You are here: Home / Archives for Snowmobile Tips

How to Book a Room at the Ice Hotel in Sweden

August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

some information about the ICEHOTEL taken from their front page

ICEHOTEL is the best experience in Sweden. This according to French, German, British, Dutch and Italian tour operators who rewarded ICEHOTEL with the “Best Experience in Sweden” award on 23 October. “We are very pleased and honored to receive this award. We have worked hard to create inspiring and unique experiences with the Torne River and Jukkasjärvi as basis, and will continue to do so many years to come.

How do I get to the Ice Hotel?

Many roads lead to ICEHOTEL. Although ICEHOTEL does not offer any transport (except for transfer) here are some good tips on how to get here. ICEHOTEL is located in a small village 200 km above the Arctic Circle but only 15 km from Kiruna airport and 17 km from Kiruna train station. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) offers almost daily flights to Kiruna and the Swedish train company SJ has daily departures that will take you all the way to the ski slopes in Swedish Lapland.

London Heathrow Airport has come up with a direct flights package to Kiruna, Switzerland. As part of package deals to ICEHOTEL, you can take a 3.5 hour flight directly to the arctic winter wonderland.

Booking a room hot or cold accomodations or both:

Choose between rooms made of ice and snow or warm hotel rooms in Scandinavian design. The ideal is to combine one cold night in ICEHOTEL with several warm nights in our hotel rooms – in order to fully enjoy the ICEHOTEL experience. You can book online by visiting the website: http://www.icehotel.com/Winter/Book/Accommodation/

or you can call in person: Questions?
Call +46 (0) 980 668 00 or
e-mail info@icehotel.com.
Phone hours
Monday to Friday:
9 AM to 4 PM
CET (GMT+01:00).

Also keep in mind if you call ask for special promotions. With the weakened economy more and more travelers are receiving deals for booking in advance as well as a possible free night.

What else is available to me while staying @ the ICEHOTEL?

1) Snowmobile excursions – The excursions have been designed to give the guests a somewhat longer outdoor experience, to bring them a deeper understanding of the various activities, and of the lifestyle, culture and history they represent. these can be guided tours or individual tours lasting several hours up to many day excursions.

2) Dog-sledding & Saami activities – Saami being a reindeer based sled ride available from 1.5 hours – 2 days:
Take part in the possibility to drive and handle your own reindeer with sled. This is a genuine and different experience where you really feel the connection between man, animal and nature. You will get to know the Sami culture, the reindeer and encounter the wilderness and the snow clad winter forest.

3) Ice Driving – The ice awaits, engine revving, snow flying. Behind the wheel of a Saab 9-3 Sport Combi you finally get the chance to try out the safety systems in a way you never could on a normal road. You get a fantastic sensation of total control as everything you’ve learned works perfectly.

My personal Favorite 4 – Starlit dinner in wildernesscamp – Visit the Esrange Space Center, the base for scientific research of the Aurora Borealis, also know as the Northern Lights. After a short transfer by minibus to Esrange space base you get a guided tour of the facilities and an introduction to the Northern Lights. The chef then prepares a 3-course wilderness dinner with wine while you look for the Northern Lights with star binoculars.

All in to book your trip place a phone call and request some information on the ICEHOTEL. the hotel operates for 6 – 7 months per calendar year. It is built from scratch year after year and has a specific calendar they adhere to. It changes year after year based on temperature as well as building and supply chain management. If the materials are available it will be erected by January 15th. Call ICEHOTEL for more information.

Written by girardec23

Filed Under: Snowmobile Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Proper Storage of Your Snowmobile

August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Snowmobiles are a piece of equipment that generally gets used for a maximum of 4 months out of the year in many areas. That means that they must be stored for approximately 8 months out of the year. Taking extra precautions and preparations when storing your snowmobile for the warmer months will make it easier to enjoy the winter months with a fresh and maintained machine at the beginning of the season. Following are some basic rules and tips to follow when storing your snowmobile in order to ensure the maximum amount of enjoyment when the first snow falls in your area.

One of the most important things to remember when storing your snowmobile is that it should be stored in a climate-controlled space. Several storage companies offer this service if you are willing to pay for an ideal space to store your sled. If this is not possible, find a place that will have a minimum of temperature changes so condensation will not build up on or in the parts of your snowmobile.

Before covering it and storing it for the warmer months, spray it down liberally with WD-40 because this will help keep the parts lubricated and protected during the months when it is not in use.

As for the gas tank, there are different theories as to the ideal amount of fuel to keep in your snowmobile during the storage months. Some owners have argued that a full gas tank will cause condensation and corrosion in your sled. Fuel also loses its potency after awhile, so if it is left in the tank for too long, it will no longer be functional. Others have argued that an empty gas tank during the storage season will prevent the fuel from deteriorating. If your snowmobile uses an oil mix, the mixture could also separate and cause other parts to become clogged if the mixture is left in the tank. The best thing to do is to read the owner’s manual to find out what your specific snowmobile manufacturer recommends.

