 Poster: A snowHead
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Almost all cars etc are automatic.
Boot rooms are not a thing. Banff is really designed around summer, winter is the low season so for the hotels it's not a focus. The ski resorts are more focused on the weekend traffic from the cities and not really the international tourists.
I like panorama but it's expensive. Pano and Revy would be a good trip. I've only been to red mountain once and it was great but it's a real journey to get to....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@sweaman22, yeah I liked Panorama too last time but they weren’t offering the bus to Panorama this year due to ‘logistical reasons’ which was a shame as I’d have gone again.
Hmmm yes I’d noticed that about Red. Maybe that’s the answer then, Panorama first staying in Invermere then Revelstoke. Or, could do Fernie and Kicking Horse using Epic but that only covers 7 days across RCR resorts.
They don’t make it easy do they?
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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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@VolklAttivaS5, indeed very few manuals anymore. And yes, the appetizer portion of the menu is a good way to get smaller portions and lower cost. Saves room for chocolate with the red wine after dinner as well!
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Although Canada legalised cannabis in Oct 2018 I can’t remember smelling it so much last time I was here, as soon as you go outside of the hotel into the street you can smell it.
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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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Cannabis has definitely got worse... There's been an explosion of shops in the last few years.
If you're thinking RCR than consider the RCR Rockies Card... (I honestly don't know if it'd work for a non-CDN address though).
https://skircr.com/purchase/rcr-rockies-card/
You'd probably need to crack open Excel to see if the economics work but most CDN's have a variety of these cards. I have the RCR, Sunshine and Lake Lousie. With careful planning you can optimize quite a few ski days...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Last time I was there you couldn’t even walk past the Youth Hostel without getting high! It was surrounded by a haze of smoke….
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sweaman22, Cant see why the RCR card wouldnt work, we've used the Lake Louise Card a number of times when there. Pays off quite well tbh.
VolklAttivaS5, Most accomodation in Revelstoke will sell you discounted tickets, usually around 20% off.
Red Mtn is well worth the hassle of getting there, and dont discount a day at Whiteaater too - trail map doesnt do it justice tbh. Both will always be on our roadtrip intinery - even though Red is getting more comercialised now. Both are hardcore ski bum territory 
B+B's will often have a 'boot room', usually in the garage complete with warmers etc. Some have ski servicing areas/tools too if you require. AS mentioned dont usaully see boot rooms in hotels though.
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@VolklAttivaS5, have you tried Earl's yet? We tend to eat there quite a lot as the food is fresh and there are some health(ier) dishes avaialble. We find eating out the hardest thing about Banff as it is difficult to find non junk food without eating big meals. Our other stand by is the stir fry place in the Mall. Not atmospheric, but a bit of a break from restaurants. We stay at the Banff Aspen Lodge when we're there, they include a really good breakfast so it makes life in the morning easier and cheaper.
Fingers crossed about the snow. Have you been to a hockey game yet? I grew up in North America and hockey was the foremost sport - I have transferred my allegiance from the Maple Leafs to the Calgary Flames (sort of, I still check the Leaf's results) but it's a real slice of Canada if you want a bit of a diversion. There are bus excursions from Banff when there are home games on at the Saddledome in Calgary.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Bones, I wish there was a ski tuning room as my skis have had loads of rock dings this week! The most ever! Nothing down to the core but the rocks are just under the surface on the pistes.
Had a great day at Sunshine today though, it looks like they’ve either had more snow or they’ve done some piste preparation with the ‘farmed’ snow. That run down from the top of Goat’s Eye was ‘kin awful the other day and today it was sooo much better.
Got some proper freshies in today too. They say snow is forecast over the weekend let’s hope so.
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@Bones, I think I’m going to have to sit down and think out an itinerary so I can fit all these places in.
The most expensive part is the lift tickets so it’s how to best do that so can do Whitewater, Red, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Panorama. Would probably want to do Sunshine and Lake Louise too. Think it would have to be over 3 weeks not 2 and stay in places with washing machines.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| lynnecha wrote: |
@VolklAttivaS5, have you tried Earl's yet? We tend to eat there quite a lot as the food is fresh and there are some health(ier) dishes avaialble. We find eating out the hardest thing about Banff as it is difficult to find non junk food without eating big meals. Our other stand by is the stir fry place in the Mall. Not atmospheric, but a bit of a break from restaurants. We stay at the Banff Aspen Lodge when we're there, they include a really good breakfast so it makes life in the morning easier and cheaper.
