Looks like a decent cool down next week but staying dry for a change
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?
Looking good (dry, possibly bright) so far certainly for Thurs, Fri, Sat (subject to wind) with maybe some more snow beforehand.
(Caveat, I only watch BBC weather so don't have Peter's expertise.)
Anyone know where one can camp (tent) near Coe, Nevis or Shee? (Preferably mildly civilised, not utterly wild.) Swiftly developing an aversion to comfy civilised but possibly bug-ridden, non-sanitised hotels etc and restaurants/bars.
It's tent or sleep in the car... (Just in case there are several days possible in a row.)
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Grizzler, try the Invercoe Caravan Park at Glencoe village. All types of tourers and tents welcome as well as fixed facilities. We stayed there for one night last week.
@Grizzler, Camping? You're made of rather hardy stuff! I reckon the little critters will be more scared of you than you need be of them!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Grizzler, you can camp at Glencoe Mountain for free during the ski season. Shower is £1 for 5 mins I think and I believe a new toilet block is now up and running so no more portaloos. Think the temporary cafe should be up and running soon too.
There's a campsite in Braemar, a short walk to the village for Glenshee.
For Nevis you could try the Glen Nevis Caravan and Camping Park, a few minutes by car from Fort William and about 15 minutes to Nevis Range
After all it is free
After all it is free
Yep, camp at glen Coe ski centre
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.
More snow in the west and then better from Wednesday. Shaping up for a good spring.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Guess that’s it now after the PMs press conference? Driving to go skiing likely to be counted as non essential travel
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Depends how essential skiing is to you? Still advisory only and better for your health than not skiing
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.
The main thing is to avoid social contact. I'm reading that as the travel issue (and I'm on the vulnerable person 12 week list). So I can't see why self drive and not really interacting with people (and being outside) should be an issue. But loo queues, cafes, restaurants, gondolas, hotels and B&Bs, etc..? They could be.
I hope that the resorts can keep open. Have tent and car, will cope
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
As usual the Govt. see this from a London perspective. London has to have everything and it sounds as though it’s getting this one first too. The minimise travel thing will be about crowded public transport not single or two person occupancy of a car.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I skid at Glenshee today, conditions pretty wild. Chairs were all closed(Tiger chair opened for 30 seconds, 3 people made it!)
Best snow on slalom piste and Coire Fionn, loaded in Fionn but Caenlochan closed due to wind so only a few got access. Walked against the gusts to top of Tiger, bullet proof top 2/3rds.
Still quite a bit of snow around, Sunnyside thin tho so not sure how long that will last without a good dump.
I managed a whole day without much interaction but today's developments may mean that's it folks. I hope not. They could run the lifts only with no cafes etc pretty easily.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Trouble is, I guess, how much do the shops, cafes etc cover or contribute to the costs of the lifts and piste bashing and other infrastructure. Would they lose more money by staying 'piste only' open rather than shutting completely?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
At £32 for a day pass I'd guess the majority of income at this time of year comes from that (and hire) probably couple of hundred cars there today, not that busy at all
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Can't seem to copy text, but Glencoe basically saying via their FB page that they'll stay open as long as the Govt lets them. Encouraging people to bring own food & drink, don't share chair or t bars if you come as a singleton, don't come if you feel unwell, be hygienic, etc .
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?
Made the trip yesterday before this announcement and not exactly likely to turn around on the basis of this advice. We'd rather wait until later in the week for the slopes but worry it'll close so thinking of heading up this morning. Is it worth a punt today I wonder?
Of course all the usual precautions apply and we won't be socialising or frequenting the cafes etc.
Whilst we want to ensure visitors can continue to enjoy snow sports we will be regulating visitor numbers to a maximum of 450 day ticket sales. The main restaurant and ski hire will be limited to a maximum of 100 people at any given time and the maximum number in the Cas Bar will be limited to 35 at one time. We will open the Shieling, Ptarmigan and Base Station to offer alternative locations for customers to enjoy pack lunches when weather permits.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Glenshee was pretty windy yesterday. With the promised snowfall this week and lighter winds later, Thurs & Fri in particular should be much better, if they remain open. If visiting Glenshee I can thoroughly recommend Glenshieling House at the northern edge of Blairgowrie as a base. Beautiful guest house with fabulous breakfasts. Louise & Richard are lovely hosts and Richard is a skier himself. I've stayed there twice but was the only guest last night. The next few months will be tough for small businesses so help them out and buy local where you can. Don't just eat in multi-national restaurants and stay in hotel chains. Of course, travel throughout Europe will be restricted for a while.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I'm thinking of driving up to Scotland tonight and skiing Glenshee for the next 2 days.
