 Poster: A snowHead
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a good days skiing at Cairngorm yesterday. Frost on the car at 7:30am, so got the funicular at 9:30 hoping it had softened a little. Skiers right of the mountain was shut first thing, and the park was shut until about lunchtime. M1 was being pisted, I skied it about 11am and it was pretty horrible with rock hard cookies on it. Skied it after lunch when it was softer and it was alot nicer. Pick of the morning runs was Coire Cas and Gunbarrell. M1 Poma was the lift of choice, no queues and fastest way up I reckoned...
White Lady was solid all morning, didn't soften til about 1:30pm, when it was then skiing very nicely. The bumps were very flattering, widely spaced and not that big (unfortunately)
Still possible to ski to the bottom via Fiacaill tow line without any walking.
traverse by kitenski, on Flickr
coire cas by kitenski, on Flickr
m1 cookies by kitenski, on Flickr
m1 by kitenski, on Flickr
white lady spring bumps by kitenski, on Flickr
panaroma by kitenski, on Flickr
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The good old Ski Club of GB can always be relied upon for a very positive-sounding report on Scottish skiing:
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| Two lifts open at Cairngorm on Monday 29th April allowed skiing(sic) to enjoy the limited terrain |
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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WLTM chatty snowheads. I'm going tomorrow if anyone else is going up and would like to hook up?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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on a more positive note, just got this off the BASI Facebook page
Noel Baxter Retirement Dual Slalom
CairnGorm Mountain Saturday 4th May
Skiers will have the chance to take on two of Scotland’s skiing greats on Sunday 5th May when the Noel Baxter retirement race takes place on the iconic White Lady piste at CairnGorm Mountain.
The race which has been organised to mark his retirement from competitive skiing will be a Giant Slalom, conditions-permitting, and will kick off at 11am with registration in the starting area from 10am.
It is open to anyone who wants to compete and presents a last chance to take on Noel and brother Alain Baxter through the gates. Finlay Mickel will also be there along with other members of the Scottish team.
There will also be a BBQ and music on the mountain, weather permitting.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Just back from a trip to Glencoe - webcam looked good this morning and the upper mountain was clear of cloud when I got there but the wind was to high to run the access chair or the cliffy. Just seen on the website Glencoe are calling time on this season. Shame as the cover is still really good on the upper mountain. Going to watch the forecast today and decide if it's worth a trip back to Cairngorm for the rest of the weekend.
Have really enjoyed skiing at Glencoe this year - think I've done about 22days there, 9 or 10 at Glenshee, 4 at Cairngorm (and counting) and 3 at Nevis. Not far off reaching £10/ day value for the area pass  and there's still time. Only had three aborted days this season - today and one day in December at Glencoe although the December day the tows ran in the morning I just missed out. One missed day at CG due to storms in December.
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Cairngorm is still looking fabulous. The snow depth looks pretty deep still up there. Any ideas of what the current depth is up top?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi Ricklovesthepowder, I was up yesterday at Cairngorm - was lucky enough to have an ad-hoc lesson with Roga. The snow is extremely good. Deep up top right down to below mid-mountain. We skied off the mountain via the Sheiling and only had a 100m walk to the base station. The wind is gusting very strong at the moment on the west side but sheltered on the Cas plus lots of sunshine with snowshowers.
The morning snow is crispy - the White Lady didn't soften until after lunch. With the depth of snow and the thickness of it, there are bumps developing on the gunbarrel and the White Lady has lots of them. With the wind, the uplifts are starting and stopping, but the funicular is fine if you don't mind battling your way along the Traverse!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Did anyone notice that Pete MacKenzie skied Hells Lum (a grade II/III Scottish winter climb) the other day? Info and pics up on the British Backcountry FB page. Really superb effort considering he did it without any abseils which is most probably a first. 
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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mountainaddict, I'd guess there'll be plenty of snow for touring, but AFAIK all the centres other then cairngorm have officially called an end to the season already
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Poster: A snowHead
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Today was the day for anyone who was out (I was not), with the 'bird soaring over the gorms. Just glorious. First proper barbie too (proper being defined as BOTH cooking and eating being done outdoors (cooking outdoors and running indoors to eat is a year-round activity)
Still plenty of high-ish touring and gully action to be had. On which note I stumbled across a pretty cool Facebook page - British Backcountry where there's some great reports, new and a bit older - couple of gnarly older boys filling in context on first descents etc. one old boy in particular well known t to Gorm regulars. Great stuff to browse as we wind down - with some pretty scary-ass gully descents including some at 2am and such
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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not normally a fan of slushy bumps but the white lady today was divine 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
| AFAIK all the centres other then cairngorm have officially called an end to the season already |
Yes, that's correct. If we end up at Glencoe we'd be using the access chair then skinning up.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Cairngorm are offering any of the other 4 centre's season ticket holders free skiing until the end of the season
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Some mountain somewhere in Highland Scotland could get a pasting from heavy and thundery convective snow showers as we move through this week, the question is which one?!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
| Some mountain somewhere in Highland Scotland could get a pasting from heavy and thundery convective snow showers as we move through this week, the question is which one?! |
Bring it on Winterhighland.....Skins at the ready if need be!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mid May and Scotland's not done yet, with cooler temperatures, sunny spells and some snow showers with fairly light winds, if you can get up for a mid-week slide on Wed, Thu or Friday go for it, there's still a selection of green, blue and red terrain on offer with 1300ft of vertical from the top of the area to the mid-station of the Funicular. For Wed the following lifts are scheduled: Funicular, M1 Poma (for White Lady and Coire Cas), Ptarmigan and Ciste T-bars (for Top Basin) and the Polar Express Trainer Tow.
^M1 Poma not going quietly into Summer...
^White Lady: When some of the bumps are bigger than you, they are mountains!
^The usually infamous Coire Cas Gunbarrel still flat, top two Zig Zags available to avoid the steeper 2/3rds of the Gunbarrel if you wish.
More photos from H11lly: http://www.winterhighland.info/publicreports/index.php?50,3610
Glencoe had 5-7 inches of fresh snow last night / yesterday with significant drifting! Access Chair is open daily for any tourers / hikers willing to earn their turns.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Winterhighland, Is that little Ana Hutt?
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Sofia, yes.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Cairngorm have now pulled the plug finally - no further lift skiing this season. Last couple of days have done a lot of damage to remaing snow, especially I imagine to the lift links etc.
always a shame but its been a fine season (still plenty of snow about for hiking/touring)
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Poster: A snowHead
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Shucks. I was thinking of going on Sunday (first ever skiing trip to Scotland).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Haha what a funny winter Scotland's had just keeps trying from the web cam you would think it wwas February.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
Bad news James the Last - and perhaps Cairngorm have been a little hasty with their decision..... 
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Nope, this was forecast to happen and I'm sure they'll have known, can't imagine they'll reopen even though I'm hoping.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ptarmigan viewing terrace this morning:
Bang the drum on Facebook, you never know! Should be more tonight according to the NMM.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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mountainaddict, My guess would be demand. At some point it costs more to facilitate the skiing then it brings in. Even with just running the train ;(
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| Ronald wrote: |
| mountainaddict, My guess would be demand. At some point it costs more to facilitate the skiing then it brings in. Even with just running the train ;( |
But don't they run the train anyway for non-skiing visitors?
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FAQ
!!
What we do know is that despite the rain last night and this morning as off lunchtime the Plateau Poma uptrack was still complete. 
The plan is at least one more slide on Saturday. Or failing Cairngorm, the Glencoe webcams are still showing a lot of snow in the right places.
? They're trying really hard, which is commendable.
