Poster: A snowHead
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On Tuesday (21st July) a small group undertook a day of fascinating ski archaeology in the Southern Cairngorms. Present were Dr Adam Watson, Helen, Jamie (Highland Instinct), Jamie's father and myself on the slopes of Creag Bhalg, home to the ultimately unsuccessful and short lived Mar Lodge Ski Centre.
^View down the line taken by one of the Mar Lodge pistes through a plantation known locally as the 'Maple Leaf'.
^Mar Lodge, the start point for the day and home to the base facilities when the ski area was operational.
^One of numerous pairs of supports for the snow making air and water pipes which were carried above ground. Lower one still complete with the wedge which screwed down to hold the pipes in place.
The tows long gone from the South facing slopes behind Mar Lodge are not entirely forgotten, the main T-bar still serves Scottish Snowsports today as the Cairnwell T-Bar. The mostly wooden supports that carried the air and water pipes for snow making mark the up-tracks and some of the pistes and are numerous across the slopes.
We found much more than expected and you could in places imagine the tows and the skiers long gone from these slopes. The descents through the forest, narrow, steep s-curve (significantly steeper than the White Lady on the main pitch), would be a beautiful line on modern kit - it would have been in a different league of intimidation on early 60's planks!
More information on the Mar Lodge Ski Area can be found on Highland Instinct's Ski Area section. More photos from Tuesday are available on Winterhighland and Highland-Instinct:
http://www.winterhighland.info/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=552
http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/gallery/misc/3/sc/09jul21/
Have any Snowheads skied Mar Lodge, any photos or stories to share?
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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 second shorter tow was also moved to Glenshee and became (I think) the trainer tow to the left of Claybokie.
When it was decommissioned about 10 years ago Yad Moss was conatcted about buying it. We didn't so unfortunately a piece of Scottish ski history has I assumed, been scrapped. The Cairnwell is still going strong though 46 years on and continues to serve good skiing at Glenshee.
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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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Does anyone know how much money it takes to run a fishing lodge in Canada? I am looking for the wages of all employees of a fishing lodge. Some examples are guides, shore staff, chef, pilot, mechanic, etc... Any other information anyone could give me that would be great. Thank You!
__________
asian marriage
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Fri 7-08-09 7:01; edited 1 time in total
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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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BTW, interesting thread which I hadn't seen when first posted - now where's DG, I'm sure he'd have a story to tell about it!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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shannoni, it takes about CAN$140,000 per month. If you're asking, you're not right for the job. Welcome, and congratulations on the forum's most random first post.
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Winterhighland, thanks for posting that, I'm up that way a bit so I'll keep my eyes open next time. Nice to see it opened within a month of my birth too
A most impressive beard you have, if I may say.
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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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Mosha Marc,
I'm afraid the beard doesn't belong to Winterhighland, but to Adam Watson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Watson_(scientist)
but yes it definitely is an impressive beard.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Thu 6-08-09 11:49; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Dave Horsley, t'was a poor attempt at humour I'm afraid.
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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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I guessed that but Adam Watson is an interesting bloke, and it was an excuse to post his wikepedia page. The winterhighland web site is in summer mode at the moment with some interesting threads on snow patches, lichenography and gaelic place names and also some interesting tales from Chionophile on touring in scotland in the early days.
If any one is out walking in the UK and comes across any snow patches info and photos on the thread http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/read.php?2,105949,page=20 would welcomed by the surveyors.
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Dave I think this is the correct link.
EDIT.
Oh ??? For some reason it won't let me do that. Have to click on Adam Watson Scottish scientist.
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You know it makes sense.
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The link wont copy over correctly, I think the brackets around scientist are causing the problem.
The link should be "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Watson_(scientist)"
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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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Wow, never knew this existed, what caused it to shut down, and has anyone ever considered re-opening it?
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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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kitenski, for a short moment yes; now looking at fishing lodges in Canada
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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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Though 1963 was about the highlight of my early skiing career (got my first pair of skis), I never managed past Cairnwell, so I never enjoyed the Continental gaiety and up-to-the-minute comfort that Mar Lodge offered. Pity, really.
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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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Ever since this day in the summer I've felt inspired to return to the site of the old Mar Lodge Ski Centre in order to experience it in winter... and today I did! Must be about the only person to ski there in over 40 years?
Photos here (over 2 pages)
http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/gallery/misc/3/sc/09dec26/
I love this country.
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