 Poster: A snowHead
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Winterhighland,
Can it get any better?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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From the 6.30 am update this morning:
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Saturday 23 January.
+2 at Car Park no wind, Light winds at Top Station, cloudy.
Roads clear and gritted but beware of potential black ice. There are also icy sections in the Car Parks.
We intend to operate all uplift, but some may come on later than others
The link road will not be dug out for a while so all traffic will be using the downhill road on which two-way traffic will operate so please drive with caution. As well as the upper and lower car parks, the Ciste car park will be open and shuttle-buses will operate from there from early on.
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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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Beware though traffic is likely to be bad in Glenmore as the huskies are in town all weekend.
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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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Winterhighland, Beautiful - that's where I came out too, but the gap between the trees was wider back when! I might have to have some late spring skiing up there at this rate! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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brian
brian
Guest
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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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| Quote: |
However I have to say I'm not into walking up first.
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Wimp  you'll miss out on the mid summer ski then. You can always take the train down.
If there is snow I'd hope they'd run the tows into May at least. The latest I've skiied on lifts at Cairngorm was the weekend of the 7th May (I think - 1st weekend in may anyway)
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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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was at Glencoe Saturday, it was dead! Gorgeous day but snow was a bit firm. The top of the mountain definitely had the best snow, the spring run was lovely although the Flypaper was officially shut. Glenshee on Sunday, poor vis for most of the day but a few bright spells. The snow was great though, they seem to have caught quite a lot recently, Glas Maol was lovely, unfortunately I couldn't see a thing when I was there, got a run down the Tiger at the end of the day in good vis and lovely snow all the way down, nobody about again so straight onto all the lifts, where was everyone this weekend?
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lynseyf,
I didn't go to Glenshee on Sunday cos I thought the queues would be dreadful, my loss, I think ill go tomorrow, was the Tiger reasonably wide cover?
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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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brian
brian
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| roga wrote: |
| the appetite for home skiing (of the real variety rather than in fridges) does seem to be quite large at the moment |
Hmmm, but is it too easily satisfied. I couldn't believe how quiet it was on Saturday compared with a January Saturday I had at Nevis last year. It was more like the numbers you would used to have expected midweek. From other folks' reports it seems to have been similar elsewhere. I'm wondering if the couple of extra days at home to supplement an alpine holiday market is wearing thin already?
Not that I'm complaining about nice quiet days on the hill, mind, but you have to wonder about the financial health of the centres if they can't make very much hay even when the sun is shining big time. 
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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 was at Nevis on saturday and the place was dead- great for not having to queue, every lift was straight on with no waiting .The conditions were fine not as good as the forcast so that can`t be the reason,as Brian say`s if you can`t get punters when the conditions are good the prospects must be poor for nevis for snowports which might explain the run down look of the place,the other reason might be the alpha tow off or the limited beginner area.
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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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Interesting comment there Brian, IIRC Glenshee was pretty quiet too, not sure about The Lecht but I get the impression the Gorm was reasonably busy at the weekend, certainly if some of the moans about the M1 and race trainees getting in the way/having priority on the mountain are anything to go by.
Could it perhaps be the case that despite all the complaints about the way Cairngorm is perceived to be managed and run, the loss of uplift and all the rest of it most people still seem to view it as the premier Scottish resort and will flock there almost as a default if heading to the Scottish mountains? Also don't underestimate the fact that Aviemore is the premier 'resort' in the UK when it comes to winter and winter outdoor activities, it has the infrastructure and accommodation and also IMHO a pretty unique, for the UK, snowsports culture. Couple that with the people who have had their supplementary "couple of extra days" and are now staying away and I guess that might be an explanation.
I have to wonder though if there's a marketing issue here, certainly for the West coast resorts and perhaps Glenshee and The Lecht, in as far as at Glenshee and in the West they have decent conditions but don't have the same numbers of punters (at least this weekend). Visit Scotland/Ski Scotland plainly under perform and frankly are an absolute waste of space, and money, so perhaps some of the ski areas should consider withdrawing funds from them and using it to actually market what they offer properly. That may make a difference to numbers, it's a medium to long term strategy though and not a quick fix unfortunately and there are IMHO other related issues like snowmaking (a guarantee of at least some snow if temps are right), uplift/infrastructure and off mountain facilities that need to be looked at as well.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Brian, I think thats it. Yad Moss was also reasonably quiet at the weekend too despite hardly loosing any snow snce the previous weekend, which was mobbed.
