Poster: A snowHead
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I'm looking to go sometime during next mid-week (not the bank holiday monday, but will at a stretch) to either Glenshee or Cairngorm. Days selected will be based on what the forecast says a day or two before (so may not even happen if the forecast is bad). Glenshee will take it if Glas Maol is opened up otherwise perhaps the gorm (also a bit dependant on the west wall poma staying open).
If its a one day dash then so be it, its a long journey, but its worth it for a good days skiing in Scotland (and I like to chuck them some lift pass money from time to time as would hate to see any of them go bust). Otherwise maybe two days skiing with late driving on either end (I can leave work from 4 fully packed) and getting a B+B at short notice. If doing 2 days could perhaps take in the shee and cairngorm.
I'm on merseyside and I'm looking for people to share the drive (no fun doing 8/10 hrs on your own) up and petrol costs (your car or mine).
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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 might be up for this, looking to go myself this weekend/early week. Happy to drive as I have to come up that way anyway. Have the option of a Landcruiser if the weather is looking dodgy or an eco miser 1.4td Audi A2.
It's that or the Alps for a couple of days
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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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Sounds like your transport is probably better for snowy roads than mine and/or cheaper on juice as I am currently running a fwd petrol guzzling volvo (of course I can share driving no probs and I have had my fair share of doing transfers in snowy conditions on various alpine roads over the years). Could do this weekend, but weekends in scotland with decent weather and snow are usually mobbed. My probable preference would be Tuesday and or wednesday next week. Looking at the MWIS forecasts it appears this weekend its going to be dumping heavily and getting clearer on Monday, but still cloudy with snow showers (but that is a bank holiday in Scotland I think?). tuesdays forecast should appear tommorow.
Cptsideways, what are your thoughts?
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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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Helen LS, That could be a possible. The gorm is looking a little difficult to get to at the moment, so it may be one that will have to be played by 'ear'. By reports gorm and lecht seem to have had most of the new snow, so the gorm could be awesome if accessible. Although the west wall poma isn't running at the mo (don't know if this is a avalanche risk issue or an operational problem?)
There is certainly a lot more open than sunnyside presently. Only stuff not running is the cairnwell chair (so I guess the 'tiger' is not open?) and Glas Maol. I'm hoping at least Glas will open up by next week. There were a lot of cars on the webcam pics at the shees car park today, so the road must be in reasonable nick.
For the YHA I guess you need to be a member to stay there? Where is the closest one to Glenshee?
I'm trying to persuade a friend at work to come up too, but I think he's going to pass on it.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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skir67, potentially interested, I live on Merseyside too. I'll see what I can do with work on Monday and I'll keep an eye on that forecast.
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kristof, OK, I haven't organised anything with work yet, but normally they are no probs when requesting leave at short notice, but I guess we would need to make some kind of decision by Monday lunchtime. It will be weather forecast dependent I guess. With the amount of snow that has fallen and the fact that the weather at least for the next week looks set to stay cold then there is no real problem in a bit of a delay if the weather on tue/weds doesn't look like its going to be too good.
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Think I may hang on a bit, this week looks like the weather could still be a bit off from time to time. Normally I'd just go, but as the weather is staying cold and there is some more snow in prospect it wont hurt me to hang on a bit for optimal conditions (a bit of a luxury with Scottish conditions I know). I'll post again when I've pinpointed a likely day/s.
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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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I thought I had replied to this but obviously not - I am a technophobe ! Anyway I am deffo going up on tues am just cant decide where will overnight tues and ski wed. There is a yh just after glenshee further north never stayed there as I went over to aviemore via the lecht last time I road tripped it ...............
need to get some wax on my skis but no time
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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My parents tell me there's six inches of powder at the foot of the Pentlands. Possibly you should all be considering Hillend.
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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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Lizzard, thats what my sister said !!!!!!!!! hmmm
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skir67, not a problem, thought as much with the forecast
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You know it makes sense.
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rayscoops, Yes, I saw that thanks. Probably work for some, but I prefer the flexibility of driving and I'll be aiming for Glenshee or the gorm probably and that deal is for Glencoe.
Lizzard, Yep theres some pictures in the public reports section of winterhighland showing people skiing on snow at Hillend this weekend I think, but if I'm going to Edinburgh I might as well go to Glenshee from where I am it isn't much further to go relatively.
kristof, I'm just gonna keep an eye on the forecast and temps and then make a decision a day or two before going. It will be during the week though. I think I'm just going to do 1 day though now, so it will be a case of leaving home about 2am or so, arrive for 1st lift, ski, and then drive back. I've done it before on my own, certainly tiring but doable and the last day I had at Glenshee it was worth it with everything open, snow in good nick and NO lift queues! Is that something that might interest you?
