Poster: A snowHead
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Ah thanks, I had thought your first line but hadn't realised the second. RIP Chizzy.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Very irritating that I've got a work commitment on Monday lunchtime, when that's usually my free day! Could be one of the best days of the season at Glencoe, given the current conditions and forecast.
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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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Why so few lifts open at Cairngorm?
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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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Ram80 wrote: |
Why so few lifts open at Cairngorm? |
HIE owned management.
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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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Quote: |
even chairlift tickets for sightseeing and sledging are showing sold out for Glencoe.
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Nice weather, great snow = busy
I don't think I've ever seen the queue for the top tow that far back. I hope they're not letting people ride the tow alone. Still, it beats queuing in Ikea or B&Q on a Sunday
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Confirms my rules for Scottish skiing.
Never at the weekend.
Never during school holidays.
Never the first big dump of the season.
Only when sunny, although this one can be broken when desperate.
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@JimboS, I use the same rules, along with "only when I'm not working."
The last time I went was about four years 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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JimboS wrote: |
Confirms my rules for Scottish skiing.
Never at the weekend.
Never during school holidays.
Never the first big dump of the season.
Only when sunny, although this one can be broken when desperate. |
Swithering between Monday or Tuesday this week, I usually prefer Tuesdays as I "feel" they are quieter, but I may be wrong.
Outside of that, all your rules apply.
I am semi ret and self employed so I can plan for midweek days.
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@GreenDay, where are you planning to go? In the west, Monday appears to have marginally the better forecast (MWIS). Sunnier, lighter wind and higher cloud base. In the east, Monday also appears to be sunnier than Tuesday.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@mountainaddict, not so busy at 3pm, t bar appears to have most chairs doubled up.
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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, I’ve been there when the queue was that long tends to move fairly quickly but the grumpy old man in me always wondered why they don’t open the button on such days….
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From looking at the CG piste map and lift status it seems everything revolves around the Coire Cas T bar and M1 poma and you have to walk to these in the first place from the carpark
So will there be huge queues for these lifts at all times during the day?
Really your only looking at skiing the Coire cas, traverse and white lady atm?
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You know it makes sense.
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denfinella wrote: |
@GreenDay, where are you planning to go? In the west, Monday appears to have marginally the better forecast (MWIS). Sunnier, lighter wind and higher cloud base. In the east, Monday also appears to be sunnier than Tuesday. |
Sorry for the delay, was tied up yesterday pm.
I am up, coffee taken and getting set for Glencoe. I think the snow coverage is better there so looking forward to a decent day, some sunshine but pretty cold on the tops I suspect.
Extra layer will be engaged !
Hopefully some photos later.
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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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@GreenDay, the conditions at Glencoe are amazing just now. I was there yesterday. I’m heading up now but only to collect stuff. Not to ski.
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Poster: A snowHead
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GlasgowCyclops wrote: |
@GreenDay, the conditions at Glencoe are amazing just now. I was there yesterday. I’m heading up now but only to collect stuff. Not to ski. |
Thats me just back - agreed, snow conditions are brilliant !
It wasnt as sunny as they predicted (sun only came out between clouds in the pm) and it was a lot windier than the predicted 7mph. Temp was around -3 according to the car when I arrived, but significantly colder up the hill - no idea what the windchill was, but cold enough for me not to take the phone out for pictures
It was still busy today and after some time in the main basin etc I cba waiting on the T-Bar queue (which was pretty big most of the day) in the wind, so just did a lot of laps of the easier stuff.
First time on the Rannoch chair - a useful addition, and takes a massive amount of pressure off the Pomas just off the Access.
All in all a great day and good to get a few miles in the legs.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Had a full day at Glencoe today, the first since March 2020 before the first lockdown. Things are improving there, new chairlifts, wider pistes, new bar and coffee shop at the base, parking seems expanded.
I added a few photos of the new chairlift in operation in the link to slideshow in my signature.
Oh, and conditions are good, pistes were great first thing just after being bashed. (I got the first lift up, was on about the 7th chair)
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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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Is it going to last until Friday at Glencoe? We get up to Kinlochleven Thursday afternoon, so that's the first day we can ski. If it's okay can we just tip up and pay when we arrive, or do we need to book in advance?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@RobinS, looks like it will get better and Thursday looks like another blue sky day. Very very cold up there, the pistes were like skiing on a glacier early in the morning.
You can pay on the day if you like, although this confuses many people. Some had paid in advance, but were queueing up with those who had not in ignorance of a machine which gives you your ticket whenever you go to collect it. A person has to serve those who roll up without paying, and the ticket office does not open until shortly before the lifts start.
I paid on the day, as I can do without the hassle of getting my money back or having to go another day if there is a problem with wind or lifts, or staff on strike etc.
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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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@RobinS, based on current forecasts the last good day is Thursday. There'll still be loads of snow on Friday but the conditions might not be pleasant to ski in (probable wind, possible rain). The breakdown might get pushed back to Saturday though, so cross your fingers. After that the outlook is a bit rubbish - mild and unsettled.
You'll almost certainly be fine just turning up on Friday. Weekends can be a different story.
