 Poster: A snowHead
|
Thanks moffatross, that's a useful link for wind speeds. I tend to check the mountain forecast www.mwis.org.uk/mountain/EH.PDF and hadn't looked at the Glencoe site for while. I can't say the outlook is exactly enticing:
"After Mondays storm subsides, Tuesday looks like a day of sunny spells and wintry
showers. It will be fairly blustery with longer spells of snow at times. From mid-week
onwards the outlook is unsettled with mainly wet and windy weather through into the
weekend. Freezing levels are generally expected to be below the summits, with further
significant spells of snow at most levels on the mountains and also spells of upland gales."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
hope the weather does break for you next week , think ive chosen the right week to go to the alps though ,of to Val D'isere tomorrow morning, snow forecast for here and there and lso ooks like I could be coming back to sping snow. My season ticket has been so well used this year , and looks set to get more use. Does anyone know when CML uplift ends for skiers , thought I read somewhere it stops at Easter , is that true??
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| RobCrock wrote: |
Does anyone know when CML uplift ends for skiers , thought I read somewhere it stops at Easter , is that true?? |
There is no set finishing date. Can’t remember whether it was last year or the year before that they were running the lifts on May 1st.
They used to keep the tows running as long as they possibly could; I think it was 1994 that they ran a rope tow up on a patch in the Ptarmigan bowl on midsummers day …...just for the hell of it!
Unfortunately things have changed with the Big Purple Cake-hunters Train and the environmentalists ‘closed system’. You wouldn’t be allowed to exit the top station to trudge across the mountain ‘unprotected’ by snow to reach some far off patch.
Which is a long winded way of saying, with previous years experience, the tows will stay open as long as CML can claim that there are genuinely ‘winter conditions’.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Uplift on CairnGorm Mountain will usually continue to operate for snowsports as long as there is sufficient snow to operate one or more surface lifts (except limited skiable cover with very poor numbers). The longer the tows run the longer the 'Closed System' is kept at bay on the Funicular and there is little cost for CML to have one of the T-bars plodding along compared to what it costs to run the Funicular anyway.
Last day of lift served riding for the past few years:
Sunday 18th April 2004
Monday 28th March 2005
Sunday 7th May 2006
Sunday 15th April 2007
Over the years the following lifts across the five areas have operated in June for snowsports:
Ptarmigan Ski Tow - CairnGorm Mtn
Coire Cas Ski Tow - CairnGorm Mtn
Main Basin T-bar - Glencoe
Snowgoose T-bar - Nevis Range
Meall Odhar T-bar - Glenshee
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
firstracks, brilliant photos! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Similar amazing skiing at Nevis yesterday, though we were in cloud a lot of the afternoon when I got to ski the back corries for my first time with a few locals. Then it just kept on snowing, right down to the carpark 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I had a really good day at cairngorm yesterday - not up to west coast standards as the area skiable is a bit more limited, but some realy nice powdery snow meant for some good skiing. Lift queues were never massive ( as long as you moved around - Ciste tow got busy so I moved to teh Cas which was then much quieter) so I'm now knackered as I spent the whooe day doing tele turns bar on the very bottom of the gun barrel which was not in good nick particularly by the end of the day.
Finished off by skiing to the car park via the Fiacal Ridge poma track.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Looks awesome yet again!
I had no idea the forecast was good for yesterday - damn.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| balernoStu wrote: |
| Similar amazing skiing at Nevis yesterday, though we were in cloud a lot of the afternoon when I got to ski the back corries for my first time with a few locals. Then it just kept on snowing, right down to the carpark |
Did they run Braveheart???
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| snowaddict wrote: |
I had no idea the forecast was good for yesterday - damn. |
It wasn't. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Yes, it was. I wasn't sure it would be that good but 'Snow showers and Sunny intervals' the day after 'Snow' was pretty accurate (WH). Snow-forecast and netweather.tv consistently went for this day as likeliest for low freezing level, sun and lowest windspeeds. MWIS and Metoffice forecasts also went for a big improvement over Saturday. Queues were excellent considering it was a weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I drove from Glasgow to Kelso and back on Saturday in horrific conditions so kind of thought the weekend was a lost cause and never thought to look.
In all fairness, I was pretty knackered anyway.
I will get there in time!
Amazing pics though!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| kitenski wrote: |
| balernoStu wrote: |
| Similar amazing skiing at Nevis yesterday, though we were in cloud a lot of the afternoon when I got to ski the back corries for my first time with a few locals. Then it just kept on snowing, right down to the carpark |
Did they run Braveheart??? |
'Fraid not, so we managed a few laps of fresh tracks by returning via the Alpha(?) draglift.