Fingers crossed about the snow. Have you been to a hockey game yet? I grew up in North America and hockey was the foremost sport - I have transferred my allegiance from the Maple Leafs to the Calgary Flames (sort of, I still check the Leaf's results) but it's a real slice of Canada if you want a bit of a diversion. There are bus excursions from Banff when there are home games on at the Saddledome in Calgary. |
We really liked Park Distillery to eat last year, and Hello Sunshine was great for sushi. Looking forward to getting back there next month.
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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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@lynnecha, no I’ve not been to Earl’s will have a look for that. Thanks.
I’ve not been to a hockey game no, I’m not sure I will have time to fit that in now as I go back next Wednesday. I will look! I’ve seen it on telly in Boston’s Pizza when I’ve been in there though.
Yes it’s true there is a huge amount of junk food available here. I do miss the food in the Alps for wholesome variety. Yesterday in Chili’s the starter was junky to be honest but there was a lot of chicken at least as I do try and eat a good amount of protein every day (it was the boneless wings). 1400 cals in that dish alone as I had a look on My Fitness Pal! That’s because of the amount of cheese all over it. Didn’t want anything else after that. I don’t eat a great deal on skiing holidays though, I used to but now I’ve found if I just eat a normal amount each day as if I was at work I come home lighter than when I went by about 2kg. Fruit I get hold of from the supermarket especially as you can keep it in the fridge in the hotel rooms here and you don’t have that in the Alps unless it’s an apartment.
In Chili’s they do the Mexican salad sort of bowl which had plenty of veg and greens in so I will try that when I go in there after I get back this afternoon.
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@narbs, I think they are expecting some sort of Siberian weather front coming in at the end of the month as I heard a woman on about it in the supermarket yesterday saying she hoped it missed them. I thought, hmmm no you want the snow 
So you should be alright in Feb.
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You know it makes sense.
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At Moose we are just room only. I get booted out of the bed and I make my way to Whitebark coffee house just across the road. TBH I love it as they are pleasant people in there and it kinda starts the day with a nice fresh coffee and porridge or whatever delights they have on offer. Generally healthy options. Zuchini and Chocolate muffins are amazing.
Totally agree that the food in Banff could be a bit more healthy but it's only two weeks of my year that my diet goes slightly off target. But I think bollox to it just ski harder.
I had some nice salmon and veggies in the 3 Bears brewery last time as it was new spot from when we were there in 2020 ,Oh and the roasted cauliflower starter was excellent. Mrs is veggie so do have to look hard for food but can't complain. There is nourish I think they call it some veggie spot.
Park Distillery is a decent shout too for nice food. We always bring back a bottle of there Gin to remind us of what we miss.
Also as our room has a sitting area the supermarkets have a decent take out or cook your own food. We buy in some fruit and bits to stick in the fridge. Oh and a slab or two of beer for the hot tub.
Us neither been to Earls will give it go. Every restaurant does a salad of some description.
Here's hoping for the Siberian blast.
Personally we wouldn't swap it for France!!
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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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@RoamingBull, when I said I miss the food in the Alps I meant Austria really tbh as that’s where I do all of my skiing in the Alps these days. Haven’t been to France in years. I like the food in Austria because I find it’s excellent value for money, home cooked for the most part and wholesome.
Yesterday afternoon I went back to Chili’s and this time I had the steak and chicken fajitas which was actually a very healthy option as there was hardly any cheese with it.
They were very nice.
It’s meant to snow throughout the day at Sunshine according to the SSV write up and it’s showing -7 whereas LL is -11 (LL say it’s going to snow tonight) so I reckon Sunshine today and decide where the most snow is for tomorrow!
Skis crossed!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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I like the massive rooms in Canada forgot to say and also there’s way more chance of powder days here whereas in the Alps (anywhere) you have to be lucky with the temperature, wind, amount of snow fall, there is a bigger temperature fluctuation there so those days of deep fluffy cold powder are few and far between. They do seem to have had a good week of it this week though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@VolklAttivaS5,
Snowing here in Whistler. Unfortunately half the planet seems to be here too 
Missing Whitewater (and even Kicking Horse)
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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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@VolklAttivaS5, @RoamingBull, so good to hear how you are enjoying Banff, LL and Sunshine. Whilst we are on the topic of food, if you want to treat yourself to a real Canadian breakfast, check out Melissa's opposite the Banff Park Lodge. Very popular with locals - you usually have to queue but they have the whole works - pancakes, eggs, Canadian bacon, sausage etc etc. We always treat ourselved once in the trip, on a day off non- ski day. They do evening meals as well, but we've never been in the evenings.
