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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Also is it worth the mission up there?
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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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Definitely worth a mission if you can time it right - conditions can be variable so you have to be prepared for that. Roads are plowed etc so unless it is actually snowing heavily you'll be fine.
Glencoe and Nevis are supposed to be very good at the moment so probably your best bet. I've only been to Cairngorm and Glenshee on the east. Cairngorm feels most like a "ski resort" rather than a "ski area" (i.e., more modern, electronic lift ticketing and so on), but Glenshee is still good (and has a lot of character).
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That sounds great!
I'll keep an eye on the forecasts and snowfall, I've been looking at Glencoe and i believe that's the closest but still a good 6 hours drive .
Think and early morning and lots of coffee will be needed for it!
Been wanting to do this for a year or two and with these conditions might be the time!
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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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We're heading up from Sheffield on Friday so can give you a good run down when we return. Staying in Fort William and then going where seems best on each day.
Ive also never been before so quite looking forward to it. Just praying for no wind
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moffatross wrote: |
P3Nn, the snow at Glencoe isn't going anywhere fast so you'd also be safe to leave it until March, April or even early May when the weather will be kinder. In April, conditions for skiing in Scotland are often quite superb.
End of April 2013 ... http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=90880&start=640 |
If its anything this year like it was last then that would be awesome .
It snowed quite a lot last year in the UK yet we don't seem to be having as much luck! Was April an exception for last year or is that normal conditions?
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medlington wrote: |
We're heading up from Sheffield on Friday so can give you a good run down when we return. Staying in Fort William and then going where seems best on each day.
Ive also never been before so quite looking forward to it. Just praying for no wind |
Great stuff! Give me and update when your back , You just going for for the weekend?
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Yep just for the weekend. From what Ive heard the snow is actually better this year than last even though we havent had any down here.
Was showing a Scottish friend of mine the snow depths reported on snow-report app and he just couldnt believe it until he found some webcams, certainly looks like lots more than when I was in Kitzbuhel a couple of weeks ago.
currently showing:
Glen Co: 110 - 255cm
Nevis: 25 - 200cm
Glenshee: 25 - 50cm
and currently snowing with lots more forcast.
Like I said seems abit too good to be true but it was accurate about kitzbuhel
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New guy here , But took missus and myself up to Glenshee this weekend gone, We went for a couple of hours of private lessons (both n00bs)
But Glenshee was very nice, and speaking to the instructor / hire shop there is good skiing to be had higher up, At moment lower down its patch (in fact since sunday was all washed out) But they are saying that it has returned with vengence high up.
Driving upto the glenshee resort the roads were completely clear, and in fact its only when you get near to the resort itself do you even see the snow We stopped at a nice little BnB about 20miles futher down the A93 - Bear in mind that HRH lives just further up the road, so you can be sure that they know what they are doing with keeping roads clear lol its all A93 driving the way, no little roads like Snake Pass / Woodhead Pass
Must admit was enjoyable day for me 'n missus, and we will be going over the Ben Nevis range (we live near blackpool) so will be doable in a a single night to see which is better for us newer skiers..
This was the report from Freshtracks this morning
Ongoing fresh snow is topping up the runs and improving the snow cover.
Still loads of snow at the upper levels and getting better lower down all the time.
Forecast Vertical Descent
Wednesday, A mainly cloudy day with snow, heavy and persistant at first but easing by the afternoon.
Light SE wind. Freezing level 600m 300m
Weather
Overcast, snowing.
Wind/Temp at 700m 10mph SE, 0C
Road Status
Closed, should be opening after first light.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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timing is everything so be as flexible as possible to get info from people who are there and daily pics check winterhighland.info you will also get the heads up on the forum when people think it will be worth a punt
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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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The conditions "up here" at the moment are probably not that much different to "down there". If the main roads - A9 for Cairngorm, A93 for Glenshee and A82 for Glencoe and Nevis - are declared open then you will be fine. The majority of cars going to the areas will be 4 x 2, not 4 x 4.
