It’s not actually that cold here in Helsinki. With the temperature yo-yoing around zero degrees however we have snow that melts and then refreezes – leaving a layer of ice over everything.
Around 20,000 people a month in Finland sustain injuries from slipping on ice in winter. Here are a few things I’ve learnt about surviving on icy streets:
Don’t be afraid! Go outside everyday – Helsinki is set up for it – and if you don’t you’ll end up staying inside for four months. Towers like these are set up from December and are full of tiny stones that are spread on the footpaths to help with grip.
Likewise, some of the city streets have hot water piped underneath, leaving them free of ice and snow.
Laying the pipes in summer
Ice-free in winter
Choose the path of most resistance. Walk where others walk, look for gravel to walk on and avoid shiny dark areas. If there is no gravel, choose snow over ice.
Slippery, slipperier, slipperiest
Avoid manhole covers and other metal surfaces. Always go around these ice traps.
Likewise, avoid painted surfaces, like the lines on pedestrian crossings. Once again, aim for the gravel that has been laid out for grip.
Don’t rush out the back door on your way to the rubbish room without checking the conditions first. Step outside that door at speed and you may find yourself slipping and sliding across the courtyard while squealing like a pig (true story).
Always use the handrails on stairs and if possible, send a small child ahead of you to test for slippery patches.
Stairway to hell
Leave plenty of time to get somewhere – rushing is never a good idea. I would seriously add on 50% of the time you’d normally take to walk somewhere.
If you parked your car in the street overnight, take a shovel with you the next morning. The snow ploughs that clear the streets in the night create piles of snow that might block you in.
Hidden layers of ice under snow make hills a real danger zone – but also a really fun thing to do on the weekend. If you do accidentally slide down a hill, always yell ‘yippee!’ and act like it was intentional.
And finally, grab a friend for support. Or, if you’re like me, occasionally grab a stranger. One with matching clothes is even better.
(Disclaimer: I don’t usually go around taking photos of old people from behind. It’s a new thing).
Hey Helsinki 
This is my first winter here and I am constantly amazed (REALLY angry) that whilst I am walking at 1mph and falling over the place there are locals casually running past me as though the ice isn’t even there!
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I know. 😊 I was sliding around & a blind man with a cane tapped his way past me. I’m also amazed at the number of joggers who stay upright!
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The trick is keeping your bodyweight over your front leg apparently but it’s not working for me, haha.
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Ty, think about how you would ascend or descend perhaps slightly slippery stairs. Not particularly slippery – almost normal in fact – but definitely not grippy either.
Got it?
Now, when you’re on icy surface, think of it as walking on stairs of zero height (and don’t cheat). That’s how you do it. Then you won’t lock your knees and your weight is on your foot when stepping down. You’re not swinging you legs when stepping down either. You can even get some additional traction by stomping very slightly as that helps secure the foothold.
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Good advice! I get just what you mean. I definitely find it more slippery if I walk by pushing off with my toes. That’s often when the slide starts to happen….
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No need now, I bought some Nordic Grips yesterday and now I’m zooming around the place like a rocket 😀
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Coming from a place where such slippery conditions are a regular thing, I never thought twice about these things. Thank you, for showing it from a different perspective:)
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You must be a natural in these conditions then! ; ) It is getting easier ; )
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I think it’s a case of ‘practice makes perfect’, in the end, I was born in a place with such winters 🙂 I think, your son would not think much about it either 🙂
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Yes, he’ll adapt so much faster than us and when he falls over he’s got so many clothes on it doesn’t hurt! ; ) PS sorry I missed your original comment – it went to my spam folder for some reason but I just rescued it.
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Oh, thanks for rescueing :))
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I like the advice about sending a child before you – I will borrow a stranger’s child if I find myself in icy conditions 🙂 One thing I found interesting in one Nordic country was seeing young women in stilettos while walking confidently on ice. What? I could not walk without slipping and sliding even when wearing proper boots. Enjoy the ice!
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Thanks! And I agree, I’m not sure I could walk in heels on dry cobble-stone streets, let alone icy ones. 😊
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Love it, so informative and entertaining at the same time!
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Thanks! You might not need the info living in Auckland but may come in handy in a pub quiz? 😊
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Love this post! I never really considered the logistics of living in a snowy/icy place!
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It’s a whole new world for us but we’re learning. Yet to walk on the frozen sea yet – need some colder days 😊
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Thank You. Cool and very informative post. When seeing Your post’s title I first thought that walking on ice of a lake, because in my home town it is great fun.
Have a nice day!
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Thank you! I think it’s been too warm for walking on the lakes around Helsinki just yet but I do look forward to taking a shortcut straight across Töölönlahti, rather than going around ☺️ All the best, Mel
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Thank You replying. Well, we live in Mikkeli which on Lakeland. Here is what I mean with winter fun:
Walking on frozen lake.
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Lovely! So fascinating to see road signs & cyclists. Thank you for sharing 😊
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I’m here right now walking on the slippery footpaths.i see the gravel has appeared today, making it is bit easier.
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Hope we have more snow while you are here, lovely times.
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Also remember to not walk along the walls of buildings, this is where ice falls down and kills people every year.
Don’t wear shoes with hard soles (Army-boots style) if you’re an ice newbie, soft soles have an easier time to find grip and the hard shoes, while warm, give you no feeling for balance.
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Great advice!
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