The slopes begin in the yard, and that is the first thing a grey day takes away.
When the weather turns
At Olos the slopes begin in the yard, and that is the first thing a grey day takes away. This is a separate house of the same operator, at the foot of Olostunturi, and when the fell disappears the hotel becomes the whole of a visit rather than the base for one.
Where everyone goes
Everyone converges on the restaurant with the fireplace in the middle of the room. Seats near it go first. The older log restaurant handles breakfast, and between the two the day passes in short moves; nearly every room has a sauna, so afternoons drift there instead.
What stops working
The ski area keeps its own hours and the trail network depends on conditions, so either may be closed. The hotel sauna and jacuzzi are booked at reception rather than simply used, which on a full day can mean waiting for a turn.
What the building does
Answering the fell, the buildings sit low and close, with the yard as the only crossing. Doors open straight onto the ski track, so equipment stays out of the corridors, and the fireplace hall gives the day a fixed centre to return to.