Glenshee is my favorite area and it is Scotland's largest. However, the lower slopes have suffered a bit over the last week or so and were in poor condition. The same applies to Cairngorm. Their website and Facebook updates say conditions are superb above the middle station but were a bit broken below.
Scottish centres are more susceptible to high winds and hill fog than Alpine resorts. Over the last few weeks all the main reports have had great snow conditions but have probably been closed more than they are open due to wind. When they have been open a lot of runs and lifts have been shut as the teams haven’t been able to get the lifts de-iced and or tracks clear. Same applies to the pistes; too much unprepared snow.
You should also consider where you will stay as most of the areas are not endowed with adjacent accommodation. As said already, Aviemore is the largest town next to a ski area with a bigger choice of hotels and B&Bs. Some charge stupid money during winter just because they can and not because they are worth it. For Glenshee you really have to stay in Braemar to have any choice. I stayed in a great wee B&B last April. I can't recall the name but I'll try to dig it out. Glencoe is very remote. Fort William is the closest main town and it has a good choice of accommodation but is probably 30 minutes’ drive. Nevis is north of FW but only a 10-15 minute drive.
Don’t just look at the driving distance to the ski area. Consider travel to the area and accommodation.
My advice would be to keep an eye on the forecasts and conditions and make a last minute decision on where to go. Getting accommodation should be okay and could even be organised while you are on the road.
In saying that I’m not really following my own advice. I’m going to Aviemore this weekend and staying at the Hilton Coylumbridge. However, It wasn’t planned for us to be there this weekend as we should have been there just after New Year but my wife was ill and we couldn’t travel. The Hilton very kindly agreed to transfer our non-changeable, non-refundable booking free of charge to this date. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the conditions this week and while there is masses of snow, there has been no or little uplift operating due to the wind. Saturday is looking okay weather-wise at the moment but if the heavy snow continues over the next couple of days as forecast then they may have issues with getting the uplift and pistes open. Sunday is looking like a write-off so we may return home early.
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P3Nn, lots of good advice so far on here. Yes, it's definitely worth it - especially if you can book last minute when the conditions are good. If you book a long time in advance, you run a high risk that on one or more days, some or all the resorts will be closed due to insufficient snow or too much wind.
Some info about the centres:
Glencoe
+ shorter drive
+ the most snow in Scotland at the moment
- the smallest area (but fine for a couple of days)
- the bottom lift within the ski area is a drag lift, so if there's no snow low down, the area is likely to close
Nevis Range
+ excellent snow conditions at the moment
+ Fort William a good place to stay
- longer drive
- prone to closure due to wind
Cairngorm
+ the most reliable for snow (good beginner areas right at the top, which are reached by a mountain railway)
+ Aviemore a good place to stay
- queues on many weekends and holidays
- prone to closure due to wind or heavy snow (!)
The Lecht
+ quiet, with little chance of queues
+ the most sheltered resort, so rarely closes due to wind
- longer drive
- low, often closes due to insufficient snow (some would disagree). Not enough snow to open at the moment!
Glenshee
+ shorter drive
+ the largest ski area (my favourite)
- queues on some weekends and holidays
- road prone to closure due to snow, especially southern approach
My advice would be to book last minute, or stay in Aviemore (for Cairngorm, The Lecht & Nevis Range) or Fort William (for Nevis Range, Glencoe & Cairngorm) so you can head wherever's best on the day.
I'd disagree with those who say they only open the roads when they're fine for all vehicles. We drive a regular car, and have had problems driving in deepish snow on the way up to both Glenshee and The Lecht. I've heard stories about the Cairngorm road too. You'd be unlucky to get stuck, but it's possible - especially if you go the morning after it's snowed overnight. Over on the west coast, the roads to Glencoe and Nevis Range are lower, and hardly ever an issue.
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You know it makes sense.
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Should also say - conditions are currently good everywhere except the Lecht, which has almost no snow at all. If open, all five centres would be fine for a beginner skier. Glencoe probably the least ideal, and Cairngorm probably the best.
