 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| nelly0168 wrote: |
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Not sure what you do for a living or what time off you get - but the lift systems can be a little "1970s" for those used to europe - so a cheeky wee midweek trip on a day off will be much more rewarding than queuing on a sunny saturday.
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Skis - having your own equipment makes in cheaper.........but sometimes the runs can be a bit thin and your bases might take a pounding - there are plenty of hire places, but obviously that increases cost - your call
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Midweek is always best if the weather is good and sun is shining. If the weather is good and sun is shining at the weekend, you will spend hours queueing for lifts. I tend to avoid weekends.
If you have an old pair of skis, which have been well used, and still useable, these are ideal for skiing in Scotland. It is not a good idea to take spanking new skis to Scottish pistes and expect them to remain spanking new condition. Not only is it cheaper to have your own skis in Scotland, it is much more time efficient. The queues for ski hire on weekends can be bigger than the queues to buy a ticket for the lifts. Never mind the actual lift queues themselves (on a good day at a weekend)
If you are in the army you get a midweek discount at Glencoe (not sure why this is the case, but if you take a few medals and an old army jacket maybe you will wing it)
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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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Biggest ski area in Scotland is Glenshee 21 lifts and 36km runs way bigger than Cairngorm the second biggest which has 11 lifts and 32kms. Glencoe is closest to main centre of population of Greater Glasgow.
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Frequent user of Glenshee which is closest to me, but also has a wide variety of terrain. When it's all open, it can absorb bigger crowds than anywhere else due to the number of lifts from the road side, and how they take people off to other areas (so not returning to the start). That's a big if. In restricted conditions (less snow cover) then queues can develop at pinch points. They are doing a great job at increasing uplift - two new chairs in recent years plus a third in the pipeline (this in the middle valley will make a big difference). And the staff have a great attitude that helps keep things moving even in long queue days.
For hiring at Glenshee, don't drive all the way there before stopping. You can get hire at Blairgowrie or Bridge of Cally on the way up, and my favourite is a wee place at Blackwater where I never seem to meet long queues but have decent equipment at a decent price. You'll see road-side signs on the way up just before you get there - left hand side of the A93 about a mile South of the turnoff for the B950 to Kirkmichael.
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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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Or even better, rent in Edinburgh the day before to allow you to head straight for the slopes to maximise the use of the limited daylight hours.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@McKenzie, this is good advice, I used to rent from the Glasgow dry slope the night before in my pre ski owning days. I learnt the hard way spending a morning queuing at the Nevis Range for some ill fitting boots. Never again!
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thanks for the info all, have my own kit so hire queues won't be an issue, however the risk to my bases could be! perhaps i'll invest in a set of domestic use skis, i suppose that gives me a good excuse to find out if the decathlon ski's are any good despite their low price!
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Glencoe = steepest onpiste.
Nevis = steepest offpiste.
Cairngorm = reliablest snow.
Glenshee = most lifts.
Lecht = good for beginners.
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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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| Whitegold wrote: |
Glencoe = steepest onpiste.
Nevis = steepest offpiste.
Cairngorm = reliablest snow.
Glenshee = most lifts.
Lecht = good for beginners. |
Nice summary!
Maybe also Lecht = needs least amount of snowfall to enable skiing (due to lack of rocks etc)?
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Skiable vertical is interesting when comparing ski areas (lowest lift start to highest lift stop) - Cairngorm offers 510m, Glenshee only 275m. That max elevation of 1150 against 915 and not far off double the vertical is why I would go Cairngorm ahead of Glenshee plus the large plateau area at height at Cairngorm makes it much more snowsure to at least get some skiing in.
Glencoe has an impressive 700m vertical when the run to the bottom is skiable (does happen), a thigh melter if it's on.
Nevis goes slightly higher than Cairngorm and has similar vertical but doesn't get as cold weather so is more fickle but starting at a low forest level and riding a comfy gondola up is quite nice.
Agree Lecht is great for beginnners.
Each has its own up and downs and all are fairly marginal tbh but on their day can be very good. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hi point at Glenshee is 1035m (glas moal) not 915m. Cairngorm is a quarry compared to Glenshee 
Glenshee also has twice as many lifts, a lot more skiing, a lot less hassle and is cheaper and nearer to many Scots, than Cairngorm.
I agree though that they all have their strengths and on the right day are at least as much fun as the best of the alps.
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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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@MountainIdiot, said
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Well, looks like I might be relocating from London up to Edinburgh, I’ve always wanted to give domestic skiing a go, (and wanted to be in driving distance of mountains even more!) what would be the *best* skiing option from Edinburgh? Not necessarily the closest, am used to reds/blacks in the alps, an extra hours drive or so is no problem at all. Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere!
