 Poster: A snowHead
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kitenski,
Yes.
I'm a season ticket holder and would quite like to be able to use the train when there is snow on the ground and I want to go for a ski even if there are no other facilities open. Whats the difference between me skinning up or taking the train up other than the fact that (if i weren't a season ticket holder) that in the latter case CML would be making some money.
I was pissed off last season when I drove over to find they were running the closed system because it was too windy to run the top lifts. I skinned up and skied from the Ptarmigan to midstation, on what for me on my rock hoppers were adequate conditions, would have liked to have caught the train for a few more runs, but no deal. CML were worried about punters complaining (of ski damage) because the links back to midstation were a bit 'minimal'. At least that was their excuse for not allowing any skiers use.
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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.
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I spy with my little eye ...
... a pisting machine!
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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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Looks like they're doing something over by the Ptarmigan tow ...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Nice - that mean the scottish sason is officiallyuupon you....
could just get your skins on and get up there?
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| swifty wrote: |
| could just get your skins on and get up there? |
yes, as been done already by the pics posted a bit further back...
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swifty, yeah skinning up has been happening this week for sure (see piccy of Hilly/Helen's sliding yesterday further up the thread, and a load more piccies on Wingerhighand). In fact first skinning on new snow took place back in October. If the lifts don't run this weekend I'm sure plenty of people will go for a skin anyway but it's nice to be able to say that the Scottish season has 'officially' started, and it'll be something that'll get media mentions as well which helps to keep Scottish skiing current. We can only say the season has 'officially' started once some of the lifts are running so that's why it's good to see.
BTW, they're still doing something over by the Ptarmigan tow but there's no hangers on it yet, one of the towers seems to be taking all their attention at the moment unless I've missed them heading further up the tow track.
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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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roga, where do they normally post 'first' news of potential opening? Twitter, blog or web page?
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Usually on the blog and webpage kitenski
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Latest word from Colin on the Cairngorm blog at 5.45 today:
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| Not really enough yet to ski on back to the middle, top bowls do not have enough yet, however there is more snow forecast and high winds tomorrow. We will review daily and see what comes. |
So basically it sounds as if there's not quite enough on the runs although they look very white (I'm guessing with rock hoppers it'd be okay but obvously most people are after a bit better coverage), there are quite large boulders around that need to be covered so we're not talking Alpine meadows, but with a bit more snow and some extra wind blown they may well be in a position to open.
So watch this or that  space!
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brian
brian
Guest
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Looks like most of last night's precip fell in the favoured frozen condition on Cairngorm and Glenshee.  It's probably thawing just now, but in a helpful consolidating rather than disastrous washout kind of a way.
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Hot off the press from Cairngorm web site
they say
""Drifts of snow are being dozed by the small KB piste machine at present. Things are looking better today. Subject to conditions being favourable a decision on snowsports at the weekend will be made tomorrow Friday 12th""
Yeeeessssssssss
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You know it makes sense.
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Fingers crossed for Saturday , up in Aviemore for the Cairngorm Ski Club sale and to pick up my new season pass. Looks like I may be lucky and get an afternoon slide in too.
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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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 Looking good for the weekend!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Front page of the Herald this morning
'A Scots ski resort has turned a £40,000 loss into a £730,000 profit after last season bumper snowfall'
It goes on to state that Cairngorm received 21ft of snow and had 145,007 skier days. A 25% increase in season ticket applications is mentioned alongside a planned feasibility study for the redevelopment of the lower Coire na Ciste area.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Cracking news 
The BBC news weather last night suggested snow from 200m IIRC. That weather front (rain across the UK) has literally just "hit" where I am (darn sarf) - how's it looking up there?
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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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mountainaddict, they've run at a loss for long enough that any sensible management would pay back some creditors and bank what they can against a rainy day (or poor season). The trick is to be running in 5 years, not to have the best kit in a closed ski resort.
