 Poster: A snowHead
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vetski, It's unlikely to be worse than the bumps and below in Wengen, so don't take anyone's word for it - you're there - get up the mountain!!! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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oh thank you. I'm loving the sound of nice wide beginner runs. Don't mind what the red etc ones are like but I want him to have a good time and its only his 2nd time boarding.
I've printed out your recommendation on where to ride, Dave. I'll be taking it up the mountain tomorrow. Thank you.
And I'm sure if the mountain isn't open (and I really hope it is) we can spot some highland cows!
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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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snowbunnie, I think Dave is right, if it's just the beginner areas you need there will be great stuff at Cairngorm. The area at the top of the funicular (Ptarmigan Bowl) is loaded with snow by all accounts and has very wide cover. It'll also have the best snow anyway, given it's altitude and snow holding ability.
The comments on Highland Instinct are from people who are doing reds, blacks and off-piste and for this kind of thing Nevis and Glencoe will at the moment be far superior, however you don't need to worry about that so you'll be fine.
IMHO the area at the top of Cairngorm is lovely for beginners and novices, it has a nice gradient for practice and is very wide too, there are different tows available and even the t-bar is slow and easy to ride. The lifties at Cairngorm will help you onto the tows too, something that at Nevis you don't get so much. To get to the top you just ride up the funicular, head out the doors and you're there so no messing with any lifts to get there either, couldn't be better to be honest. You're also very close to restaurant, shop and toilet facilities in the funicular top station as well so everything is catered for really, again it's not so easy at Nevis.
Just remember that early in the morning the pistes there are liable to be harder than later on, a bit of sun and they'll soften and they should be freshened up over the weekend by a bit of fresh too.
I think it'll be fine for you and there's all the stuff in Aviemore too, god bars, food and so on as well as lovely Loch Morlich with it's beach just below the ski area.
Should be great for you, have a lovely time
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Have a look at the forecast for Cairngorm here:
http://www.mwis.org.uk/mountain/EH.PDF
and North West Highlands here:
http://www.mwis.org.uk/mountain/NW.PDF
They are very similar so I doubt if the conditions will be much different at Nevis compared to Cairngorm wrt the weather. Nevis will have the advantage of low level road access, ploughing out the hill road to get to Cairngorm might be a problem, but probably won't be. I hope to be on the hill over the weekend - I'll be on tele kit with a beard and stupid Norwegian stylehat. I'd say I'd be wearing a very scruffy yellow and black rab down jacket, but if the weatehrs bad it might be hidden as its not waterproof.
I like this though
"Continued cold northerly winds with snow showers on Tuesday, especially over northern
and eastern upland areas, with at times more general snowfall. Freezing levels will remain
low and there should be periods of relatively light winds. Towards the middle of the week
low pressure becomes slow moving over the north of Britain, with frontal boundaries
bringing more general precipitation, mainly of snow in the mountains, as freezing levels
remain fairly low. Significant further snowfall is possible in many areas of the Highlands
towards the weekend.
Forecast issued at 1630 Friday 4th April 2008."
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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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yay!!!!! Sounds perfect for him. Obviously I won't be telling him its the beginners area though... 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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snowbunnie, I took the sleeper up last night. There's a hire place at the opposite end of town from the station which does hire packages. I've pm'd you my mobile number, so feel free to call when the train arrives - I'm staying in the hotel opposite the station, and they do a good breakfast if you fancy joining me!
Ski-wise I wimped out today, but did good things for the local economy. Nobody told me there was a North Face outlet store...weather in town v. changeable thru the day but now blue skies and sun. V. cloudy over the mountains when I went for a look about 4pm, and getting pretty cold.
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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: |
| nd don't forget the Winking Owl |
Surely you mean the 'Stinking Fowl'? 
vetski, snowbunnie, PM's sent. Give me a Txt in the morning - be good to meet some snowheads.
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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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am thinking of a cheeky trip next weekend. Will decide on wednesday evening if going. My usual itinery is to drive up from london friday evening and arrive in the fort for brekkie on saturday am then get the first lift up the nevis range, and ski all day. Usually grab a cheerful b & b for sat night then head to glencoe for sunday usually skiing till 3pm for a quicker getaway for the long journey south back in london for 10-11 pm. If i go i will have room for one or two(with a squeeze)along the m40 m5 m6 corridoor,so if anyone wants a car share then let me know(or convince me to go!) but will leave till wednesday to decide if its viable conditions wise .