I think also that once the snow disappears from the towns the thought of skiing seems to go out of peoples minds. A lot of skiers must simply be very casual towards their sport and don't organise their lives around it once they have got out for a day or two 
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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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Couple that with the people who have had their supplementary "couple of extra days" and are now staying away and I guess that might be an explanation.
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Couple of extra days - I'm upto 26 so far - admittedly most have been on xc kit. They don't know what they are missing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ok, so which of the Scottish resorts have the best 'non drag' lift system - my board does not like drags especially when it is blowing like buggery !!
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brian
brian
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rayscoops, Cairngorm. You can access all of the cas side from the train (all of the ciste side too, if you can get right to the car park and take the shuttle back round again).
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brian, cheers, I might just jump in my car this or next week if there are a few clear days
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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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| Peter S wrote: |
| I think also that once the snow disappears from the towns the thought of skiing seems to go out of peoples minds. A lot of skiers must simply be very casual towards their sport and don't organise their lives around it once they have got out for a day or two |
Yes, I agree that's another major factor and is one that affects Scotland late season a lot, when invariably there's skiing but hardly any punters, again could this be a matter that could be dealt with if more publicity was put out?
Thing is, and I think it ties in with something I was just saying on another thread (the one about Konrad Bartelski and Snowsport GB) that most people in the UK simply see snowsports as a once a year holiday rather than as a lifestyle or serious sport they participate in regularly. They therefore perhaps have other things that take precedence over skiing and don't want to spend every weekend on the slopes, a week abroad and the odd extra day will suffice (particularly if the extra days involve queues and long waits). The issue for Scotland is to perhaps work out how to appeal to these people more and maximise the home market (north of say the Midlands), something I don't think is being done at the moment.
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DaveMcSki, complete cover, lovely snow 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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rayscoops, I'm going to try to get up myself but not sure how I'm fixed next week.
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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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You know it makes sense.
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I think the late Jan and everyone is skint after Christmas factor might be having an effect on numbers just now!
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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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Temperature should be taking a nosedive shorty after a brief rise during the course of the day and more snow forecast too!
Could be good for building a relatively bullet proof base and a bit of a top up in time for half-term
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Poster: A snowHead
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Winterhighland, At least you got affect and effect right - roga, shame on you - a teacher and all! 
I think the poor season in the alps is mainly recession and everyone here is regretting the lack of 'english'! hotels are -27% and apartments -6% roughly to date. Many are coming but not taking lessons etc. Clearly a number of people will be going to Scotland instead which is also helped by the weak pound. Very good for Scotland - I don't begrudge that at all.
However, it is often regretted on here about work done to the mountains in summer, about over-pisting and so on, but that is what the majority of skiers want these days, and this is not available generally in Scotland. (note that comment a page or two ago about the conditions in Glenshee, and also the row about the nature of skiing at Yad Moss last year). Personally I try to teach my students to ski, so that they can ski anywhere and enjoy it, but most learner skiers these days are only taught sketchily at best and are not equipped for anything except perfectly flat piste.  Unfortunately Scotland does not generally offer what most of the public expect, and I suspect that after one visit, many will never return. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| easiski wrote: |
Winterhighland, At least you got affect and effect right - roga, shame on you - a teacher and all!
I think the poor season in the alps is mainly recession and everyone here is regretting the lack of 'english'! hotels are -27% and apartments -6% roughly to date. Many are coming but not taking lessons etc. Clearly a number of people will be going to Scotland instead which is also helped by the weak pound. Very good for Scotland - I don't begrudge that at all.
However, it is often regretted on here about work done to the mountains in summer, about over-pisting and so on, but that is what the majority of skiers want these days, and this is not available generally in Scotland. (note that comment a page or two ago about the conditions in Glenshee, and also the row about the nature of skiing at Yad Moss last year). Personally I try to teach my students to ski, so that they can ski anywhere and enjoy it, but most learner skiers these days are only taught sketchily at best and are not equipped for anything except perfectly flat piste. Unfortunately Scotland does not generally offer what most of the public expect, and I suspect that after one visit, many will never return. |
i'm just back from la plagne and in the main it was gnerally very quiet, which was great for skiing but maybe not so good for business.
my main issue with skiing in scotland is that it's so unpredictable. i tried a couple of times after new year and the place was packed and couldn't get to site. then it was snowbound after a bit i start to think it's more hassle than it's worth. Sadly they give too many reasons not to go.
but i'll probably still go sometime next week.
