 Poster: A snowHead
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Any one out there got a rough idea what conditions are like at the moment?
Just wondering what to pack, ski gear or mtb/hiking gear. I've just had a look at their web site and they say things are looking good for Easter, But they would say that. Just wondering what it's actually like?
Cheers
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brian
brian
Guest
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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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All lifts open apparently. Other Scottish resorts are pretty bad though.
The number of lifts open is the surest way to tell. From experience if it can be skied down the lift will be open. Cairngorms is used to have the best snow.
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| saikee wrote: |
All lifts open apparently. Other Scottish resorts are pretty bad though.
The number of lifts open is the surest way to tell. From experience if it can be skied down the lift will be open. Cairngorms is used to have the best snow. |
That doesn't necessarily hold true, a couple of days in the past week only the Funciular and Shuttle Bus were open but every run was open and the whole mountain accessible.
Still top to bottom sliding with potential for 2000ft of vertical descent (via the Laogh Mor Return) when the shuttle bus is running on CairnGorm Mountain and 1700ft of vertical on the Cas side. Still extensive cover beyond the fenced runs on the upper and mid mountain with steeper off-piste on the East Lady, Coronation and East Walls (far beyond the No 1 and No2 gullies)
As for the other areas, virtually all runs are still complete at Glenshee except some on East aspects which have had the least snow this winter (most snow game from the East or SE), Carn Aosda, Sunnyside still good between the fences, Meall Odhar, Coire Fionn and Glas Maol all giving good riding and all 20 lifts will run weather permitting at the weekend.
West Coast areas have the best riding on the top half of the mountains where there's been a few top ups this week, around a foot of fresh at the top of Glencoe on Tuesday morning which has now packed down. At Nevis it doesn't look it on the webcam but there are still 2 good runs to the foot of the main ski area via Yokies (next to the Alpha Tow) and the Allt Sneachda to the foot of the Quad Chair, higher up still a huge width of coverage across from Warrens side to the Goose on the East face of Goose Gully. Braveheart has been open some days the past week, but poor weather has been limiting lift ops some days this week, will as ever be subject to snow conditions / stability and overhead for the Braveheart.
Even the Lecht has all runs still complete with a mostly reasonable cover between the fences. All in all, take the skis, but also take the hiking gear for a wild weather alternative. Turning colder with snow showers expected this weekend.
See: www.winterhighland.info/cams/cairngorm-mountain
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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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ricfrench, what da man says (winterhighland) - like the Alps been a bit warm these past couple of weeks but still extensive cover at Cairngorm and forecast to get colder with some fresh falling in the next few days 
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Just to add, this is the latest from MWIS:
| Quote: |
Planning Outlook for all mountain areas from Friday, 26th March, 2010
"In the longer term, there are now strong indications of a return to cold weather on the run-up to Easter. Most forecast models from the different centres are one by one 'flipping' toward pushing low pressure east and south of Britain into next week, allowing northerly winds in from the Arctic. There will be snowfall on many mountains - much related to a deepening low that will move slowly east across southern Britain Monday. Most snow could well be across England and Wales. |
Hopefully the most snow will hit the highlands though, don't want it wasted down south!
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Thanks, looks like it's ski/hiking gear then. That will save a fortune on fuel with no bikes hanging off the back of the car 
Never done Cairngorm before, looking forward to it already.
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| Quote: |
That will save a fortune on fuel with no bikes hanging off the back of the car.....
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Hmmmm.......assuming that the bikes hanging off the back are the MTB variety, a visit to (fairly) nearby Laggan Wolftrax could be worth spending a bit of extra fuel on! The trails cover a full-on proper- mountain-biking-in-amazing-location experience (red trail) to OMG they don't ride THAT do they  ?? (Black trail)
Both are relatively short but the red and black (most of which is actually rideable for mere mortals) can be combined into a decent half day ride of 15 or 20k. Due to the ascents involved and the technical nature of the riding, both routes feel longer than they actually are.
Wolftrax is a great set up - nice little cafe and decent bike hire available too if you don't take yours. Here are more trail details:
http://www.basecampmtb.com/trails.html
The legendary Glentress could also be worth a look on your way back south?
http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfvj
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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: |
That will save a fortune on fuel with no bikes hanging off the back of the car.....
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Hmmmm.......assuming that the bikes hanging off the back are the MTB variety, a visit to (fairly) nearby Laggan Wolftrax could be worth spending a bit of extra fuel on! The trails cover a full-on proper- mountain-biking-in-amazing-location experience (red trail) to OMG they don't ride THAT do they ?? (Black trail)
Both are relatively short but the red and black (most of which is actually rideable for mere mortals) can be combined into a decent half day ride of 15 or 20k. Due to the ascents involved and the technical nature of the riding, both routes feel longer than they actually are.
Wolftrax is a great set up - nice little cafe and decent bike hire available too if you don't take yours. Here are more trail details:
http://www.basecampmtb.com/trails.html
The legendary Glentress could also be worth a look on your way back south?
http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rnfvj
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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saikee, have you skied in Scotland (genuine question)? To me it looks good, the runs between the fences look complete at Glenshee and the Lecht looks to have plenty. The 'main' skiing at Nevis is kind of hidden in the webcam.
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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 webcam position at Nevis is poor, I've been caught out by it in the past and presumed there was hardly any snow when there was plenty on upper runs - they really need to sort it out!
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mountainaddict,The bikes would be very mountain, a nice big bouncey kona coiler and for the take it easy days a cindercone. Only two weeks back off skiing/boarding in Andorra so still have the bug! and I would rather be packing my snowboard for this trip.