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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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skir67, short queues and everything open sounds great but I'd never want to do a there and back in a day. I've done it to Edinburgh before and that was just sat on my back bottom in meetings for a few hours, not skiing.
The forecast seems to be looking up for the weekend so I may think about going up on Thursday or Friday for a few days and Yad Moss is looking good for a there and back in a day.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Was at Glenshee today, roads were clear and the hill is in good condition
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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kristof, fair enough, I'm still considering a second day, but I need to talk to someone at work who is interested in going to see what they think.
arv, good to hear, are all the runs in good condition? Any ice or bare patches at all?
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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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skir67, I was teaching so didn't do a whole lot of skiing about, Claybokie has some icy patches developing then again they do make snow there occasionally.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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arv, Fair enough, think things may be on hold as the north west of england has just ground to a halt due to the current snowfall, as the temps are due to stay low, I'm going to have to keep a close eye on if anything is possible this week. Out of interest is it just cairnwell mountain sports ski school operating out of Glenshee now or is there anyone else?
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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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kristof, Think the guys at work are keen on a one day option so that is probably what we'll do. I also sometimes go to Yad Moss or Raise so maybe we can link up in the future for some northern english skiing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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skir67, I would go with Cairnwell Mountain Sports and request 'Ross' if you are looking for a private lesson
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skir67, sounds like a plan, think I'm going for Yad Moss this weekend and I'll save north of the border later
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Well I went and had an excellent time
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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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kristof, Yad will be rammed!!! I plan to go some time to either Raise or Yad or possibly both. But Yad and Scotland I'm only going to do during the week as they are too busy otherwise (particularly if the weather is OK). Raise is OK at the weekend as the walk in puts most people off and that's part of the reason why I like the place so much!
Helen LS, Tell me more, how was it? Did you go to Glenshee after all? How is the snow, queues, roads etc?
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arv, Was more wondering if it is just the one ski school there now or are there more, as there used to be? What are their pay rates like for teaching?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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skir67, only one on site that I know of (and work for now and again). There is another (Cairdsports maybe?!) but they have to wear ridiculous coats.
Give me a PM if you are interested and I will give you details/put you in touch with the necessary person. Always looking for new instructors.
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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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I then decided to just bimble about I went over to the other side to check it out and went up carn aosda, there was a queue for butcharts poma so I just took the t- bar which was a bit of a struggle to stay on by myself but it was lovely up the top, I also went and sampled the Cairnwell lift and took the red down but the coverage was quite thin and the weather was horrible.
I think I packed in at about 1600 and then drove to Braemar, I pulled over to let the 4 x 4 's overtake all the time thinking is this road actually open ! Went and bought some supplies and then checked into the YH, nice power shower and a ten hour sleep Before waking up for Wednesday !
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You know it makes sense.
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Helen LS, Strange with that poma, I don't remember it doing that kind of thing in the past, I wonder what's up with it? Did you ski on wednesday too or did you go home?
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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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So Wednesday for some strange reason I am in no rush, sort all my stuff out and leave the YH ! dig my car out again and the road is now open but only as far as Glenshee, so off I set thinking again is this road really open especially when I pass a cutter - cutting the road out but on I trundle taking some magnificent photos, the road is completely white but the scenery is amazing, get to Glenshee and there are a max of 50 cars parked the road south is shut which causes me a little panic as I have to be in England for 1200 on thurs, but not being too worried I opt for the same layering as previous day and head out skied again pretty much everywhere all by myself because no one arrived from the south until 1400 ! the skiing was lovely bright sunshine views for miles and no wind, no one else just bliss.
I packed in around 1530 and drove back to the borders where they had loads of snow got there in an acceptable 2.5 hours and then had a panic cos every road south was shut - got up at 6am on thurs left by 6.20 and in my car was going to head up to edinburgh and then over the m8 but they had just opened the Biggar road and it was passable with care so I took that option and arrived home in 4.5 hours
Then went to work and astounded my colleagues who couldnt believe what I had done, showed them the photos and they were like OMG that could be the alps !
Just my photos now, a load of dirt to wash off my car and a large bruise on the inside of my thigh and a swollen lip well worth it !
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Poster: A snowHead
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skir67, see above !
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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 and the Poma was chucking everyone off, the lifty was giving instructions and boarders were having to have both feet clipped in !
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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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Yeah its not too expensive £45 lift passes I reckon I used £65 in diesel, £16 in a YH, and then just my food not bad really ! I probably wont get back up till maybe March now but enjoy
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