 Poster: A snowHead
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| haggishunter wrote: |
@kitenski, I suspect lower down has got scoured quite a bit since Sunday afternoon, look at the angle of the T-bars and the Gondola never opened at all today.
Of course if there was the will to open, some thoughts of snow management, groomers would have been out to try and pack down snow to reduce the potential for such scouring.
As others have mentioned, the snow arrives and CML decides to start closing mid-week. Some fairly caustic replies from usually fairly diplomatic locals fired at CML on Facebook and quickly deleted. It does seem that expecting the staff (who’s jobs are safe via the average of £2m per year public subsidy poured into CML over and above the funicular farce) to have to face the burden of paying public is an unrealistic expectation!
The mere fact how little comment is being made about the ***** shows on CairnGorm and at Nevis Range shows how effective HIE have been at burying the Scottish snowsports industry. |
We went to Aviemore for 5 days in the half term. The decline of Cairngorm is a real shame as the staff were all lovely and friendly, the cafe was great but even little things like the shop and cafe closed as soon as the lifts shut, when we, as a family, and many other families, were keen to spend on hot chocolates and mementoes but everything was shut, show that the attitude to "make it work" isn't there.
I still love skiing in Scotland, I really think it is something special, but the sad demise of the Braveheart chair is indicative of the lack of desire to maintain an exciting and attractive ski experience that will keep bring the punters in. Managed decline springs to mind......
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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 skied Cairngorm Mountain on Thursday and Friday. Very little open due to high winds and not much snow, but the Ptarmigan T-bar was running and the pistes around it had very nice snow. Big walk up to get to the bottom of the M1 Poma and the descent back down to it was great at the top, but wind-scoured with lots of stones at the bottom. Not the place for your best skis. I was there for my BASI course, wouldn't have gone back for a second day if I'd just been skiing for fun. Update this morning is that the Ptarmigan is shut as the wind has changed direction, so only really M1 and Gun Barrel open.
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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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@Valkyrie, are you doing a week basi course? Have fun
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@kitenski, that was the last two days of my L1 Ski. First two days were on plastic, one day at Loch Insh followed by one at Glenmore Lodge. Don’t know if I would describe it as fun, but it was an excellent bit of coaching. The trainer, Elaine, had an uncanny ability to identify faults in my skiing which at times felt a bit deflating but at least I came away with some clear ideas for improvement. And a pass! Now I just need to find somewhere to get my shadowing experience.
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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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@Valkyrie, any thoughts on the new surface at Loch Insh?
Be glad you L1 was this week, the forecast for next week is turning into a washout.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@haggishunter, Loch Insh surface was nice and smooth, no edges sticking up to catch on like you used to get at Hillend. But it’s a very slow surface, okay for skiing down on but the amount of friction meant that the rope tow was a real workout. One of the guys on my course really struggled to use it, the rope just kept slipping through his fingers. I’m told that they’ve got a sprinkler system fitted but not yet plumbed in, hopefully that should make a big difference.
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Finally going a bit colder in the UK, by next weekend. Fingers crossed.
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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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Drove past both Nevis Range and Glencoe late afternoon / early evening. Nevis Range has skied 2 (or 3 if being generous) days this season. The reality is there is more snow on Aonach Mor than on Meall a’ Bhuiridh. It is as it has been most of the winter, not that Nevis Range could not be open, it is is a question of the will to open.
Glencoe has had to doze hundreds of tons of snow, used snowblowers and a serious amount of shovelling to get and keep the Rannoch Button running on the upper mountain following the gearbox failure on the Main Basin T-bar. All Nevis had to do was lower the haul rope on the Goose and spin up the Quad for access, and along with the summit there would be more runs and more vertical than Glencoe can currently muster. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Glencoe webcam makes sad viewing.
I havent managed up at all this season, and unless something radical happens to temps and precipitation, that will be that...
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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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@mountainaddict, Cairngorm appear to have put more effort in than Nevis this year, inc adding in a tourers ski pass.
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| kitenski wrote: |
| @mountainaddict, Cairngorm appear to have put more effort in than Nevis this year, inc adding in a tourers ski pass. |
More effort doesnt equate to actually supporting snowsports.
Cairngorm have good coverage, but their daily line is that the skiing is only for advanced skiers/boarders, and that people need to undertake a "demanding" 30 minute walk to get to the M1 poma............and the same on the way back.
I know what you are saying, but its verging on pointless for many people.
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You know it makes sense.
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@GreenDay, I have a soft spot for Cairngorm as I learnt to ski there, but for an average, overweight punter it could well be a demanding 30min walk, I guess they are trying to be brutally honest for those use to ski in/out Alpine holidays!
But also hate what they've done getting ride of the Ciste area (had some great skiing in there) and obv the funicular debacle...
