 Poster: A snowHead
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Filling up at Glencoe. Time to go in the new year and get my season pass.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@GlasgowCyclops, Nice one, if I lived a bit closer it would be worthwhile for me too.
p.s. Happy Birthday !
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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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Bluebird day at The Lecht today, busy as expected. Good cover although very icy first thing, softened nicely with the sun. Only Eagle running early morning as a wheel had come loose on the Grouse, huge queues but once Grouse was fixed and Buzzard opened up queues got better although still busy.
All in all worth a morning out on the snow, even managed some powder turns alongside the fences near the Buzzard lift.
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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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Glencoe open summit to access chair today, top to bottom skiing. Glenshee reports 12cm of fresh overnight, things are looking good!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Need to keep an eye on Tuesday nights rain / snow event. If Glencoe et al. can get through that without too much damage to the snowpack then the forecast looks really promising for sustained coolish weather beyond that and there could be excellent conditions for much of early / mid January.
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@GreenDay, cheers
My birthday was on the 29th dec but it seems to be telling me I have a birthday every day 
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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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Good link to some good pictures @Peter S, in addition there have been similar posts from (individuals,) at Lecht and Cairngorm, admittedly ski touring on the latter.
Overall Scottish conditions fairly good and lowish temps should provide a few days of reasonable skiing.
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Glencoe reporting that they have already sold out of tickets for today!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Ski lots wrote: |
| Glencoe reporting that they have already sold out of tickets for today! |
Thats great news, I think Glenshee limited the numbers for today due to expected demand - sensible.
I will wait til after the holidays to head up.
Today looks like a beautiful sunny cold day for those lucky enough to have a ticket tho !!
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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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| Quote: |
| I will wait til after the holidays to head up. |
Looks like the weather is going downhill after today  We'd considered a trip over the next few days but have knocked it on the head in view of the forecast.
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Epic day at The Lecht today despite the queues. Once buzzard opened up it was bluebird powder runs for hours!
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
Ski lots wrote:
Glencoe reporting that they have already sold out of tickets for today!
Thats great news, I think Glenshee limited the numbers for today due to expected demand - sensible.
I will wait til after the holidays to head up.
Today looks like a beautiful sunny cold day for those lucky enough to have a ticket tho !!
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I believe they did sell out online but didn't stop them selling on the day (I don't blame them). Car parks close to full! Awesome day but required some creative thinking to avoid endless queues. Carn Aosda sharks were hungry!
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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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Glencoe first thing this morning.
Great to have first Glencoe outing of the year 
Conditions were certainly variable - underfoot Happy Valley was the pick of the runs with drifted powder over firm/icy base. Didn't bother with any of the other summit runs as plenty of sharks still but Main Basin was skied a fair bit. Saw some brave souls on Spring Run first thing but unsurprisingly no one else all day. Didn't look at Etive Glades but sure will have been wind scoured and lots of ice.Plateau runs were mostly good, if thin, with nice drifted snow in lee of fences.
Overhead also variable with frequent snow shows and in and out vis.
New Rannoch chair eases the pressure on the Poma but it is a very slow and cold beast when the wind blows so we opted for the Poma more often.
Packed a lot in and when snow started dumping seriously at 3pm we called it a day.
Promising for early season and provided snow pack survives the predicted rain on Wednesday things should shape up nicely.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I’m up to Glencoe tomorrow 3rd if anyone is around.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@GlasgowCyclops, Could be a very good day if the wind drops and they can open the lifts! Heavy fresh snow at all levels reported on their Facebook page, but on hold until 10am due to wind.
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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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Yep I’m in the cafe with bacon roll and a coffee. Starting to brighten up
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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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@GlasgowCyclops, how was it?
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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 had a great morning at the Lecht yesterday, was not looking to flash to start with but conditions drastically improved by about 10 and we had some great along with not many queues. They were pushing a decent amount of snow around for the tow tracks so if it stays cool and has a small top up almost everything could run.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Overnight thaw has made some of the webcam images look a bit grotty but Glenshee has just managed to open the Cairnwell chair for the first time this season
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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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Some woman from Scottish ABTA on radio Scotland just now (article was broadly about people booking summer holidays) was asked about people booking skiiing holidays.
Her response?
"Yes, get yourselves up to Aviemore"
Good luck with that skiing break on Cairngorm guys.............
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https://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/mountain-railway/
Please note that the funicular railway remains out of service at present. Owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) expects operations will start up again in early 2023, during the winter season. Here’s the latest update from HIE:
“The timescale now is in the hands of the UK Government. We submitted applications for safety certificates for both the funicular infrastructure and the control system before Christmas, as planned. These are now with the Department for Transport and officials are recommending approval. The final step is for the safety case certification to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Transport and we are very hopeful of obtaining a positive outcome.”
