 Poster: A snowHead
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Cairngorm is currently being dumped on at all levels....
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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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Great photos - thanks!
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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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Awesome.
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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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moffatross, absolutely, all pictures all the time. 
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No wonder the Hare looks pissed off. Looks like it had an accident with a slurry spreader.
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That picture of the hare deserves a wider audience - worth submitting to the Scotsman or Herald.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bump! Nobody there on saturday?
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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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The MWIS West Highlands mountain weather forecast deserves an airing. 
http://www.mwis.org.uk/sjfsvct/WH.PDF
British Mountain Summary: Based on forecast chart for noon 19th December, 2013
Widespread upland gales, with frequent and squally snow and hail showers; these often merging into near constant snow western mountains. Intermittent snow showers in east, with occasional bursts of sun.
Headline for The West Highlands: Upland gales, frequent snow & hail, whiteout.
Thursday, 19th December, 2013
Southwesterly 40-50mph, but sudden gusts to 70mph in northern areas. Winds easing during the morning.
Considerable buffeting at all levels. Walking or any mobility often very difficult at higher levels. Severe wind chill.
Frequent snow and hail; lightning. Almost continuous snow and hail, with thunder. Near constant whiteout
conditions with blowing snow. Snow often reaching glens.
Friday, 20th December, 2013
Westerly 30-40mph in morning, rapidly increasing during the afternoon. South or south westerly 60-70mph late afternoon, gusts 90 mph.
Walking becoming increasingly difficult at higher levels by afternoon with considerable buffeting. Severe wind chill.
Snow becoming heavy. Frequent snow showers in morning; fewest showers from Creag Meagaidh to near and east of Loch Treig. A sudden deterioration into afternoon, snow becoming heavy; whiteout developing.
Saturday, 21st December, 2013
South westerly in the range 45 to 60 mph, gusts locally 75 mph.
Considerable buffeting near showers from low level. Any mobility difficult higher up. Severe wind chill.
Frequent snow and hail. Snow/hail showers; one after another, often giving almost constant precipitation and whiteout, partly due to considerable blowing of already fallen snow. Risk thunder.
Planning Outlook: All mountain areas of Britain from Friday, 20th December, 2013
Frequent severe gales and intermittent storm force winds (or stronger) on the mountains until the end of the year. Precipitation will be considerable on western mountains, substantially falling as snow, particularly Scottish Highlands. There will be freeze-thaw cycles, albeit the warm interludes will often last only a few hours. Most likely toward New Year, there may be one or two cold periods where winds ease and in some areas, snow ceases for a day or two.
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You know it makes sense.
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Forecasting 36cms at Glencoe tomorrow - now need the wind to calm down .....
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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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| Quote: |
| Forecasting 36cms at Glencoe tomorrow - now need the wind to calm down ..... |
Boxing Day looks like the only potential lull in the next week or so - but maybe not enough of a lull to get any lifts up and running.... 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Glenshee planning to open on 26 Dec with limited uplift
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'll be at cairngorm on boxing day
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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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Over by Loch Lomond it's absolutely hammering with rain which I hope is falling as snow higher 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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http://www.sais.gov.uk/
Avalanche risk is already high and it's worth noting that the SAIS patrols are finding multiple layers of unbonded windslab on aspects from NW through East right across the Highlands and not just towards the tops. More heavy snow overnight tonight, tomorrow and on Christmas Day, delivered on strong winds with varying directions mean that they'll definitely still be there on Thursday when a calmer weather window will likely mean quite a few walkers, climbers and skiers are out and about.
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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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moffatross, are you around between Christmas and NY? Flying back on 3rd having changed my flight if you're around for some turns.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'll be up at Glencoe for Hogmanay if anyone else is about. Up on the 30th, back on the 2nd, so a couple of days to get some sliding done, if the wind lets up.
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I'm up on the 1st after I have done the loony dook !!!
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I'm up from the 1st till the 5th going to try and get to Glenshee as well if anyone is about and the conditions are good.
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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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Absolutely hammering down most of today and continuing tonight in the west of Scotland according to radar. Could be impressive high up once the weather clears.
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Glenshee hoping to run some lifts tomorrow. Probably the best bet to get underway quickly after the storm.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Touring gear packed....along with mountain bikes and walking kit. Setting off early tomorrow (for Glenshee?) with all bases covered in terms of outdoor pursuits in case we end up staying in Scotland until the weekend. Plan is to play it by ear in terms of the weather..... 
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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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Forecast looks like the wind will drop a little over the next few days.. if it does, it could turn out to be an awesome newyear break. I'll definitely be taking the skins in case lifts don't open tho
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Ace day at cairngorm today. 21 years since my last visit. The views down to the loch were a bit special.
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You know it makes sense.
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Mattmulkeen,
Great stuff! Glad you enjoyed it - but make sure you don't wait another 21 years!
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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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Bergmeister,
Too right - no excuse not to get back up more often. It's where I learnt to ski too!
Snow conditions were really quality today. They had a good few lifts back on by three. If the winds stay down, should be good tomorrow.
Gun barrel my favourite today of the few we saw!
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Poster: A snowHead
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Queues today were indeed beyond belief. Some lovely snow up there though and it didn't feel that busy on the hill.
The new ticketing system at cairngorm was having issues apparantly but once the new cards can be topped up online from home before travelling to resort, queues (at least anything approaching todays levels) should hopefully be a thing of the past.
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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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Yep a nightmare.
Arrived at 9.45am and got on the hill at 11.45. Okay i had to change, get to the bus. Get in the wrong bit of the queue that added 30mins onto queue
But 30 minutes would have made 90minutes of a difference
However this is a one off really and was marshalled expertly by Windymillar. Nice to meet you Graham.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm all packed and ready to head up tomorrow. I'll probably arrive at the 'Coe quite late, LONG after the lifts have shut, but I hope to be out on the hill on the 31st. Anyone else about fancy a bit of a slide? I'll have the skins with me if a bit of trekking for better conditions are required.
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moffatross, looks great.
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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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Enjoying these pics. Never skied in Scotland, but what an advert!
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moffatrossThat's amazing! I could be tempted! The hills around Drumochter have always looked appealing (and would save us a fair bit of driving to our usual Cairngorm ski touring) - so a few questions for you:
- Is the last pic looking north or south?
- Is there a straightforward introductory route (maybe just a few hours?) that you could suggest at Drumochter? If so, I'll look it up on Bing's OS Maps online with a view to buying the local OS map. Any directions/alternative routes would be excellent - we wouldn't be after anything too gnarly (on avalanche avoidance grounds as much as anything else).
Cheers! 
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FAQ
!!....Pity as the snow is building nicely at all centres. Still haven't ruled out a cheeky day or two between Christmas and New Year so it's everything crossed for a lull in the winds.... 