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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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@kitenski, Indeed - my formative ski years (outside of Hillend plastic) were days in Glenshee and longer trips to Cairngorm.
I had many wonderful times there with school trips.
Its horrible whats happened there and a reminder that public bodies are often awful at leading big infra projects................
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Poster: A snowHead
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I had a couple of days touring last week during a short break to Fort William, a morning on the Goose at Nevis and a day at Glencoe in the murk. £10 access chair uplift at Glencoe (the staff were super friendly) but £25 for the gondola ride (I think) at Nevis.
The Goose was 'crispy' - the dog looked like Bambi on ice. Glencoe was interesting. Lots of overseas visitors (Spanish) and amazingly a second day skier who'd been dragged up by his Bro. My wife didn't think too much of the new cafe but the new hotel across the road was good and not much more expensive plus an epic portion of cake....
I always enjoy my Scottish Skiing, but there is always an element of luck involved !
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There's some snow to report again! Glencoe aiming to open the Plateau Poma, Cliffhanger Chair and Rannoch Button on Sunday and the forecast is good.
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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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Absolutely chucking it down in Glencoe.
Snow down to the car park. Here is a picture of the dry slope behind the cafe.
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@GlasgowCyclops, I’m similarly in the car park. I’ll look out for you.
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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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@Ski lots, I’m in Glasgow today. I have to work on something.
Are you up tomorrow? I’m thinking of going.
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@GlasgowCyclops, Looking like I will be up tomorrow 
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@snowheid, I'm definitely going up. Are you on your Todd?
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@GlasgowCyclops, Aye, just me.
BTW I take it the gearbox for the main basin T-bar is still FUBAR? 
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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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@snowheid, Don't know. I was last up the other week but only on the dry slope
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| snowheid wrote: |
@GlasgowCyclops, Aye, just me.
BTW I take it the gearbox for the main basin T-bar is still FUBAR? |
Yep
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Looks kind of windy tomorrow. Lifts may not be running!
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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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@GlasgowCyclops, just come off the mountain, we are in a short sabbatical from Tignes. Snow was great high up, but viz was poor. Lower down a few sharks. My ski bases look like a wild cat’s scratching post. Won’t be up tomorrow. Top poma is working but not t-bar. It was quiet today but they are still p tiny to be busy tomorrow.
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Heading up the hill at Glencoe.
Green trousers, light blue jacket, white sweet helmet with Snowheads stickers on it.
Say hello
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You know it makes sense.
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@GlasgowCyclops, I have to give it a miss today  but may be up at weekend.
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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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@snowheid, get up early. There is a mega event on at Glencoe with parties all night etc.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The view , or not the view, that is the question. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@GlasgowCyclops, nice to see things have improved from yesterday.
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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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Second week in April could be good, looks like snow and cold is coming. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Ski lots, Im not up today but the images from Facebook look amazing.
The upper hill was lovely.
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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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@GlasgowCyclops, Yes the images on the webcams looked good, apart from the queues. Nice to see the place getting some business.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Was at Cairngorm today - toured out to Stag Rocks and did Diagonal Gully. Some lovely spring snow turns down 'Numbers' to start the day but Diagonal was very heavy, sloughing snow with a lot of rocks around so quite hard work but weather was very kind so a good day out. Finished down Cas headwall which is in decent condition.
Looking up Diagonal Gully
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Sorry for the late update, but Cairngorm on Easter Friday was bloody awesome. Only three tows running and the now usual walk up to the M1 Poma but blue skies and the whole area was weirdly quiet for a bank holiday. I think there were more tourers out than regular piste skiers. Lovely snow at the top, thin slush and gravel down at the bottom of the Gunbarrel.
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Glencoe is pretty good too. Well, above mid-mountain anyway. Sketchy getting to the Cliffy without taking skis off. Probably worse tomorrow. Got back to 1 pole from the bottom of the Access Poma with combat skiing this evening.  My son, I’ve not shrunk.
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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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| Valkyrie wrote: |
| Sorry for the late update, but Cairngorm on Easter Friday was bloody awesome. Only three tows running and the now usual walk up to the M1 Poma but blue skies and the whole area was weirdly quiet for a bank holiday. I think there were more tourers out than regular piste skiers. Lovely snow at the top, thin slush and gravel down at the bottom of the Gunbarrel. |
Hi, a quick question about the walk. Can it be done in walking boots and then swap? Is it on snow/ rock or a mixture? Thanks. I'm going to try one last day of skiing there before season end!
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@Deveron53, some people walk up in their ski boots but I’ve been walking up in approach shoes with my ski boots in my rucksack. Walk is mostly gravel with a bit of snow and ice. Could well change after this weekend’s weather.
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