The other fun thing to compare is favourite runs at LL and Sunshine. For LL, ours is the mens down hill WC course, top to bottom non stop ( Top of the world, sunchine coast, down the big highway to the mens down hill , all the way down to the finish at the base. Alternatively, another long run favourite is out of the Gondola, turn left, down the wide piste, keep left onto Meadowlark, and down the finish back to the Gondola. At Sunshine its Goats Eye, top to bottom, every time. Check the list in the lodge in the morning or on line which tells you what's been pisted and what hasn't. When Meadowlark has been pisted it is an absolutely fantastic carve all the way down. We have skied them so many times, you get used to exactly where to pressure, where to sweep the turn, etc. I can feel it under my feet now.
Can't wait to do it for real in three weeks. Three years is a long time to be away.
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| stuarth wrote: |
@VolklAttivaS5,
Snowing here in Whistler. Unfortunately half the planet seems to be here too
Missing Whitewater (and even Kicking Horse) |
It was very busy in Sunshine today, I only did the morning until 1pm. The helmet cam brigade were out so you had to watch where they were going (as they are interested in recording themselves doing a trick).
They said snow throughout Saturday this morning but it’s sunny and quite windy, not many clouds so I can’t see it happening tbh.
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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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@lynnecha, I hope it snows for you. It surely must dump 1 metre at least soon. Piste conditions here though are what the vast majority of people in Alpine resorts would gush about as being fantastic because it’s cold and sunny but of course if I wanted to ski round on the pistes we have thousands and thousands of km of those in Europe. I’ve come here for the deep snow and haven’t had any. That’s how it is though and it’s still been a really nice holiday with some beautiful scenery as usual.
Yesterday I saw 3 deer walking down the street by my hotel, I was literally 50cm from one of them whilst another one ran down the road. I’ve seen plenty of deer growing up as a child but never been this close to them.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@VolklAttivaS5, we were up one morning very early and there were deer walking through town. One of them stopped at the traffic lights and let a car pass. I have it on video- it was surreal.
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@lynnecha, this was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon so lots of people around and they weren’t worried.
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
@lynnecha, I hope it snows for you. It surely must dump 1 metre at least soon. Piste conditions here though are what the vast majority of people in Alpine resorts would gush about as being fantastic because it’s cold and sunny but of course if I wanted to ski round on the pistes we have thousands and thousands of km of those in Europe. I’ve come here for the deep snow and haven’t had any. That’s how it is though and it’s still been a really nice holiday with some beautiful scenery as usual.
Yesterday I saw 3 deer walking down the street by my hotel, I was literally 50cm from one of them whilst another one ran down the road. I’ve seen plenty of deer growing up as a child but never been this close to them. |
Standard in Banff. Elk practically used to walk into our appartment when I worked there many moons ago.
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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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I've commented before (maybe even in this epic thread) but I think Banff is a master of marketing in terms of big powder days...... Even in a good year (which sadly this isn't) they aren't frequent. The Monashees are where you want to be for that; so Revy, Red and Whitewater closely followed by silver Star. Big white and Sun peaks (maybe). To my mind they have the best compromise of distance from the ocean (so generally colder) but not so far the storms loose their energy. Of course they are further from international airports which makes getting their harder but they are also quieter.
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@sweaman22, yeah I’m thinking that, I think I got lucky last time in Feb 2020.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| lynnecha wrote: |
@VolklAttivaS5, @RoamingBull, so good to hear how you are enjoying Banff, LL and Sunshine. Whilst we are on the topic of food, if you want to treat yourself to a real Canadian breakfast, check out Melissa's opposite the Banff Park Lodge. Very popular with locals - you usually have to queue but they have the whole works - pancakes, eggs, Canadian bacon, sausage etc etc. We always treat ourselved once in the trip, on a day off non- ski day. They do evening meals as well, but we've never been in the evenings.
The other fun thing to compare is favourite runs at LL and Sunshine. For LL, ours is the mens down hill WC course, top to bottom non stop ( Top of the world, sunchine coast, down the big highway to the mens down hill , all the way down to the finish at the base. Alternatively, another long run favourite is out of the Gondola, turn left, down the wide piste, keep left onto Meadowlark, and down the finish back to the Gondola. At Sunshine its Goats Eye, top to bottom, every time. Check the list in the lodge in the morning or on line which tells you what's been pisted and what hasn't. When Meadowlark has been pisted it is an absolutely fantastic carve all the way down. We have skied them so many times, you get used to exactly where to pressure, where to sweep the turn, etc. I can feel it under my feet now.