@Bigtipper, do you still get the weekday rate (£30) if you just turn up?
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 16-01-23 20:28; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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RobinS wrote: |
Is it going to last until Friday at Glencoe? We get up to Kinlochleven Thursday afternoon, so that's the first day we can ski. If it's okay can we just tip up and pay when we arrive, or do we need to book in advance? |
I would be staggered if it didnt.
You can pay on arrival, quicker to prebook and flash the QR code at the machine tho...............
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@denfinella, it is the same rate (I paid £30), and you can only get concessions (student, OAP) by turning up and showing your ID.
I think the issue is at weekends, the tickets online sell out fast if the forecast is good. So there may not be any tickets for those who just turn up, but for weekdays and when the availability is good before your drive off, probably better queueing.
Some people have these fancy smartphones, I would have to print out a QR code on a piece of paper so I cannot do it in the car park.
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I would book in advance at Glencoe.
Today was a great day with a full car park and lots suspect Friday will be busy. Yesterday was phenomenal. I didn’t ski today.
Disclaimer: I was there helping out yesterday.
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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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Anyone got a view on the outlook for next week? Wondering if I can fit a quick trip in but MWIS is suggesting a move to wet and mild is on the cards
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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RobinS wrote: |
Is it going to last until Friday at Glencoe? |
Just an update on this - the forecast for tomorrow (Friday) has drastically changed for the better and is now looking excellent - could be one of the best days of the season so far!
Weekend breezy, mild and a bit damp but perhaps not as bad as it was looking like previously.
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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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@kitenski, next week isn't looking great at the moment but detail is hard to pin down. Late in the week might have better weather than early in the week, but depends how much snow thaws first...
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We're here@denfinella! One day only. Couldn't resist the conditions - moths to a flame
Glad we made the effort - conditions brilliant It's bloomin' cold in the shade though!!
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You know it makes sense.
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I've silenced my WhatsApp group as the photos and general gloating are becoming too annoying and I am at work (desk) and not on the hill working (patrol). Looks like everyone has a boomer day, Lecht open now as well and looking stunning.
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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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@mountainaddict, with hindsight I should have driven up last night!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well we made it to our first ever day at Glencoe. Were there pretty much for first lift. Weather absolutely stunning, snow fantastic, skied everything that was open . Downsides, sitting for 20 minutes on a freezing cold single chair that had stopped, closely followed by several minutes on a stopped T-bar. Big queues everywhere, though the very antiquated uplift does ensure that the pistes are never remotely busy. All in all a very good day, but would have been much better without massive queues. Fortunately we have our own kit, as the queue for hire kit was reported as 2 hours.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Had a quick lunch-break whizz up to Cairngorm summit and return from Ciste car park. Great conditions and views. Had planned longer day but called into an afternoon meeting - grr!
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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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Quote: |
with hindsight I should have driven up last night! |
Hindsight! That most wondrous of gifts @kitenski
We had a great day, though the queues were pretty bad at times. Generally 5 or 6 mins for the top tows but we waited 12 mins once for the Wall T-bar. Not great when most of the mountain was in permanent shade. We were also caught out by the top lifts, Wall and Cliffhanger closing at 3.30pm. We'd assumed it would be 4.00pm and didn't see anything posted. As a result, we skied down from the top at about 3.45pm, to find everything shut except the new triple chair. We did a couple of laps on that until 4.00pm.
Here are a few more snaps from today
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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, looks superb. As for queues - not ideal but as I'm sure you know, it can get much worse than 5-6 minutes on good days in Scotland!
All lifts (except for the duplicate summit button) were definitely still going later than half 3 last Tuesday, so closing time seems a bit random.
Hopefully the ski areas can survive the upcoming mild spell with their snow base relatively intact.
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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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Glencoe do post about the lift closing times on their FB page, although I confess I didn't actually spot it until after I had descended on Monday !
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Had another day skiing today in Glencoe and as per previous posts conditions were great. Put some more photos in the link in my signature, in case anyone wants to see them. (I took about 40 today, but only uploaded 3)
I have used all my suncream so had to cover up just in case, but I was in the shade most of the day anyway.
Got to car park at 8.30 left car park at 4.30. Lunch I had in car, at 12-12.30 as I wanted to stay the distance today. Could not get off the hill early anyway due to an enormous queue to leave, had to do laps on the new 3 man chair. (car park was full, nowhere to park at lunchtime, the police were partrolling the car park in a car)
Seems that every other person I got on the lift with was from the Lake district, many of whom are camping in the car park.
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Great day at Glencoe today apart from the hire queue, good excuse to buy some skis! Queues on the hill normally moved fairly quickly considering how busy it was.
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Quote: |
Glencoe do post about the lift closing times on their FB page |
Shame I'm not on it! How about something radical - like signs at the bottom of the lifts?
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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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Starting to feel guilty I didn't do an update after last weekend (14th/15th)
Though it appears by the time I would have done it, Scottish weather would have already changed Cairngorm (with lots more fresh snow... And conditions weren't bad other than not quite having enough to open car park tow).
Ski touring so got down to Loch Avon fairly reasonably (via numbers)
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