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Another thing to seriously consider is getting into ski-touring - this opens up endless possibilities in the Scottish mountains and removes the limitations of the lift-served ski areas.
If you're an outdoor type who enjoys being in the hills when there's no snow, you can extend this to the winter/spring months too - some of the best times can be in March/April with longer days, stable conditions & great snow on the tops
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The outlook from the Mountain Weather Information Service...
"Indications for the later part of November favour generally cold conditions dominating, with further snowfalls possible."
A repeat of last year or the start of an epic season?
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Looks like Cairngorm was blowing snow today (for a test).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Met office snow warning just issued covering all the ski areas for Thursday. Hopefully base starts building.
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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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This link is for the weather station at the summit of Cairngorm, it started as a research project I think in the 70's by Heriot Watt University and is a useful insight in to the extreme conditions they can get up there. http://cairngormweather.eps.hw.ac.uk
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 21-11-17 20:29; edited 1 time in total
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Very warm in Scotland at the moment.
With the unfrozen ground and hot weather, doubt much will be open before Christmas.
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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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| Quote: |
| Very warm in Scotland at the moment. With the unfrozen ground and hot weather, doubt much will be open before Christmas. |
Just like the Alps, or anywhere else, the situation in Scotland can change in the space of a few days.
There may or not be skiing by Christmas - but it's too early to determine that on the 21st of November... 
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On Sunday I was out with the children skimming stones across frozen ponds; back to shorts for walking the dog today. Cold again by the end of week I believe, so here's hoping.
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I do not remember a forecast like this last year. Could be some piste bashers out by early December.
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Cairngorm/6day/mid
Most snow is forecast for Cairngorm (32cm over 6 days), then Nevis range (23cm over 6 days), followed by Glencoe (18cm) then Glenshee. (16cm)
However, most importantly is the low temperatures which will ensure it provides a base and does not turn to rain and wash it all away like the last lot of snow.
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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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@Bigtipper, awesome. What hill is that?
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@scotspikey, it's not a munro so most people don't bother. It is the one with snow on it!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ben Ledi?
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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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+1 for midweek. Which did seem to include Friday in years gone by but may not now. You get SO MUCH MORE SKIING done.
Used to live in Edinburgh. One of the many frustrations I had with Glenshee for example was you could not buy a multi day pass. So even if you wanted to ski Friday/ Sunday or Saturday-Sunday without queuing each day for a ticket you couldn’t . Meant we didn’t go as much as I might have imagined. 
Hope that’s changed.
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Monday night is expecting a reasonable snowfall. Still no sign of it all melting in the next week, should be a good start to December.
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You know it makes sense.
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Lowther Hills Ski Club in southern Scotland plans to open its slopes to members this evening after fresh snow overnight.
From Twitter:
Good morning from Scotland's Highest Villages. We are expecting more snow today. Volunteers urgently needed after 1pm to set up the nursery slope. Expecting to open tonight for members only. If you can help, please get in touch with Anjo at skiclub@lowtherhills.com
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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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^^^^Am I correct in thinking that that's the nursery slope on the golf course - ie not the slopes at altitude?
Can anybody advise on whether there is likely to be enough snow higher up for a bit of a skin up and a few turns??
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Poster: A snowHead
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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.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Breaking news!
Glencoe is opening for skiing tomorrow, after wet snow overnight which must have helped firm up the base. Lower mountain only (Plateau & Coire Pollach buttons) but it's apparently their earliest season start in (at least) recent memory 
https://www.facebook.com/GlencoeMountain/posts/1954754517885653
The piste basher has also been out at The Lecht, so a second opening mightn't be too far away.
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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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It's officially Winter ! ----- Snow Gates closed 
"....All Routes A939 Cockbridge to Tomintoul - Snow gate closure
Last Updated: 27 Nov 17, 21:52
Title: A939 Cock Bridge and Tomintoul Snow Gates
Start Time: 27 Nov 2017 - 21:52
Location: A939 Cockbridge to Tomintoul
Type: Snow gate closure
Route Name: All Routes
Direction: Both Directions
Description: The A939 is closed at the snow gates between Cock Bridge and Tomintoul due to adverse weather conditions.
Expected Duration: Unknown at Present ......"
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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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Once your boots are on you will be fine (getting the boots on may be a different matter...)
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Couple Tylenol and yall good.
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FAQ
....So could well be making our first visit there on Sunday 
Must only be about an hour from me now. Not an area which I know at all - but I'd like to get to know it. As soon as I've emerged from the chaos that is currently my new abode... Now, to E Bay for one set of turf-hopper skis and a similar board for Mr G...