Snowmobile owners should also check the mechanical aspects and moving parts of their machine when preparing it for storage. These things are often overlooked at the beginning of the snowmobile season and the warmer weather of the storage season is more convenient for this type of preparation. Check each nut and bolt to make sure they are tight. If there are missing parts or things that need repairs, make the necessary repairs before storing the snowmobile. Also, remove the spark plugs and add a very small amount of 2-cycle engine oil in each empty spark plug cylinder in order to prevent them from rusting. Plug the openings on the snowmobile, such as the exhaust pipe, with an old rage to prevent condensation from forming on the inside of the pipe. Also, remove the seat to prevent rodents from forming a nest inside of it.

When the snowmobile season starts, the first thing you should do is to pull the start rope a few times in order to properly lubricate cylinder walls that house the spark plugs. You can then re-insert the spark plugs that you removed prior to storage or, even better, use new spark plugs. Be sure to check the fluid levels before operating your snowmobile because low or empty fluids could cause serious damage to the engine. Look for surfaces that have become scratched or nicked and touch-up the areas with rust-resistant paint. Letting a small area go without doing this could turn into a large bare area that is subject to rust and corrosion. Finally, add a coat of wax for optimum performance and reattach the seat properly before going on your first snowmobile ride of the new season.

Following these simple steps will help ensure that your snowmobile will ride properly for years to come. It is important to refer to your owner’s manual in order to get a complete listing of what needs to be done with your specific model before storing it for a long period. Having an expert look over your sled at the end of every winter season could be costly and is often unnecessary. Many storage facilities offer areas and climate-controlled units specifically designed to fit the needs of snowmobile owners. With the proper equipment and preparations, however, your garage or storage shed can be the ideal and most cost-effective way of storing your snowmobile for the winter months.

Read about orange pekoe tea and chrysanthemum tea at the Facts About Tea website.

change your sliders sledshot.com

Filed Under: Snowmobile Tips Tagged With: ,

Tips for Storing Your Snowmobile

August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by Andrew Smythe

Snowmobiles are a piece of equipment that generally gets used for a maximum of 4 months out of the year in many areas. That means that they must be stored for approximately 8 months out of the year. Taking extra precautions and preparations when storing your snowmobile for the warmer months will make it easier to enjoy the winter months with a fresh and maintained machine at the beginning of the season. Following are some basic rules and tips to follow when storing your snowmobile in order to ensure the maximum amount of enjoyment when the first snow falls in your area.

One of the most important things to remember when storing your snowmobile is that it should be stored in a climate-controlled space. Several storage companies offer this service if you are willing to pay for an ideal space to store your sled. If this is not possible, find a place that will have a minimum of temperature changes so condensation will not build up on or in the parts of your snowmobile. Before covering it and storing it for the warmer months, spray it down liberally with WD-40 because this will help keep the parts lubricated and protected during the months when it is not in use.

As for the gas tank, there are different theories as to the ideal amount of fuel to keep in your snowmobile during the storage months. Some owners have argued that a full gas tank will cause condensation and corrosion in your sled. Fuel also loses its potency after awhile, so if it is left in the tank for too long, it will no longer be functional. Others have argued that an empty gas tank during the storage season will prevent the fuel from deteriorating. If your snowmobile uses an oil mix, the mixture could also separate and cause other parts to become clogged if the mixture is left in the tank. The best thing to do is to read the owner’s manual to find out what your specific snowmobile manufacturer recommends.

Snowmobile owners should also check the mechanical aspects and moving parts of their machine when preparing it for storage. These things are often overlooked at the beginning of the snowmobile season and the warmer weather of the storage season is more convenient for this type of preparation. Check each nut and bolt to make sure they are tight. If there are missing parts or things that need repairs, make the necessary repairs before storing the snowmobile. Also, remove the spark plugs and add a very small amount of 2-cycle engine oil in each empty spark plug cylinder in order to prevent them from rusting. Plug the openings on the snowmobile, such as the exhaust pipe, with an old rage to prevent condensation from forming on the inside of the pipe. Also, remove the seat to prevent rodents from forming a nest inside of it.

When the snowmobile season starts, the first thing you should do is to pull the start rope a few times in order to properly lubricate cylinder walls that house the spark plugs. You can then re-insert the spark plugs that you removed prior to storage or, even better, use new spark plugs. Be sure to check the fluid levels before operating your snowmobile because low or empty fluids could cause serious damage to the engine. Look for surfaces that have become scratched or nicked and touch-up the areas with rust-resistant paint. Letting a small area go without doing this could turn into a large bare area that is subject to rust and corrosion. Finally, add a coat of wax for optimum performance and reattach the seat properly before going on your first snowmobile ride of the new season.

Following these simple steps will help ensure that your snowmobile will ride properly for years to come. It is important to refer to your owner’s manual in order to get a complete listing of what needs to be done with your specific model before storing it for a long period. Having an expert look over your sled at the end of every winter season could be costly and is often unnecessary. Many storage facilities offer areas and climate-controlled units specifically designed to fit the needs of snowmobile owners. With the proper equipment and preparations, however, your garage or storage shed can be the ideal and most cost-effective way of storing your snowmobile for the winter months.

My buddy Dave being insane!

Filed Under: Snowmobile Tips