 Poster: A snowHead
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Still a patch of snow at Darngill just up from the ski tow at Yad Moss and remarkably perhaps, still a patch in the North York Moors, presumably from the south easterly at the end of the snowy spell in February?
Looks like some big patches in the Cheviots which could outlast the Lake District this year ?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/snowpatchesengland/?ref=
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A fair few east-facing, high altitude patches visible from the western fells of the Lake District this weekend - eg over towards Helvellyn range from High Street today.
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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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Something I never thought about before but now It's crossed my mind, I'd like to know. In Major Skiing resorts, I've always assumed that the Staff who run the lifts would have to be formerly trained by an accredited body that once having passed a valid Lift Attendant Course then they would received a Licence to run the various Lift types that they had been trained and legally licenced to run. How does that work with English Ski Clubs and lift competency and/or licencing to be able to run lifts legally?
Just asking... 
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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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There is no equivalent licensing body in England probably because of the scarcity of ski lifts here. Also the ski clubs are not workplaces so they are not regulated by the same legislation that protects employees.
On the continent, where cableways are a form of mass transport that moves millions of people every year ski lifts are much more highly regulated.
The Health and Safety executive has nevertheless looked at skiing facilities in England and provided some useful guidance for their safe operation, which the clubs follow: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg371.pdf
All the club tows are basic drag lifts, either home made rope tows or simple Poma or Dopplemayer systems.
Operating chairlifts and gondolas is in a different league. In the big resorts they are suspending hundreds of people high up in the air where a motor stoppage or a cable derailment can suddenly become an urgent matter of mass rescue. With a ski tow if it stops you just let go and ski away.
The club tows are maintained by small teams of member/volunteers with engineering, mechanical or electrical backgrounds, but there is no formal licence required to operate a ski tow here.
The actual day to day running of the club tows, their pre start checks, de icing, operation and shut down procedures, are undertaken by a small group of keen members, following in house safety training. The tows are designed to be operated in this way. The Poma at Yad Moss, which is perhaps the longest in England, has a very simple control system comprising a stop/start button, a variable resistor to control line speed and a basic indicator panel to show if the safety system (derailment detectors on each pylon) are functioning correctly. The operators can normally fix most commonly occurring issues such as resetting a rope derailment detector, lowering and rising the bullwheel or de-icing the sheave wheels.
Our ski tow engineer keeps a log book of all maintenance work and the club has a detailed handbook for the safe operation of its systems which the Committee reviews each year. 30 years of operation together with manufacturer support, online information and contacts at the Scottish ski centres, has made for safe and increasingly reliable operation.....when there is sufficient snow and we are allowed to ski!
The normal reasons for tow stoppages are rider error, the Pennine climate which affects the electrical components and high wind speeds which can blow the rope around. At least we don’t need to worry about avalanche risk 
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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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Despite the sub zero weather the work parties have started again at Weardale and Raise. Raise have flown materials up by helicopter and taken their electric portable tow down for repair. Weardale have taken the retractable buttons off their two dopplemayer tows and begun to remove paint with a grinder prior to a two stage epoxy paint primer.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/49959985138/?ref=share
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Probably just too warm at Yad Moss but Raise is on standby for some May skiing in the event that the forecast delivers a heavy fall today and tomorrow 
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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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Looked on the webcams this morning and there was nothing but green fields. A few hours later and there are 10ft drifts of powder (well nearly)
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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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Just incredible 
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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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Ah gutted. Looks amazing. Wish I'd checked sooner and might have been able to make it up there for my first ever day on the slopes in the UK!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Sounds like June 1963 is the latest lift served skiing month on record in England, presumably on remnant snow rather than new snow like this year.
Mid July 1979 on Cross Fell is the latest skiing on snow patches that’s I’m aware of ?
Interesting conversation on Radio 4 yesterday, whether climate change is affecting the jet stream and could lead to more northern blocking? If that meant more weather like the last 6 months here ie. colder, calmer, drier, sunnier and more snow.....I’d take that
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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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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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Tour of the Pennines Cycle Sportive was on Saturday. A 75 mile loop north west from Barnard Castle. It goes close to Weardale Ski Club (Daddry Shield). It had to be abandoned and most riders ferried back from Stanhope. Conditions were not quite what one might expect in May.
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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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Having got my first skiing at Weardale the past season (after being a member for 5 years) I managed to join in some of the maintenance work yesterday. Just turning up for one day gives one an inkling of how much effort a relatively small number of people put in to keep this fantastic club running.
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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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After mountain biking near Allendale Town this week, we called at Allenheads to suss out the ski area.
Looks a very inviting little set up in a nice spot. Weardale reciprocal arrangements will hopefully apply for us to give it a go next winter.
Typically, I've just read that had it not been for covid, they would have had 30 days' skiing last winter - but got only two days... 
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FAQ