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Sat 5-04-08 19:20; edited 1 time in total
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Well, here I am on the mountain! Met snowbunnie and her OH at the bus stop quite by accident - she was wearing a T-shirt with a bunny on it, and looked completely taken aback when I said "Excuse me, are you snowbunnie?"! So we're sitting on the bus chatting, and her OH said "You 2 are talking like you've known each other for ages!" I explained that this was the snowHeads effect...It snowed a little in town this morning, and started up again while we were on the bus. There had clearly been quite a bit overnight - the trees were dusted and as we got closer, little hollows that were clear yesterday were full of powder. At the funicular station, we were warned that it wasn't suitable for beginners because vis was 50 metres. Hmmm - I'd say 50 feet, and at that people are fading out! Not the worst vis I've ever been in - but definitely number 3. Did a run - Traverse & Cas to the funicular mid station - lovely coating of powder, giving me my first fall when I hit a powder-filled hollow. Icy patches are plentiful where the top coat has been blown away. Wind quite forceful uphill, so that's keeping speeds down. Next run was in the bowl to the Ciste T-bar - which is when the driving snow turned to stinging hail. Good time to stop for a yummy hot choc with marshmallows!
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You know it makes sense.
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Part 2: after the choc break, it seemed that the wind was dropping slightly, so I decided to give M1 a go. Wrong decision - it was absolutely horrible - high winds, snowdrifts, exposed ice, and a LOT of rocks. Met up with Winterhighland and firsttracks after that and stayed on the Cas side - vis was truly appalling, it was incredibly cold, the winds were so strong we could barely move, driving snow and hail. I had a really enjoyable afternoon - seriously! If you can survive that etc... Ptarmigan side was shut by the time we decided to head over there for a couple of runs, so hot choc break (with lovely raspberry cake) before heading down. Planning to head to Glencoe tomorrow - the weather here is meant to be worse (i.e. gusts up to 60mph rather than today's 40mph, and -28C rather than apparent
-22C). It's still snowing...
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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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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Nice view  Is that Vetski on the T-Bar?
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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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On the left, it is.
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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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Morning report from Aviemore - it snowed all night, settling about 6 inches in town. The waitress at breakfast took one look at me in ski gear and said I didn't have a chance of skiing today - and one chap I was chatting to over a ciggie laughed when I said I was hoping to get to Glencoe. Haven't heard from Winterhighland...watch this space!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Currently sitting in Aberdeen airport where there is a good dusting of snow. Runway open,but planes being de-iced
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| vetski wrote: |
| Morning report from Aviemore - it snowed all night, settling about 6 inches in town. The waitress at breakfast took one look at me in ski gear and said I didn't have a chance of skiing today |
Oh dear  Probably best if you don't look at the photos of people skiing in London today then.
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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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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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Huge thanks to Winterhighland for taking me over to Glencoe - I had a superb time, and that has convinced me to come skiing in Scotland again, in a way that Cairngorm yesterday didn't quite manage! Bit of an anxious morning - we spent an hour or so sitting in the hotel over coffee, checking snow reports and webcams. We drove out to look at Cairngorm and decided it was on the grim side, so gambled on heading west. A lovely drive with some gorgeous scenery - people had told me that Scotland was beautiful but I really had no idea how lovely it is. Made it to Glencoe and were warned at the ticket office that high winds might shut the lifts periodically and that it was cold. Trifles to anyone who skied Cairngorm yesterday, frankly. Visibility was great, as you can see in the photos, and the slopes were pretty clear. Underfoot the snow was pretty hard-packed, but softer bits could be found - the Wall was nice, and the outer side of the Canyon, unexpectedly, which caused a rather sudden double-de-ski faceplant! Winds weren't a problem, nor was the cold - it started snowing heavily and getting windy shortly before the lifts closed. We headed down and had time for a quick run-through of Winterhighland's photos before heading back to Aviemore. Very variable weather, but sunny over the gorgeous Loch Linnhe. Saw some Highland coos (sp?) and even a herd of deer! A thoroughly great day, would't have missed it for the world (even for the chance of skiing in London!). I'll come back here again.
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vetski, Glad you had a good time.
Pix look great.
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You know it makes sense.