Ive just been on their website and it says ski hire bookings need to be with them 48 hours in advance.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to drive all the way up and not be able to hire skiis!!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Charlie256 wrote:
I'm thinking of driving up to Scotland tonight and skiing Glenshee for the next 2 days.
Ive just been on their website and it says ski hire bookings need to be with them 48 hours in advance.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to drive all the way up and not be able to hire skiis!!
Contact Freshtracks ski hire, they have plenty of equipment and are on the road toward Glenshee.
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.
Reading various reports on WinterHighland/FB etc the queuing for hire kit sounds like it can be horrendous
I've never needed to hire kit, but I do recall seeing a few hire outlets in some of the towns driving en-route to 'shee.
Maybe others can provide more info...
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I think I've left it too late, Freshtracks aren't picking up the phone.
Managed to get through to The Cabin Ski Hire but they said they've just closed due to the virus.
Not sure its worth driving 5 hours tonight (from Manchester) only to find out tomorrow I can't even rent skis!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Spent the day at Glenshee and it was good. Some sun, some wind and a little cold but the conditions were surprisingly good and not that many people. Didn't have to queue for a single lift and at least half were open.
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.
Charlie256 wrote:
I'm thinking of driving up to Scotland tonight and skiing Glenshee for the next 2 days.
Ive just been on their website and it says ski hire bookings need to be with them 48 hours in advance.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to drive all the way up and not be able to hire skiis!!
Well people were just turning up getting ski hire as far as I could see. Didn't need it myself but this 48hr thing didn't seem to apply, looked like plenty of people just showing up.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I was at Glenshee Monday, it wasn't busy at all however there was a bit of a queue at ski hire.
On the road up you pass at least 5 ski hire places...One as you leave Blairgowrie on the right hand side of the road, Bridge of Calley ski hire opposite hotel, the Cabin which you say is now closed and two further places between Bridge of Calley and the ski centre itself.
Don't think you'll have an issue renting at all, I'm sure at least some will be open, if it was a Saturday maybe different story but mid week you'll be fine. The snow is getting a bit thin in places but there is a decent amount to go at.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Ok thanks all, I think I'm gonna go and hopefully one of them will be open.
@Mike Pow, Glencoe looks fully refreshed as well from the webcams, no tracks in the upper areas!@Mike Pow,
When I was there even on the super busy day, nobody was skiing the Rannoch Glades area, worth checking it out. As you get to the top of the T bar, you'll see path leading to your left, everyone was following that to Spring run. You could traverse/drop immediate left into rock garden or a bit more diagonal to get into Rannoch Glades, then you'll see some occasional red posts marking the rough way.
The other top tip is Etive Glades, not many folk seem to go that far out... that's the other side of the Top Bar, traverse to a rock band, chuck in a few turns, then there is a narrow gap through the rock band which opens up a lovely nice area that doesn't get often tracked out. You can follow that around the back to the Wall T Bar.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
video of access to Etive Glades. From top of T bar, traverse skiers left until you reach a band of rocks, so you've got off the T bar and facing downhill, then head down to the fencing you can see ... then this video starts..
Oh and Mike, Scotland has 2 uniques!
1 - T Bars ie the Wall T Bar at Glencoe you "unload" then hold onto the T bar as it goes right around the wheel and you allow all the slack to feed back in before letting go.
2. Queues - They queue up hill, once the queue is too long, a second or third q starts at the bottom of the hill. When the first q has emptied you all shuffle fowards into the space where the first q was! Have to watch out for folk joining the 1st Q when there are others formed!
Schools to be closed from Friday this week in Scotland until after the summer holidays!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Glenshee have Glas Maol open - but are reviewing the situation after Sunday regarding CV19.
Bleeding Sod's Law if this is the end if the Scottish season too
After all it is free
After all it is free
Bigtipper wrote:
Schools to be closed from Friday this week in Scotland until after the summer holidays!
Wot? Ours in Bavaria are closed until end of Easter. Bad enough for us, but end of summer
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.
Grizzler wrote:
Glenshee have Glas Maol open - but are reviewing the situation after Sunday regarding CV19.
Bleeding Sod's Law if this is the end if the Scottish season too
Hopefully if Glenshee decide to close, Nevis and Glencoe will still be open.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Details about the Scottish ski centres here http://www.winterhighland.info/general/ all are currently open at the moment and the weather is looking good the next three days with light winds. GEFS long term outlook is looking reasonably cool
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Happy valley 145cm.
