Snowkite expedition Sweden-Finland on sea ice

[vindman]

Hi.
A friend and I intend to follow in the tracks of the old ice hunters and make an expedition on the north Baltic Sea in March. Our goal is to travel by kite from Sweden to Finland. If all goes well, we'll post some pictures during the trip: http://www.kiteonice.com

[vindman]

This is how the sea looked exactly one year ago, February 23, 2013:

[TomW]

Last year you had record thick ice ? This year ?
Be safe.
Warm 8c down in malmo today.

[vindman]

Last year was good. This year is much worse. Quite warm weather. Well, north Sweden had -40 centigrades in December. Then there were a couple of weeks in January with temperatures down to -40 in the north. The north Baltic Sea got some of that cold, so there is ice, even though it is less than normal.

This is today's status of the ice roads in the Luleå archipelago:
http://www.lulea.se/samhalle--gator/nyh ... oppna.html
"The ice roads to Sandön and Junkön are reopened after being closed due to floodwater. Now all ice roads are open. Maximum vehicle weight: 4 tonnes."

So it is possible to get out on the ice, but we cannot be too far out on the sea.