Going on my first Ukraine ski trip! What to prepare?

Do not assume there will be a tourist office in the cities you travel through. Do not assume your hotel(s) will be able to supply a local map (though they may). Spend some time printing maps from Google before you leave, and check TripAdvisor for non-skiing things to do locally. I was unable to find a recently-printed, well-reviewed guidebook to Ukraine, so the internet may be your best bet. Check to see whether there's an online In Your Pocket guide to any city you're traveling through.

Expect ground transportation to be slow. Train service is spotty, infrequent and slow, but it seems to run on schedule. Much intercity bus service is provided by small buses that look privately-owned; some look like over-grown vans. Their shock absorbers are non-existent (see below). The regular buses between large cities are fine.

Roads through the Carpathians, and possibly in other areas, may be dreadfully potholed.

Comfort stops during bus rides will introduce you to a wealth of Ukrainian hole-in-the-floor toilets. They will be clean and supplied with toilet paper, soap and water. There will be a charge to use them. Have coins for the attendant. I never used the toilet on a train so don't know what you'll find there.

I do not ski so can't help on that score.

Ukraine is a very large country. If you tell us your itinerary, perhaps there's someone here who will have some specific advice for you.

We have visited Ukraine twice. The first time to Kiev for four nights prior to going on to Russia. The second time we were on a cruise that stopped in Odessa, Sevastopol (Crimea, now incorporated into Russia) and Yalta (land fall aborted due to bad weather.

We loved the Ukrainian people as well as the places we visited. We had a friend on the cruise that traced one of his ancestors back to Ukraine. He hired a guide to take him many miles inland from Kiev. He said the roads were very poor. No trace of his ancestors or other descendants (they were Jewish).

Not sure where you plan to visit, but Kiev and Odessa are worth a visit. Kiev is worth at least 4 days. We visited in 2012 and it was sad to see so many areas of the city looked like WWII had just ended. The country is still recovering from the failed economic policies of the Soviet collectivism.

7 weeks is the end of October. Where in Ukraine are you going skiing at the end of October?