Our friends Ulitkiny report several good news for travellers from Moscow to Kirovsk:

(1) The Karelia part of the St. Petersburg to Murmansk road has been fully repaired, and travelling through Karelia, unlike it was even 2-3 years ago, is now a breeze.

(2) Nordavia.ru flies Moscow to Apatity (next door to Kirovsk) twice a week, Friday and Sunday, with tickets starting at 3780 roubles ($55 at the current exchange rate) one way, which is not much more expensive than train tickets.

Lights at the distance are Korovsk. Yellowish loop on the right is the skiiing track. A white spot left from the track is the Snow Village and Snowmobiling Center. Photo by Alexander Yenaleyev, borrowed from Ulitkiny Livejournal.

(3) A long-awaited field skiing track has been laid out near Kirovsk, right by the Snow Village and the Snowmobiling Center where you can rent skiis.