Can't wait to do it for real in three weeks. Three years is a long time to be away. |
Hey not enjoying Banff and surrounding areas yet as we are due into Banff 23rd February.
Sunshine Coast is my wife's favourite run. She's a steady Eddie but that doesn't matter as we just go to enjoy ourselves than to cause ourselves an injury. The whole holiday is great. We have 14 nights booked at the Moose, 11 days ski pass and a couple of days off as and when we fancy.
Last April was so nice, Lots of snow and beautiful days too. We walked the golfcourse over the bridge near fairmont. We saw lots of Elk there grazing. Also as someone has stated that the deer come into town, for sure they do as we had to stop on the ski bus to allow them to trot across the road. One other evening they were within feet of us as they just meandered across the road near Rose and Crown.
Just out of interest Melissa's is on Banff avenue in Wild Bill's old spot or was last year. Unless there old place was being refurbished??
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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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https://melissasmissteak.com/
@RoamingBull, you are quite right. It’s moved after 45 years of being opposite the Banff Park Lodge. I had no idea- it was in its original location since 1978!
It seems to have reinvented itself a bit- I hope the breakfasts are still ok. Time marches on!
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@sweaman22, I think you are spot on with the marketing point. There are some absolutely epic days at Sunshine, but in the 15 yrs we’ve been to Banff they are memorable events. We’ve had more consistent deep snow in Colorado. I lived in Denver as a teenager so I have a more consistent experience to draw on, but the draw for us to Banff is the lack of crowds- we’ve spent late season being the only people on Goats Eye lift for entire afternoons. I just have enormous affection for the place.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
1400 cals in that dish alone as I had a look on My Fitness Pal! That’s because of the amount of cheese all over it
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I'm not sure this is really a Canadian thing though. Last 2 times I've eaten out in UK 1300-1600kcal seems to be the norm for a lot of dishes. Other day had fish and chips in the pub and that was 1400kcal for what looked like a pretty normal size portion.
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There are some absolutely epic days at Sunshine, but in the 15 yrs we’ve been to Banff they are memorable events.
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I think people overestimate how often powder days occur in general. I've done a few seasons in the Rockies and normal ime is around 4-6 per winter. Banff does seem to get less snow than other resorts. Ime generally whenever a storm rolls through fernie gets the most snow, then revy, then KH, and finally Banff resorts get the least.
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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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boarder2020, Revvy averages the most snowfall per season, around 600 inches where as Fernie is more like 350 - 400 inches. 
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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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| Bones wrote: |
| boarder2020, Revvy averages the most snowfall per season, around 600 inches where as Fernie is more like 350 - 400 inches. |
Google says 227" for revy and 360" for fernie. Whistler gets 426" and there's no way revy averages 150% of whistler!
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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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@boarder2020, true, but this dish was in the starter section so by UK standards you would be hard pushed to find 1400 cals in a starter in my experience, a main dish in the UK, oh yes definitely possible.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Banff skiing isn't one place of course. LL is rather notorious for being in a kink in the Rockies and thus missing out on some dumps. Local topography and wind direction can have major impacts.
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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.
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For NA snow stats Tony Crocker is about the most reliable obsessive. Clearly by his tracking LL gets about half the snow on average of Revy and Fernie.
https://bestsnow.net/
He has LL at 6% chance of a 6+ inch powder day vs Alta at 22% in a 7 day holiday.
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@Bones, yes the problem with stats is someone can cherry pick an outlier season to make it look like revelstoke averages 600 inches 
Revelstoke resorts own website says it averages 413 inches per season. I doubt they'd underestimate, in fact most resorts put their snow measurement in a very favourable location.
The best snow website linked above is about as good as it gets for weather stats. Clearly some resorts in Canada are better than others, but if you want guaranteed powder Japan is a better bet.
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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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Looks the next ‘proper’ dump of snow is going to be from Friday next week. The temperature is going to drop a lot too, it’s about -8 to -10C at the moment and it looks like it’s going to be more like -15 to -25C which I guess would be more like normal for the time of year.
So for those coming out in Feb I think it will have had a decent 30cm plus dump by then.
I think Feb could be a rather snowy month.
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@VolklAttivaS5, fingers crossed!
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FAQ
We all know there's statistics 