 Poster: A snowHead
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I have an option of spending a day at one of the Scottish areas next week and considering either Glencoe or Glenshee.
Never skied in Scotland before, but from what I understand Glenshee is bigger but Glencoe has bigger vertical. Any up to the minute reports on which would be best?
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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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where to go: wherever the weather is going to be best
why: have you ever been here in bad weather?
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As above, dont plan too far in advance, choose the area based on snow conditions and weather forecast the night before. All the areas have a slightly different feel, Glencoe is superb and has the least developed vibe about it, Glenshee feels the biggest (mainly because its spread across a road and has several valleys).
TBH I love all the areas but for different reasons, look at the forecast and go with an open mind.
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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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Cheers for the replies so far.
I do have the luxury of being able to choose which day I go, so will be looking for the best weather window. If the weather doesn't play ball I won't be going.
I was wondering if any area in particular would be better than the other - i.e. less prone to queuing, better snow, less prone to lift closures etc etc.
As I'm only there for a day I want make best of what little time I have.
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The scottish resorts have suffered this year. Not for the usual reason though i.e. lack of snow, but too much wind! During this period I've been watching theresorts and Cairngorm seems to have suffered most with Nevis and Glencoe not far behind. However, Gleenshee has often been open when the others have closed.
I prefer Glenshee to the other resorts as it has a nice mix of runs and when the snow is good, it is very good. Skiing Glas Maol is a favorite of mine.
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Of the two I prefer Glencoe - better scenery, more "rugged" feel, more advanced terrain. Glenshee has the more extensive terrain
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nickr, what kind of skiing/runs do you like?
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Ordinarily I'd say reasonably challenging. Not bothered about skiing off piste though as I won't have any avy gear. This is likely to be my only day on snow this year, so will happy to just get some turns in to be honest, but would be good if there was something of reasonable pitch and preferably moguled.
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Both are excellent, Glencoe is more rugged, facilities are basic, there are few pisted runs but lots of routes and the most interesting and varied skiing in Scotland. As runs are barely marked it can be very confusing in poor vis if you don't know it. Glenshee is a bit more tamed and there are fences etc so it is easier to find your way, there are more lifts and a good selection of areas. This year Glencoe has had ridiculous amounts of snow and faces North so tends to hold the conditions better. If the wind/vis look good I would go for Glencoe, but go with the best weather. If the weather at both looks marginal for wind then Glenshee is more likely to have something open as there are tows from the roadside. At Glencoe, if the access chair is shut the whole place is shut. In either case if you hit on a good day it will be epic, get there early because they both have quite small car parks
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Glencoe is quite challenging. When I lived there it was my fave. But only go if you have that weather window. If you do it will be magnificent.
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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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nickr, Glencoe then if you like more of a challenge than pisted runs!
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You are right about the small amount of vertical at Glen Shee. It is a big area with several successive ups and downs, but has only about 300m vertical. Glen Coe has 450m (plus another 300m of tricky skiing on the rare occasions there is enough snow to ski to the car-park). Nevis has 550m and Cairngorm has 500m (or 600m if you walk up above the top lift to the summit, or can ski down the Ciste to the lower car park - or 700 if you do both). Scottish lifts are built on the assumption that snow starts at 650m above sea level.
Glen Shee has, in general, somewhat easier skiing than Glencoe though the Tiger run is quite steep (but the Flypaper at Glencoe is much steeper!).
Piste maps here
Glencoe above the access chairlift: (Lifts go to the ridge at the top. You can only see the top pylon and revolve of the furthest right lift)
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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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Is Flypaper a marked run and avalanche controlled or off piste?
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Poster: A snowHead
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nickr, Flypaper is a marked run I think. It is on the piste map as such.
I was in Glencoe this week and although visability was poor at times it was such a change from ski ing in France. It had a more desolate feel, a feeling of being "further out". No wonder they used the area in the Skyfall Bind film. We skied Nevis as well, and the whole family agreed that Glencoe was better.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I like Glencoe too.
nickr, if you look at snowballs' photo - you can more or less ski everything on that mound in front of those two skiers who couldn't afford to buy a lift pass.
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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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kitenski, do you know which bit of the hill that was filmed on? I didn't recognise it.
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edit - didn;t see that vid, will watch now...
edit 2 - looks to be mainly the stuff up around the main basin, maybe etive glades way? Hell of a lot of snow though so all looks smoother and flatter than when I was there!
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Fri 21-02-14 16:58; edited 1 time in total
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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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| Mosha Marc wrote: |
| kitenski, do you know which bit of the hill that was filmed on? I didn't recognise it. |
Err, it appears to have been filmed all over the open areas from what I Can see?? Off cliffy and off the T bars + looks like they walked to the top and maybe came down Spring Run, or given the amount of snow anything from skiers left of spring/rannoch to the tows is going to be skiable!!
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| chrisb wrote: |
| . We skied Nevis as well, and the whole family agreed that Glencoe was better. |
If it were just the front of Nevis I'd agree, but the steep back bowl (and off piste) of Nevis makes it my favourite.
(sorry, I've put this on snowheads several times since I took it)
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