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vetski,
Shame about Cairngorm on Saturday, I was there, but clearly you didn't see me in the atrocious vis . Glad you had a good day at Glencoe on Sunday, as Saturday wouldn't have given a good impression of sottish skiing. I decided against skiing at Cairngorm on Sunday, as the wind in Aberdeen was howling, however di have a nice ski at the Clashindarroch on Sunday afternoon where there was a thin, 0.5-2" covereing of soft snow on the trails, though it was snowing heavily all the time I was there.
Saturday was interesting, managed to ski the West wall down by the poma, better snow was probably out beyond the chair, but I wasn't sure I'd actually be able to navigate to it. The run was hard and icy with the bumps frozen in. Ciste Gulley was better as it had collected more powder, did that 4 times, but would have been better with some decent vis so i could see the frozen in bumps. Spent the afternoon on the Cas (with H11LLY)which was actually quite a nice ski, left at just after 2pm catching the train down as Winterhighland was going up.
II,
Hadn't forgot the quad chair runs, thought they looked a bit narrow on the webcam when I looked compared with the top bowl at cairngorm, mind you if you'd been able to see them on Saturday they'd have been a better bet than the Ptarmigan bowl at Cairngorm - at one point I had dificulty finding the bottom of the Ptarmigan tow from the top of the Ciste tow - I was gald I new the area well as I was navigating by the lie of teh land a lot of the time - particularly when trying to find the start of the Ciste Gulley.
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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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Dave Horsley, I wouldn't have been able to see me in a mirror at 5 feet, so yup, didn't see you either. Another time, Insh'allah!
easiski, best pic may not be posted, depending on whether attempted bribery and threatening of Winterhighland had any effect. That double de-ski faceplant I mentioned? There's a photo...
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Poster: A snowHead
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Great shots of the current Scottish scene. Glencoe certainly is in great shape still and looks as good as when we were there a fortnight ago. Reading the above I was reminded that one time in the '70s the access lift closed during the day and our party struggled down on foot as there was no snow below the plateau. When I reminded myself of this, on descending and looking down from the chair after the recent session, I am mystified as to how this was achieved in ski boots and the appalling conditions (as I remembered them). I guess in the end we just had to get down.
At the moment I'm seeing nothing reported on Glenshee (website still referring to Friday) which is nearer to us than Glencoe by some 40 miles. Here in the Borders we have had intermittent snow for 48 h so I would have thought Glenshee would be seeing some benefit.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Report I've seen says runs are filling in, road passable but difficult, but the only open lift was the Sunnyside poma.
Lecht says road passable, main runs filling in, ample nursery areas, and they had a fair selection of lifts running.
Cairngorm was only running the Train and Cas due to whiteout conditions at the top, but there looks to be loads of snow from the webcams. Just looked and you can edd the FRpoma to the open lifts
Nevis and Coe both looked very good with the coe having most lifts open and Nevis having most of the main lifts open (but not the Braveheart). Though the Nevis webcam was showing apicture of mist last time I looked.
That was off Winterhighland a couple of hours ago.
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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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Dave Horsley, yes, I see the Glenshee website has finally updated with rather limited information but the road conditions suggest improvement (!). Hopefully we will get more from Winterhighland soon.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Looks pretty good for this coming weekend 
I can feel another trip up from Gloucestershire is on the cards !
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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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I was tempted to start a seperate thread but I'll stick it here instead:
Clashindarroch Conditions Report - as of Monday 7th April evening.
When we set off the snow was soft and wet. There has been between 2-4" of fresh since yesterday. On the lower runs it was still melting a bit in the skiers tracks, but higher up it was fine. As the evening progressed the temperature dropped and the snow was crisping up and getting a lot faster. There are still a couple of bare patches caused by tree shadows and some areas are thin on the lower tracks, but all the main tracks are complete as the bare patches ar now less than half the width of the track. Reckon as we were leaving at sunset the upper tracks would have been pistable (but our main pisteur is offshore at the moment and probably green with envy at missing the skiing).
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Nevis today.... Got there mid morning and there had been fresh snow 3" at the bottom maybe 5" up top Most of the front side of the mountain was tracked out but I still managed to find a few untracked bits The freezing level was up near the top of the mountain so the snow got heavyer and chopped up after lunch... not what I like and quite tireing to ski....
Photos....
1. Summit run in the Morning
2. firstracks about to drop in
3. firstracks dropping in..
firstracks how much is it worth to you for me not to post the next picture in the sequence 
I should add that by all reports the snow in the back corries was very good 
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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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FAQ
lets go with 1 hour 10mins at the most... 
