[Muenchener]

I might be going to a conference in Helsinki in a couple of weeks. I'll have plenty of free time during the (24) daylight hours - if I'm wiling to dispense with sleeping - and I noticed on a Finnish website that there are several bouldering areas in or near the city.

Anybody acquainted with them? Any good? Feasible for a non-Finnish-speaking first time visitor to get to by public transport?

[andy popp]

I can't help with the bouldering, though I know there is some extremely close. But Helsinki is a beautiful city; enjoy!

[AJM]

I have highlighted your post to someone who might be able to help.

Toby I guess? If not, worth enquiring of TobyA on UKC (does he have a UKB profile?)

[TobyA]

He's awfully loyal to the Borg, perhaps because of all the sporks and softshells they have sent him to review down the years.

We all have to eat, and even I have a limit to how much time I can waste on the internet.

Muenchener, there is loads of bouldering in Helsinki and just beyond. Most of it is reachable by public transport, and about 80% of Finns will be happy to help you find your way around and give directions in English, including bus and tram drivers although sometimes they are a little gruff.

Some topos and travel info here: http://www.slouppi.net/area.phtml?area=Helsinki+area and http://27crags.com/areas/14
It's bloody hot currently and will be for the foreseeable future, but evenings will be a bit cooler. Nevertheless not the best conditions for hard granite bouldering - whatever that means to you. Koivusaari is a bit a of a Helsinki classic, it is just one bloc but its a good 'un and take your swimming gear because it is an excellent spot for a swim afterwards to cool down.

Mellunmäki is probably the best harder bouldering in Helsinki, its in a forest park so might be a bit too mosquito-y at this time of year, and you'll need a sense of direction to find it on your first visit. Hakunila http://27crags.com/crags/hakunila-boulders has some good harder problems as well but is close to the motorway so not really the most aesthetic place to boulder. If you are more of a easy-to-mid range type of guy, Meilahti http://www.slouppi.net/cliff.phtml?cliff=Meilahti is really nice and the full traverse will give you a proper endurance work out. Swimming is also very close.

Are you bringing a mat? If not, you might want to meet up with someone who wants to go out and has one. Ask to join the Facebook group: "Climbers from Helsinki area" and ask on there, or on the Slouppi forums. If you are psyched, my friend Tony, another expat Brit, is often looking for equally motivated people to go out with - I can put you in contact. If you want to rope-climb there is a good chance that I could do an evening. I even have a spare harness, so it doesn't require bringing any more gear than you would for bouldering.

And if it stays this hot, I'd try doing this http://www.seakayakfinland.com/rental/ as alternative to ripping your skin off on the boulders for one evening.

Hope that helps.

[DaveC]

It's bloody hot currently ....

 

 

[SA Chris]

We all have to eat, and even I have a limit to how much time I can waste on the internet.

lol.

[TobyA]

It's bloody hot currently ....

 

 

Don't like ice climbing below -20, not very good at rock climbing above +20!

[Muenchener]

Thanks Toby.

Sadly our delegation to the conference got cut from two people to one due to travel budget limitations, and I wasn't the one. 

Another time, I hope.

[TobyA]

Bummer - that must be really annoying. But if in the future you get a chance to come over, drop me an email.

Toby.