 brian
brian
Guest
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Well, the Braveheart briefly ran on Saturday but .....
the weekend thaw has taken its toll. Lecht/Glenshee both all but closed again (I think one tiny beginner area each), Cairngorm back to top basin plus Coire Cas above the gunbarrel.
Glencoe and Nevis had a bit more to play with but have both lost some of the lower runs. Hopefully some colder weather down the line soon to build on the base that's left.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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brian, 
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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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The sun came out to play on Monday afternoon at CairnGorm Mountain (can't vouch for what the morning was like). Snow was firming up at dusk so diurnal freeze/thaw cycling should continue to improve surface conditions, slightly sticky in the Ptarmigan Bowl till late afternoon, while Coire Cas had very nice granular spring snow. Still skiable to the mid-station via the Cas Gunbarrel, the only officially open loss since the weekend was the Carpark Run and Zig Zags - so it looks a lot less wintry, but no damage to the pre-existing base as yet, in fact if anything a net gain over the peace.
Boarders prepare for the final run as the last of the afternoon sun hits the roof of the Ptarmigan Restaurant.
More: http://www.winterhighland.info/2006/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=293
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Bump!
After a week of sustained thaw conditions some semblence of seasonal temperatures returned to the Scottish Mountains - oh how different it would have been had that pesky high been cold instead of warm!
All however is not lost well not for CairnGorm, Glencoe and Nevis Range. For good skiers/boarders Nevis or Glencoe have more on offer and Glencoe edges it with still good sport on offer on the Spring Run, Main Basin and the Flypaper on the upper mountain. For the less experienced or those learning CairnGorm is the place.
Photos from CairnGorm on Friday: http://www.winterhighland.info/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=296
Snow was hardpacked on Friday, but with the FL going above the tops during the day on Sat at least in the East at CairnGorm the surface is expected to loosen up to give spring snow. Another fine day with plenty of sunshine and generally light winds for the 'Gorm on Saturday, part cloudy with some sunny spells, but dry for the West. Colder again on Sunday with sunny spells and snow showers.
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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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Shame about the thaw, but I remember a number of seasons with no skiing until mid-Jan and one season that didn't start until mid-feb! Bearing this is mind, Scotland is doing pretty well this year. Nice pics as ever 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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*Bump*
Think this thread needs some up to date pics, so here we go, firstly from the Summit Terrain Park at Nevis Range on Sunday:
More: http://www.winterhighland.info/2006/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=312
Some photos from CairnGorm on Tuesday - several park features now set up in the Ptarmigan Bowl.
More: http://www.winterhighland.info/2006/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=311
Since the last post in this thread we've been through a violent storm cycle on the weekend of 10th/11th Feb, blizzards on hurricane force south east winds, but while some areas of terrain loaded up, others were scoured. Repeated freeze/thaw cycling since then means some loss lower down, with surface conditions atlernating between lovely granular spring snow and firmpacked refrozen spring snow as the temps fluctuate.
On the Gorm, the Cas Gunbarrel, M1 and White Lady filled in on the 11th and these runs remain complete to the mid-station though narrow in bits. East Wall is in good nick, but sadly not lift served because the poma track was scoured clear, now if there was a chairlift down there... oh wait... 
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Nice pics
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Think I could be heading up Nevis this weekend
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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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Worth saying this, because if you can get up mid-week at the moment, you can clock up a huge mileage at present and even though there isn't a huge range of terrain open, there's still some good sport to be had - plus a full day for the price of an hour in a freezer!
Even though some areas are still on half term, away from the Top Basin on CairnGorm today the M1 Poma and Cas Tows were deserted, despite the White Lady and M1 being open for good skiers and the Cas for intermediates. The White Lady though fairly narrow in bits was riding pretty nicely with pretty flattering near perfect granular spring snow. Have seen a pic of Coire Cas today, and not a single other skier in shot or on the lift. Great if you want some good value riding (not so good for the ski areas). Next time there's a frost in the central belt half of scotland will turn up, so get up and take advantage of empty slopes while you can.
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Looks like any snow sports will be cancelled for me now this season. Ive wrecked my ankle playing 5 a side last night 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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dj_colinbell, Sorry to hear that - football I presume? BAD IDEA!
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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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heading to aviemore for a week on sunday!! 
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Hoping for some good late season snow as I'm coming over to Scotland on 17/3/07 for 4 days.
Will go whereever there is snow, but would like to ski Glencoe. Just like the look of the place.
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Poster: A snowHead
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johnboy,
Unless it has changed again this year you will have to catch it on the 17/18 as it is closed midweek Great place when the snow is good but I haven't been this year yet.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just seen on the weather Scotland is getting a good dump of snow overnight tonight.
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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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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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II,
Thanks for the update, looks really good and pretty deserted as well
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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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Do you have to download on the quad chair?
And on the way up can you ski from top of quad to bottom of the goose?
I'm trying to work it out from the piste map that I printed off.
Cheers,
John
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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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Posted some photos from Friday 2nd March in the '"spring has sprung" thread, but here's one and a link to more to keep this thread up to date:
^Machine packed powder on the upper M1 on route to the Traverse, Ptarmigan Restaurant behind.
Friday Photos: http://www.winterhighland.info/2006/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=318,10,1
Was up on Tuesday and there has been further gains on mid-mountain runs over the weekend with snow drifting into the Snowsports Area off the Plateau. The feed of snow off the plateau has more or less stopped for now as there's been a couple of short thaw/freeze cycles overnight on both Sunday and Monday. Thus surface conditions are not as flattering as on Friday, firm grippy snow with a light covering of fresh higher up, but the upside is some welcome consolidation to help with base building.
^Skier on the White Lady, firm quick but grippy snow giving good riding for experts.
Tuesday Photos: http://www.winterhighland.info/2006/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=322
Outlook and Weekend preview:
Wind has been unrelenting given it's March, Thursday isn't looking bad though the wind may start to pick up again in the afternoon. Friday winds are forecast to be moderate but with some fairly strong gusts up to 50-55mph. Basically Thurs or Fri is the days to aim for if you can get up, worth checking out the latest forecast in the evening.
Weekend: If your thinking about it, don't bother. Save your money for another day. Hurricane force SW'ly winds are expected to persist through the weekend, though detail is not set in stone yet, it would take a monumental shift in synoptics given the huge expanse of high winds around a North Atlantic low of 940 to 945mb. One glimour of hope that it might all happen a bit quicker than first forecast.
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great pic, what happened to the bumps on the lady???
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You know it makes sense.
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kitenski, must have been falsies.
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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am thinking about going to glencoe tomorrow morning (friday).
should i stay or should i go??
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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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orangutan,
Would Cairngorm not be handier for Dundee?
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brian
brian
Guest
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orangutan, I'd probably go cairngorm I think. Wind will be strong but strongest in the west. The funicular should be able to run 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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II,
Have you been up recently?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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johnboy,
What go out in all that pissing rain do you think i'm mad 
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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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Something very fishy about the Lecht webcam atm!
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Just saw RTE weather for the week ahead. The Highlands should be in for an Artic blast by the weekend. Perfect timing
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FAQ