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| kitenski wrote: |
| @GlasgowCyclops, how was it? |
It was busy but light rain then heavy rain then light rain. I even got a bit wet even with all the gear. Fortunately had a change of gear. I went up on Wed as well to do some teaching shadowing on the dry slope. That was a lot of fun.
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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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| kitenski wrote: |
| “The timescale now is in the hands of the UK Government. We submitted applications for safety certificates for both the funicular infrastructure and the control system before Christmas, as planned. These are now with the Department for Transport and officials are recommending approval. The final step is for the safety case certification to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Transport and we are very hopeful of obtaining a positive outcome.” |
Ha - I believe that final stage of approval took months and months for the new chairlift at Glencoe, so might not open this season at all 
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Well, how the tables have turned, snowing in the Alps and a large thaw in Scotland. Albeit the west is doing ok and Glencoe are loading up nicely with pretty much all lifts turning, the east are pretty much back to manmade only and Cairngorm running some higher drags but you have to walk up to them. Lots of snow forecast in the west mixed with some rain at times and high winds but that is the direction to head if you can find a break in the weather (personally, I am off to the Alps Saturday!)
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You know it makes sense.
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| denfinella wrote: |
| kitenski wrote: |
| “The timescale now is in the hands of the UK Government. We submitted applications for safety certificates for both the funicular infrastructure and the control system before Christmas, as planned. These are now with the Department for Transport and officials are recommending approval. The final step is for the safety case certification to be signed off by the Secretary of State for Transport and we are very hopeful of obtaining a positive outcome.” |
Ha - I believe that final stage of approval took months and months for the new chairlift at Glencoe, so might not open this season at all |
They have a bit more sway I would expect with HIE able to 'fast track' it. The date I've been assured of for ages is end of Jan.
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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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| orange wrote: |
They have a bit more sway I would expect with HIE able to 'fast track' it. The date I've been assured of for ages is end of Jan. |
If it does happen more quickly then the question is whether HIE was pulling strings to the detriment of the commercially run and privately owned ski areas?
One does wonder why the planning process for the Coire Pollach Tow at Glencoe took about 6 weeks, but then when it was known the Funicular was in trouble the planning for the Rannoch Chair took 18 months, similar the Cairnwell Quad - that project being abandoned sadly.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Given the West Coast dumpage in the forecast for the next 36 hours this is pretty encouraging from Glencoe if the weather gives us a break in the wind!
https://fb.watch/h__pjCUiv2/
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@haggishunter, Yep, I am trying not to schedule any jobs for early next week, hoping for one of those bluebird windless monday or tuesdays !
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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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We are going to be in the west for a few days late next week before heading over to Aviemore the week after. Would be good to get out at Glencoe if conditions are good. Also, what's Nevis range like nowadays? Haven't skied there for many years. Might like to search out some easyish touring as well if anyone has any pointers.(We will be staying in Kinlochleven before Aviemore).
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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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Things could change over the next few days, but currently Glencoe looks to have by far the best conditions of any of the ski areas. Westerly location + a higher base height compared to Nevis Range seems to be helping.
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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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| RobinS wrote: |
| Also, what's Nevis range like nowadays? Haven't skied there for many years. |
Well according to some reports I've seen it may be going the way of Aviemore, i.e the management seem reluctant to run some lifts thus reducing the skiing area, and seem more concentrated on non snowsports activities i.e visitors and mountain biking. Perhaps others could comment if this is the case?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Very good day at the Coe today. Bit of everything, sun, snow showers, rainbows and even a broken spectre. Loads of fresh lines to be had all over the mountain. Run of the day was Springy and East Plateau down to the bottom of Rannoch chair with great cover all the way. The cover on the upper mountain is excellent, even a pisted line to the top of springy.
Only downside was no hot food at plateau chateau, presumably due to lack of staff (there was only 1). Very sad that they are unable to find enough staff as they are losing out on profit and it impacts (my) customer experience. Not blaming the Coe Crew in any way, I'll keep political thoughts to myself!
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I’m heading to Glencoe tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
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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: |
| Also, what's Nevis range like nowadays? Haven't skied there for many years |
1. I suspect tickets will be a bit dearer than your last visit - now an outrage at over £40 a day.
2. Despite the above, you'll find less lifts than when you were last there. Both Warrens draglift and Braveheart chair have been 'mothballed' - effectively meaning they will never run again 
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| scottishandy wrote: |
Only downside was no hot food at plateau chateau, presumably due to lack of staff (there was only 1). Very sad that they are unable to find enough staff as they are losing out on profit and it impacts (my) customer experience. Not blaming the Coe Crew in any way, I'll keep political thoughts to myself! |
The staffing situation is incredibly tight, it’s a serious problem for a lot of Highland businesses not just the ski areas.
However the funeral for Chizzy who was the main operator at the bottom of the Access Chair for 20 odd years was on Friday afternoon. He passed away on Hogmanay. 
So that might have explained the Plateau Cafe today.
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FAQ