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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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SlipSki wrote: |
New guy here , But took missus and myself up to Glenshee this weekend gone, We went for a couple of hours of private lessons (both n00bs)
But Glenshee was very nice, and speaking to the instructor / hire shop there is good skiing to be had higher up, At moment lower down its patch (in fact since sunday was all washed out) But they are saying that it has returned with vengence high up.
Driving upto the glenshee resort the roads were completely clear, and in fact its only when you get near to the resort itself do you even see the snow We stopped at a nice little BnB about 20miles futher down the A93 - Bear in mind that HRH lives just further up the road, so you can be sure that they know what they are doing with keeping roads clear lol its all A93 driving the way, no little roads like Snake Pass / Woodhead Pass
Must admit was enjoyable day for me 'n missus, and we will be going over the Ben Nevis range (we live near blackpool) so will be doable in a a single night to see which is better for us newer skiers..
This was the report from Freshtracks this morning
Ongoing fresh snow is topping up the runs and improving the snow cover.
Still loads of snow at the upper levels and getting better lower down all the time.
Forecast Vertical Descent
Wednesday, A mainly cloudy day with snow, heavy and persistant at first but easing by the afternoon.
Light SE wind. Freezing level 600m 300m
Weather
Overcast, snowing.
Wind/Temp at 700m 10mph SE, 0C
Road Status
Closed, should be opening after first light. |
Great stuff thank's for the information
If only i could convince my missus to get into skiing haha
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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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Quote: |
If only i could convince my missus to get into skiing haha
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Perhaps its better to enjoy the silence of the hills..
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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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denfinella wrote: |
P3Nn, lots of good advice so far on here. Yes, it's definitely worth it - especially if you can book last minute when the conditions are good. If you book a long time in advance, you run a high risk that on one or more days, some or all the resorts will be closed due to insufficient snow or too much wind.
Some info about the centres:
Glencoe
+ shorter drive
+ the most snow in Scotland at the moment
- the smallest area (but fine for a couple of days)
- the bottom lift within the ski area is a drag lift, so if there's no snow low down, the area is likely to close
Nevis Range
+ excellent snow conditions at the moment
+ Fort William a good place to stay
- longer drive
- prone to closure due to wind
Cairngorm
+ the most reliable for snow (good beginner areas right at the top, which are reached by a mountain railway)
+ Aviemore a good place to stay
- queues on many weekends and holidays
- prone to closure due to wind or heavy snow (!)
The Lecht
+ quiet, with little chance of queues
+ the most sheltered resort, so rarely closes due to wind
- longer drive
- low, often closes due to insufficient snow (some would disagree). Not enough snow to open at the moment!
Glenshee
+ shorter drive
+ the largest ski area (my favourite)
- queues on some weekends and holidays
- road prone to closure due to snow, especially southern approach
My advice would be to book last minute, or stay in Aviemore (for Cairngorm, The Lecht & Nevis Range) or Fort William (for Nevis Range, Glencoe & Cairngorm) so you can head wherever's best on the day.
I'd disagree with those who say they only open the roads when they're fine for all vehicles. We drive a regular car, and have had problems driving in deepish snow on the way up to both Glenshee and The Lecht. I've heard stories about the Cairngorm road too. You'd be unlucky to get stuck, but it's possible - especially if you go the morning after it's snowed overnight. Over on the west coast, the roads to Glencoe and Nevis Range are lower, and hardly ever an issue. |
Thank you that's some nice and easy to read information!
Glencoe and Glenshee are seeming the most viable at the moment
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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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Looking at the prices it's going to cost about £200 for a weekend!
Here the costing:
Travel by Car to Accommodation
5 Hours 44 minutes (328.8mi)
Petrol calculator = Aprox: Total petrol cost RETURN: £167.10. Cost per person: £83.55
Accommodation
20 minutes from Glenshee Ski Centre
£27.50 Per Person per night = 2x Nights= £55
http://www.bedandbreakfastsearcher.co.uk/detail.asp?id=28277
Lift Pass
£29 for the whole day = x2 days = £58
Total = £198.50
-----------------------------------------
It's not unreasonable but could a trip to Bansko be done for £300ish???