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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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Fabulous.
Please send some down our way.
I'd be out every day if it was like that down here.
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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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| easiski wrote: |
| Winterhighland, At least you got affect and effect right - roga, shame on you - a teacher and all! |
LOL, sorry I hang my head in shame ... to err is human though, not that I err very often
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| I think the poor season in the alps is mainly recession and everyone here is regretting the lack of 'english'! hotels are -27% and apartments -6% roughly to date. Many are coming but not taking lessons etc. Clearly a number of people will be going to Scotland instead which is also helped by the weak pound. Very good for Scotland - I don't begrudge that at all. |
That's a hell of a drop actually, is this being reflected right across the Alps?
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| However, it is often regretted on here about work done to the mountains in summer, about over-pisting and so on, but that is what the majority of skiers want these days, and this is not available generally in Scotland. (note that comment a page or two ago about the conditions in Glenshee, and also the row about the nature of skiing at Yad Moss last year). Personally I try to teach my students to ski, so that they can ski anywhere and enjoy it, but most learner skiers these days are only taught sketchily at best and are not equipped for anything except perfectly flat piste. Unfortunately Scotland does not generally offer what most of the public expect, and I suspect that after one visit, many will never return. |
Yes, I totally agree that the nature of 'pisting' in Scotland is very different to the Alps and yes it's not what most people have come to expect. I won't go on about what they do in the Alps but personally I think that sort of interference in the natural mountain landscape is beyond the pale. However sadly it appears that's the way things are in some parts of the Alps and it's a bit late to change it and most of the skiers we're talking about will not, for one reason or the other, put the effort and time into learning how to ski 'all' the mountain. Personally I think Scotland should be marketing this as an asset because it would attract certain types of skiers and boarders but I won't bang on again about marketing, or the lack of it!
However, I should give a personal example which slightly contradicts what we're agreeing on, lol! My wife is a novice skier, she's done a week in Val d'Isere/Tignes, a week in St Anton (she didn't like it!) and now a week at Cairngorm. She actually prefers Cairngorm to anywhere else she's been because it's compact, so she can ski on her own without fear of getting lost, there are nice greens/blues that allow you to ski the full verticle and people speak English (so no language issues) and are generally very friendly. In fact on one day over Xmas/New Year she was almost in tears when she thought we wouldn't be able to get up because the snow gates were closed. Okay, there was loads of snow (of the hero variety) and it was at it's best but I guess there are positives and negatives to everywhere and it seems that 'even' Scotland suits some novices!
scottishskier, nice photo
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brian
brian
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scottishskier, cracking pics. Is that Loch Tulla in the middle distance?
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scottishskier, Liking the pics.
So, if I'm coming up for a sneaky couple of days from down south (actually Midlands ) which resort would you guys recommend, in terms of access with a car that's rubbish in the snow, and finding some interesting off piste ?
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brian
brian
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david@mediacopy, Glencoe and Nevis, do a day at each. Both low level parking then an access lift. They're only 30 miles or so apart.
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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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| brian wrote: |
| scottishskier, cracking pics. Is that Loch Tulla in the middle distance? |
Yes. looking across Blackmount to Loch Tulla.
| david@mediacopy wrote: |
| So, if I'm coming up for a sneaky couple of days from down south (actually Midlands ) which resort would you guys recommend, in terms of access with a car that's rubbish in the snow, and finding some interesting off piste ? |
Car access isn't normally too bad. The roads are well cleared and don't usually get opened unless you can make it through without chains or snow tyres. If its interesting off piste without much skinning then head west for sure. Cairngorm has the Norries and plenty of touring options if thats what your interested in too. The amount of snow around Cairngorm at the moment far exceeds what there is on the west and other eastern areas so may be a better bet if your looking to book in advance. The snow looks to continue coming from the North/East so I expect the east will continue to have better cover for the next couple of weeks. I would always leave it to the last minute before deciding as snow conditions change fast here.
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cheers guys. If I make it up I'll add a post here and maybe I can hook up with some one.
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FAQ
I usually head up for the final weekend with the family anyway and I see no reason not to this year 