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brian
brian
Guest
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ousekjarr, that's not really the point. They are talking about investing in infrastructure, just not skiing infrastructure.
"However, with climate change still a real threat to the success of any winter skiing operation in Scotland, it is not the intention of the board to rush into any major investment in skiing, but rather to improve on and consolidate what they have at present."
He said the board will examine projects that could also add value to the winter operation, but he continued: "With the exception of the spectacular winter just past, it is the non-skiing customers who have been the largest source of income since the funicular was opened in 2001.
"To that end, the board is actively considering what additional facilities can be added to the mountain experience."
Did they ever consider that the drop in non-skiing visitors might be because given good skiing conditions they went skiing instead. 
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Did i not read somewhere they were going to open up a biking run and also get the chair lift back in operation again?
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shoogly, I think that's what the 'feasibility study' refers to (the chairlift).
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| ousekjarr wrote: |
| mountainaddict, they've run at a loss for long enough that any sensible management would pay back some creditors and bank what they can against a rainy day (or poor season). The trick is to be running in 5 years, not to have the best kit in a closed ski resort. |
Don't kid yourself there's any kind of strategic vision for dealing with the future here, they prattle on about global warming, yet have over the past decade removed 50% of mid-mountain uplift, while maintaining 100% of lower mountain uplift in Coire Cas.
Now their going to do nothing about addressing the mid mountain uplift situation because global warming is a threat, so instead they'll invest more money in the lowest lift on the hill further shifting the imbalance in uplift capacity in favour of the lower slopes.
CML alone has been systematically decommissioning and dismantling it's snowsports infrastructure. CML say they are working on priorities, well given they could spare staff to Gas Axe the Aonach Poma during half term, as far as I'm concerned actions speak louder than words so it's clear where snowsports are in these priorities.
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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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Winterhighland, still having problems with the webcams?
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shoogly, CML are proposing to extend the Coire na Ciste Chairlift, build a road into Coire na Ciste and develop mountain biking trails. The extension to the Ciste Chair will solve none of the existing issues and create more new ones, it will of course completely isolate the West Wall Chair and Boardwalk and leave the ridiculous situation where if you ski down the Gully at the end of the day and come out the boardwalk, or ski down OverYonder, you then have to walk up to above the WWP in order to continue down.
Removing the mid-station chairlift interchange will completely debase the chairlift system as it will no longer be a complete whole, but two disjointed parts. More often than not access between the top terminal of the Ciste Chair and the WWP will be more difficult than at present and the situation of the new terminal may very well further hinder the already frequently difficult traverse out of the Ciste Gully to the WWP.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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 tell a lie, decision made - Cairngorm is a go for the weekend, from Colin's blog:
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"Snow Making"
November 11th, 2010
Apologies again but our wee talisman has done the job again, unfortuneatly the wind changed and we could not quite fill the top bowls but have done a fairly good job filling in the gun barrel and White Lady. As a result we plan to open for skiing this weekend. It will probably be just the train for uplift. We will try and offer a semi decent part pisted run from the top down the traverse, cas uptrack and then the zig zags. and it will be as you find it for the Lady and gunbarrel for the more adventurous. Bit of a nightmare trying to get up the Traverse this morning with the 100, Can am and skidoos. It was drifting in just as fast behind us so we never hung around very long at the top. There is more snow forecast and at the moment the weekend forecast is for light winds. Anyway it is a start, could we be the first ski area in in the Northern Hemisphere to offer “Funicular” served skiing? I am sure some stat buffs will keep me right!
Cheers
Colin |
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You know it makes sense.
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roga, BBC weather this morning looked like potentially fresh snow all Saturday, leaving Sunday as being a pretty nice day!!
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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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And who's working at the weekend? Me. Hrumph. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Latest from the CM website:
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We will open for snowsports this weekend, with just the train for uplift. We will try and offer a semi decent part pisted run from the top down the Traverse, Cas uptrack and then the Zig Zags. It will be as you find it for the Lady and Gunbarrel for the more adventurous.