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Agree with most of above except to say that Glencoe is generally much better for beginners than Nevis, where the green tows are almost always sketchy for snow and must emphasise how great the scenery is around these 2 areas. Nevis is awesome if you like empty steep slopes, but Glencoe has a wider variety of blues. Good access to a few longer blues off the chair at Nevis and the tows are much easier to manage so pluses and minuses to each area. They are easier to drive to as the road maxes out at just over 300m (at Glencoe car park) compared to about 650m elevation for Glenshee and Cairngorm.
Looks just a little too windy this weekend (and it's my son's birthday) but I'm definitely going to head up soon. Glencoe is under 5hrs from Manchester so must be under 6 from Sheffield. OTOH Aviemore is a good way further, but does have better nightlife. Might try SYHA Glencoe next time as I saw that it is walking distance from the Clachaig Inn. There are loads of accommodation options in either direction though.
It can take me longer to get home as I get tired now in my old age! I usually stop in Glasgow on the Friday night. Leaving after work would mean an unnecessarily late night (and likely difficulty in getting a decent meal). Setting off between 6.30-7am will get you to Glencoe, Nevis or Glenshee for the first lift. Have to leave by 6am for Cairngorm though! Cheap digs in the west end, lots of nice bars and you are on the right road for a quick getaway in the morning. If not worried about nightlife, hotels around Glasgow Airport or near the Erskine Bridge save having to get off the main road.
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Those petrol costs are too high, unless you have a beast of a car. @£1.30 and 30mpg, you are looking at £130 not £170. I see you say a Corsa - 40mpg = under £100.
£300 to Bansko will be from Gatwick Airport, not your front doorstep. In fact Iglu will give you a headline price of not much more for a big resort in France. Now add on how much it will cost to get to the airport, add on ski transport/hire, add the cost/likelihood of time off work, add meals on slopes, subtract however much for the cheaper beer in Bulgaria and you'll have a better comparison of the actual costs.
Bansko reporting 70/10cm snow and light snow now, Glencoe 255/110cm and still snowing heavily!
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what...snow wrote: |
Those petrol costs are too high, unless you have a beast of a car. @£1.30 and 30mpg, you are looking at £130 not £170. I see you say a Corsa - 40mpg = under £100.
£300 to Bansko will be from Gatwick Airport, not your front doorstep. In fact Iglu will give you a headline price of not much more for a big resort in France. Now add on how much it will cost to get to the airport, add on ski transport/hire, add the cost/likelihood of time off work, add meals on slopes, subtract however much for the cheaper beer in Bulgaria and you'll have a better comparison of the actual costs.
Bansko reporting 70/10cm snow and light snow now, Glencoe 255/110cm and still snowing heavily! |
Depends i normally drive about 80ish so my MPG is low! Did a calculator at about 30mpg to be safe but yeah as you say i should get 40mpg :S
All i know is that when i'm above 3/4k RPM i'm sure i can watch the needle going down haha
Yeah i take it that it'd probably work out a lot more than i first expected! Back to the Scotland plan!!!
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Anyone got any idea how strong the wind needs to be to shut the resorts down?
My app is saying upto 60kmph on Sat and upto 115kmph on Sunday am
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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medlington, it's hard to predict exactly, because conditions can very a lot even over small distances - depends on wind direction as well as a bit of luck.
My prediction for Saturday though is that Glenshee and Glencoe will be fine, perhaps with the Cliffhanger chair shut at Glencoe, and the Cairnwell chair shut at Glenshee. Cairngorm may possibly shut the top lifts but the Funicular will almost definitely run, which accesses the majority of the mountain. Nevis Range may have problems as the access gondola is vulnerable to wind, but could well be OK too.
For Sunday, I think Cairngorm and Nevis Range will probably be closed. Glencoe may open, and Glenshee probably will. But the open resorts aren't likely to have their whole area open - the more exposed parts will stay shut.
Snow conditions should be great though!
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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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My advice would be to do it soon because soon you'll need to get your passport out at Gretna.
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You know it makes sense.