As for the forecast, 30-50mph and snowshowers may not have sounded ideal but it made sure there were no queues!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
firstracks, awesome photos!!
Should be required viewing for everyone on Snowheads, I still think there are a hell of a lot of people round here who are totally blind to what Scotland has to offer - their loss ultimately but I'd hate to see Scottish ski areas closing or getting into financial trouble as a result!
Anyway, I'm all booked up for the Nevis ski test the weekend after next so really looking forward to that and hoping there are a few storms beforehand and then at least a day or two of clear(ish) skies. Will be there for 4 days so intend to head over to Glencoe as well as Nevis. I've been advised to do that after at least a day at Nevis because I may not want to leave the mighty one! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Flipping 'eck barry, it just gets better and better!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Roga I agree - most people don't realise what's there, and probably haven't even bothered trying to find out. Such a shame, since these resorts have so much snow right now but there's almost literally nobody there. 30 people were at Glencoe yesterday, and I think even less were at Nevis Range!
Zero queues, sunshine overhead, fresh tracks on perfect snow every run... I'm reliably informed that conditions in Scotland are presently better than in the Alps.
It's still dumping, and the forecast looks great for the weekend. Get out there, guys!
(...I'd quite like to see in next season with all 5 ski areas, thank you very much... but I didn't say that)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Roll on the weekend!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| kitenski wrote: |
Did they run Braveheart??? |
They never do and I don't know why. As far as I know it hasn't run for several years but it is in the best bowl for lift served skiing in Scotland (the back-bowl of Nevis). So why has it hardly run since it has been built (not the first time I've asked this!!).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| snowball wrote: |
| kitenski wrote: |
Did they run Braveheart??? |
They never do and I don't know why. As far as I know it hasn't run for several years but it is in the best bowl for lift served skiing in Scotland (the back-bowl of Nevis). So why has it hardly run since it has been built (not the first time I've asked this!!). |
Yeh I know, I made a trip up especially the last time they said they were going to open it and spent the whole day in there on my own 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I will be skiing Nevis Range on Thursday next week - hoping to get into the back corries for the first time. Anyone else likely to be there on Thursday? Company would be appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
While conditions are presently best in the West (Glencoe and Nevis Range), I was on CairnGorm today in the kilt raising funds for charity, lapping the M1 Poma to get in the equivalent vertical of Everest. Eventually managed almost 7,000ft extra, getting in 36,650ft. Who ever said Scotland couldn't rival the Alps in terms of daily vert :cool:
Snow in the morning was good, and the M1 Racetrack was effortless. Cas etc also good. I finished the day by coming down the closed West Wall and hiking out.
All photos here:
http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/gallery/cg/winter200708/08mar14/
One photo:
M1 Racetrack early on. Yeeeee'haaaa.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Just got in from the pub after a few sherberts, to find that I am getting picked up at 6am for a day at Glencoe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm desperately trying to persuade the missus we should "pop up" with the kids for a few days....
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
off the nevis web site - wish I could get up there
Last update - Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:18:00 GMT
Subscribe to RSS feed
Run Conditions
Take a look at the pictures on www.nevisrange.co.uk to check out the the great conditions.
Snow conditions are as good as it gets. All runs are complete with lots of packed snow at all levels. Fantastic skiing and snowboarding. You can ski to the base of the quad chair and back to the top station. Some firm spots softening in the sun. Back Corrie & Braveheart chair open. Back Corrie excellent cover & you can ski back to the top station. Snow shoes available to hire.
The Terrain Park will be open with kickers and rails for all abilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
As per roga, a few of us are going up for the Nevis ski test  . Should be a good weekend, so come on and join us if anyone wants to - thread in 'Trips'.
D
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Glencoe was superb today, blue skies this morning, slightly overcast in the afternoon, But no wind. Snow is in pretty good shape, just got a little heavy going at 3pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
ccl, send me a PM with your mobile number and I'll send you mine - that way we can phone or text when on the hill - there are a few of us up over the Easter weekend.
moffatross, looks absolutely awesome - many thanks for posting the photos
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
so I'm off at crack of dawn on Wed to ski Glencoe, then Nevis Range on Thursday and Cairngorm on Frid/Sat. How do I recognise a Snowhead on the slopes? Is there some kind of masonic signal? A secret waggle of a ski pole? One salopette leg rolled up to the knee? Helmet on back to front?
...