Ticket prices for snowsports will be set the same as funicular day tickets for this weekend as displayed below.
Season tickets from 2009/2010 and also new 2010/2011 passes will also be valid.
Local residents for this weekend only can avail of our £1 special offer advertised in this weeks Strathy - (must show utility bill as proof of local residency along with the cut-out voucher) either to get a £1 funicular ticket or a £1 ski ticket.
Hire : No hire is available onsite, please hire before arriving up the mountain.
Opening times : Cas Bar & Ticket Office open at 10:00 first train up at 10:20, last train up at 15:20 and last train down at 16:00. Trains running on demand.
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Anyone thinking of heading up? I'm trying to decide whether it'd be worth the drive. Well, I don't mind the drive, I should say worth the cost in petrol Sounds like some of the Cas area, gunbarrel and zig-zags will be open, possibly white lady. What ya reckon?
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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'm probably going to head across on Sunday (as a minimum I can pick up this years season ticket).
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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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crispyste, Its a long way from North Yorkshire for what will be thin early season cover IMHO
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| kitenski wrote: |
| crispyste, Its a long way from North Yorkshire for what will be thin early season cover IMHO |
Yup I know, it's six hour drive. it just seems like forever since I was last on the snow, can't wait!
Thanks for the opinion though.
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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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Definitely heading up Sunday with a few folks, can't wait!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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For anyone who was confused by tonight's Reporting Scotland weather bulletin that wrongly stated all ski areas are closed for snowsports this weekend please be aware they were speaking complete tosh - Cairngorm WILL open tomorrow and Sunday for snowports, from the Cairngorm Mountain website:
| Quote: |
After just a gap of 145 days, we're back sliding around!!
Snowsports - Latest News!
We will open for snowsports this weekend, with just the train for uplift. We will try and offer a semi decent part pisted run from the top down the Traverse, Cas uptrack and then the Zig Zags. It will be as you find it for the Lady and Gunbarrel for the more adventurous.
Ticket prices for snowsports will be set the same as funicular day tickets for this weekend as displayed below.
Season tickets from 2009/2010 and also new 2010/2011 passes will also be valid.
Local residents for this weekend only can avail of our £1 special offer advertised in this weeks Strathy - (must show utility bill as proof of local residency along with the cut-out voucher) either to get a £1 funicular ticket or a £1 ski ticket.
Hire : No hire is available onsite, please hire before arriving up the mountain.
Opening times : Cas Bar & Ticket Office open at 10:00 first train up at 10:20, last train up at 15:20 and last train down at 16:00. Trains running on demand.
Check blog for latest Patrol report |
From the Cairngorm blog:
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Just skied down from the top and the zigzags have suffered with the milder temps. Best route is down the traverse 105 and then the gunbarrel. The first two zz's are just passable and then cut accross to the gun barrel. The White Lady could be good fun for experts but again it has gone pretty soft. Bring your rock hoppers!!
Latest forecast suggests going back to Northerlies on Sunday and Monday with more snow coming in. Is this the start of a long season again I wonder |
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scotia, looks like Sunday wil be the better day to be honest although there might be fresh snow overnight tonight. Overheads look to be better Sunday though so have a great day.
That goes for everyone heading up to Cairngorm this weekend, have a fantastic time. Unfortunately I can't be there (am instructing on dry) but will be there in a few weeks time - let's hope the base builds in the meantime and conditions continue to improve.
Go for it guys
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Every camera on Glencoe site (apart from the two that are showing old images) are in total whiteout
I have to go to a doo in Edinburgh on Sunday!!! Sniff!!!
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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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Ptarmigan webcam at cairngorm seems to show more snow on the ground.
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Yup, word on the ground is there's been 3 to 5 cms at mid mountain level and more at the top - certainly looks to have freshened everything up a lot and after yesterdays freeze/thaw the base should be a lot more solid.
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FAQ