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To underline the point of uncertainty in the forecasts winds are more Southerly than SE and good bit stronger than forecast for today, Glencoe, Nevis Range and CairnGorm are all stormbound. Glenshee however is open out to and including Glas Maol - so if the weather is iffy it's always worth keeping up to date in the mornings and changing your plan, it can be the difference between a wasted day and a day of freshies! At least the warm sector is making slower progress so far, snow is still falling to below the top of the Access Lifts in the West!
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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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P3Nn, I have to say from personal experience (i was the passenger!!) that it is entirely possible to drive all the way to Aviemore at 56-60 mph to conserve fuel. It took forever though
My vote would be to head to Glencoe. Book into the youth hostel and then you can stagger home from the Clachaig Inn at closing time.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Did I understand that the OP has only skied indoors and dry ski slopes? If so Aviemore and Glenshee (or lecht which is very small) might seem the most suitable resorts. Glencoe is small but full of character and along with Nevis has mostly more advanced skiing. Nevis is my favourite because of the steep back-bowl and easy access off piste.
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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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Have to say I will NOT be going back to Scotland in a hurry. The place is cursed I tell thee!
Started out with a quick trip to the docs before we left on Friday and he confirmed Ive got shingles on my foot so almost cancelled the holiday (Wish that I had now) Anyway we set off about 3 and made it across the border sometime after 6, got about 10 miles past Lockerbie when the car I was in hit a massive stretch of standing water just as we were changing lanes and started aquaplaning, then it fishtailed and spun 360 into the central reservation where we were stuck for about 20 mins. Somehow we all walked out of it alive but the car was a complete write-off.
The police took us to the services so we had somewhere to stay the night but as it was only 7 we decided we'd get a taxi to the nearest town and have a drink to calm down. So we ended up having a very nice drink in Biggar where we all discussed how lucky we were to be alive and that someone up above must have been looking out for us. So we got in the taxi to go back to the services and my friends wife (who had been driving his car earlier) slammed the taxi door on his finger taking it clean off. Now we had a 30 min race to the nearest hospital with his finger in a pint pot, they then sent him onto Glasgow Royal to see a plastic surgeon so his wife and I got in the taxi to go back to the services which promptly broke down in the middle of nowhere leaving us stranded yet again.
After getting up early to get a higher car we decided we would still go skiing as we were waiting for my friend to have his operation. Everywhere was shut except Cairngorm so we headed up there, by the time we got there after a 3.5 hour drive threw hellish conditions and got changed it was 2 but we were determined to get a few runs in so got cracking anyway. As soon as we got onto the funicular it broke down for 15 mins aswell so we ended up only getting about an hour on the slopes which I must say were far too flat and the conditions were pretty grim. Also my foot was killing so couldn't really ski very well either.
All in all an incredibly expensive holiday for 4 runs.
Now my impressions of Scotland may have been soured somewhat but Id say get a cheap package to Europe somewhere rather than head up there, the area did seem very small and limited and it was a very very long journey. Perhaps the other ski areas are better than Cairngorm but the weather seems so unpredictable it only seems worth it if you live local or are going up for a week and pick and choose the days you ski
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is a higher car different from a lower car?
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Yes they only rent them to people with an inability to spell
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ah... that makes sense then.
Now, about skiing in Scotland - it's not the alps, doesn't pretend to be, but it can offer the most amazing days of skiing anywhere, alas it can also offer some of the worst... but so can anywhere in the alps if you go on the wrong day.
How's yer mates finger?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yeah I think we just had a very unlucky / bad weekend in every way, several of the people who went in the other cars really enjoyed it. I think I would have enjoyed it more if Id been snowboarding as I would have got more out of the limited terrain but thought a snowboard boot would have caused more trouble with my leg.
On the drive back we could see some parts that looked like they'd be amazing for touring and Im sure that Nevis and GlenCo have some slightly more challenging terrain too but its going to take something special to get me back there now.
Hes lost it all above the second knuckle so will have a reminder of the crazy day for ever now. he should be fine though once hes come to terms with it, could have been alot worse, he could have had several fingers in the door.
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medlington, urrm, wow! Although it sounds like the worst of it wasn't related to Scotland or skiing.
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