vast, uninhabited frozen swamp, think again. The town of Kirovsk is located in the scenic Khibiny mountain range, in the middle of the Kola peninsula, some three hours drive south of Murmansk, on the newly upgraded highway to St Petersburg. 1000 m tall table mountains surround Kirovsk town, situated in a valley, with its 20.000 inhabitants. Kirovsk is most renowned for its rich apatite mineral mines and its bothanical garden (you may find a branch of it in Tromsø, as well). Mountaineering and skiing draw crowds from nearby cities in Russia. For the traveller from the West, this may be Russia at its best; friendly and genuinely hospitable people, tasty food, wild sceneries, real winter; what more can you desire? In addition to the crisp snow and mountain ridges, the town offers concerts in the palace of culture, a newly reopened cinema, shops, a brand new pool and local cafes. A visit to Cafe Coffein or Cafe Kulinaritsa offer a taste of the city, complete with pirogs, salads, pickles, salt quecumber and sweet cookies. He Russians are tea (chai) drinkers, but coffe (cofje) is on the rise. The skiing pists are available from some of the city streets (one much closer than the Kroken pists in Tromsø), and many of the local skiers can litterally put on their skis on the steps of their apartment block. Two hotels offer ski-in-ski-out.
In addition to smaller local pists, some even located between the grey apartment blocks, two larger ski-centers sit on the slopes of the table mountain surrounding the town, the oldest is closest to the town. Prices are very low by Norwegian standards: 250 NOK for a day-card. Several pists and lifts are offered, on two mountain massifs. The technology range from the newest to more 70´s style, as often seen in this diverse country. It all has a special charm, an athmosphere of forlorn ’soviet chique’. However, the upgrading is under way, new lifts and pists were recently opened. Putin also comes here to ski, the rumors say. In late April, the snow is often perfect, with the sun shining from a bright blue sky, as ski enthusiasts gather here from Murmansk and St Petersburg.
Thus, Kirovsk feels like an ’eastern Chamonix’ in Northwest Russia, the region’s only mountain town offering pists of this scale. But almost as close is the ’back-country’ of Khibiny mountains. Local climbers and hikers have long traditions using this vast, wild area, offering cabins and banja (sauna). The hiking trails are many, from the easy to the challenging, in mountains with valleys and canyons that can be demanding even to the experiencd climber or hiker. In addition, Kirovsk is not only a winter resort, but offers acivities in the summer as well. In August every year, a mountain-bike race is arranged here with participants from all over Northvest Russia. For those who prefer snowmobile, the use is less restricted than in Norway, and vehicles can be rented. In this mountaindous landscape the opportunities for alpine activities are abound, just try it!
The city itself is a welcoming small city, dense and intimate, its center located around a lake and with skipists within walking distance. The town definitely has qualities making it inntresting for tourism not only from Northwest Russia, but also from Nordic countries, and not least the Barents Region.
On addition, the town is located in the middle of the most interesting area for exploitation of local natural rescources, after all, the city is founded on the rich apatite mines, an industry easily visible in the area. New mines will be opened, and factories are planned. Although the financial crisis has put some of this on halt, the prospects are still there, including the gas pipieline from the vast Stockman field in the Barents Sea.
Russia is still exotic to the foreign visitor. Yes, you can have your clichés confirmed, it you look for them, but Northwest Russia is so much more: hospitable people, local food, great outdoors and Russian culture. Indeed, this city has the location, the resources and the sceneries on its side. Kirovsk may well continue to develop into an important ski-resort in Russia and in the Barents Region. Go now, and see for yourself!
How to get there:
Aeroflot Nord Tromsø-Murmansk (mon, tues, thurs, fri) NOK 2500,-
tlf +47 95143587/+ 4794530371. Ticket office in Tromsø Airport.
Train Murmansk – Apatity (closest city) 4-8 times a day, from Apatity take the nr 100 buss or taxi to Kirovsk (ca NOK 100).
Bus Murmansk – Kirovsk, runs 2 times daily in each direction, and cheaper than the train.
Where to stay:
Hotell Sport ski hotel
Hotell Ekko city hotell tel +79 81531-3-27-16
Gastinitsa Svernaja city / business hotel
Hotell Khibiny ski hotel, ski-in-ski-out prices: NOK 300, tel +79 81531-589-01
http://khibiny.mels.ru e-mail: khibiny@com.mels.ru
Prices: Favorable: a pint beer for under NOK 8! Generally 25% of Norwegian prices. Exchange rate April 2009: NOK 1 = RUB 5.
Chair lift (1): NOK 25 for a single trip , NOK 200 for a daycard (all lifts and pists).
Ski lift (5): NOK 200 for day card (all lifts and pists).
Lunch at Cafe Kulinaritsa in city center starts at NOK 30.
Shopping: Many grocery stores (Produkty) are open 24-7. Other shops (Magazin) have long opening hours. Two ski equipement stores (the best is Cport at Olimpitskaya street) has something for any budget, offering mostly western brands.
Visa: (As the rules may change, check the web pages of the Russian Embassy or Consulate for the latest updates). You still need a visa to visit Russia, single entry visa is obtained from the Russian consulate in Kirkenes, after an invitation is issued from an approved firm og organization, like Pasvik Turist in Kirknes or Flait in Murmansk and costs ca NOK 1200,-, bureaucracy takes two weeks. A travelling agency like Via Travel in Kirkenes offers assistance and experience, use it! Pay attention to the immigration cards issued upon entry, you must present one when leaving Russia (with a stamp from the local police alien office, the hotel will assist you). Just regard this as a part of the genuine Russian experience!
Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 10:08AM
Large version you can view at: http://prezi.com/28799/, (Click on open and then click the play button for start. Just click forward button and watch the presentation. If you want to look more at the detailes you can click with your mouse on the part of the presentation you want to take a better look at, and zoom out agein using the space bar. Or use the buttons on the bottom right)
This is an incredible presentation tool. I am going to us it on work in planning processes, brainstorming, for presentations ... This you should try - www.prezi.com
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 10:11AM -Som leder i klatreklubben ble jeg bedt om å holde et innlegg i forbindelse med årsmøte i Ishavskysten friluftsråd.
Se hele innlegget under : Ishavskysten
Link til Ishavskystens egen side: http://www.ishavskysten.no/
Mitt tema er den nye tid - En ny tid som krever forvaltning av våre verdifulle natur ressurser. Naturen er vår verdiskaper og vi trenger en politisk forankring og et oppegående forvaltningsorgan med ressurser og ansatte. Ishavskystens friluftsråd må få de ressursene som trengs for kunnskaps kartlegging om bruken av naturen i en nye tid, det trengs et sterkt organ for regionalt friluftsliv som kan utarbeide en handlingsplan for friluftslivet på ishavskysten.
Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 12:37PM 
More pictures on my picassa page link
Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 12:33PM 
Me and Kristin playing around on a mountian topp. Picture by: Bo Eide
Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 12:26PM 
More pictures at my picassa page link
Monday, December 29, 2008 at 03:34PM 
My comments in red! I think this was a good picture describing the financial situation in 2008. Iceclimbing can be safe and fun, but this situation is not good, if the first man falls?