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You know it makes sense.
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ricfrench, I was there last weekend, loads of snow up top, a little soft and slushy right at the very bottom. Between the fences, pistes I skied were totally covered, apart from a couple of exposed rocks at the bottom of M2. If I knew how to post pics, I would!
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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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arv,
I have skied Glenshee, Cairngorms and Nevis Range but never hit Lecht at the right condition. I know Nevis Range has good snow at the top. Lecht looks thin in some patches and Glenshee looks too much grass for my liking. In the best of time Glenshee will probably be white without any rock or grass.
In the last few years I have stopped going to Scotland and tried places like Zermatt/Cervinia, Davos, St Moritz and Dolomites. Just came back from some Colorado where I found one resort starts at 3286m level and there are chairlifts taking skiers to above 3800m level. It is hard to get excited about the Scottish snow cover if you have just come back from Aspen.
There is a saying in the Scottish resorts that if one can ski there one can ski anywhere. That is about sums up how tough the place is. To ski Scotland is four hour drive for me living in Newcastle but it is harder for me to get desperate. Cairngorm looks OK now and is worth the trip.
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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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Bergmeister, are you just trying to p!ss every one off 
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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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| Quote: |
Bergmeister, are you just trying to p!ss every one off
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Of course not! Just trying to encourage others to head north for the weekend! 
Having said that, tomorrow's trip could well be a bit knackering. I'm up at 4.30 in the morning for the 7.00 flight from 666castle to Stansted for work. Land at 20.20 on the way back and will then be picked up at the airport by Mrs B and others for the drive norf. Planning to get as far as Edinburgh in time for a couple of shandies. zzzzzzzzzzz
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Bergmeister,
You seem to have a habit to going back the same place quickly.
If you were in 3V in mid Dec and since Val Thorens is part of 3V then you went back 2 weeks later for the new year.
Mayrhofen is also in Zillertal Valley and you went back the same valley in January and February?
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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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Bergmeister,I really do have to admire you dedication, and what used to be your bank balance 
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Are any snowheads going to be skiing in Scotland next Easter weekend? I've just decided to have a last minute Easter trip and am driving up on Good Friday and aim to ski Saturday and Sunday, returning on Monday. Am staying at Nethy Bridge so probably Cairngorm on Saturday and maybe Lecht on Sunday.
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Whats the knowledge re the backcountry steeps at the moment - northern corries and the gullies off Braeriach?
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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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Alastair Pink, we're heading up Good Friday too, stupidly early in the morning  Staying over near Glenlivit somewhere so will probably do Cairngorm and the Lecht too.
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Anyone have a recommendation for ski/boot hire in Aviemore as my last trip to Glenshee was ruined by antiquated/delapidated boots which put a damper on an otherwise perfect day.
Preferrably somewhere I can pick up the day before.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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weeSKI, hope you've had some joy with the steeps info over on Winterhighland, I'm sure more peeps wil be along soon to give you info - have been stuck in Bristol the last few weeks so not sure myself ... back up in a few days time though, just after what looks potentially like a major dump ... which brings me onto ...
snow-forecast.com is predicting quite a lot of snow at the moment, this'll change I guess over the next few days but they've been reasonably accurate this season, if anything they've tended to underestimate dumps - at the moment there's 89cm predicted between now and Thursday! 
snobunni, best of luck with the drive up and lets hope the snow is on the mountains rather than the roads! I'm splitting the journey over Friday and Sat morning, might have a slide Saturday but depends when we get there, am up for a couple of weeks so relaxed abnout that and also the kids *need* (LOL) to watch Doctor Who in the early evening and then we're off to a mate's party at the Cairngorm Hotel so will be saving energy for the hoolie Will be up Sunday though and thereafter for sure, am working on the hill from Monday
DAVE 2227, there are a few places in the area that do ski and boot hire but the kit on the mountain isn't bad to be honest as far as I've seen so don't worry too much. However they may run out of kit and Cairngorm have the following on their site, giving information on alternative hire outlets with phone numbers:
| Quote: |
The Ticket Office, Cas Bar and Equipment Hire will be open from 8.00am daily. We may run out of hire equipment - particularly smaller sizes over Easter. There are other hire outlets in the area and we strongly advise you to hire off-site and not to rely on hiring equipment on the mountain. A list of Hire outlets nearby is detailed below:
Outdoor Discovery: 01479 811066 or 811776 (on the ski road at Inverdruie)
Active Outdoors: 01479 780000 (Aviemore)
Glenmore Shop: 01479 861253 (on the ski road at Glenmore)
Aviemore Ski and Snowboard Hire : 01479 811711 (Aviemore)
Ellis Brigham : 01479 810175 (Aviemore)
Nevis Sport: 01479 810239 (Aviemore) |
Some Top Tips for Visitors over the Easter Holidays
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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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Thanks, never noticed the info there.
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| Quote: |
You seem to have a habit to going back the same place quickly.
If you were in 3V in mid Dec and since Val Thorens is part of 3V then you went back 2 weeks later for the new year.
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There's a clue at the bottom of this posting...
The Zillertal return trip was more coincidental, however. I did a last minute lads' trip in January (to Mayrhofen) then flew to Munich with Mrs B in early March on Easyjet flights that we booked about 7 months before. As my brother and his wife were in the Zillertal that weekend we decided to meet up with them - especially as he booked us into the digs he was in and saved us knocking on doors when we got there.
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what used to be your bank balance
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I know. But then again I adopt the philosophy of one of my old uncles who said before he died, "Memories are better than dreams."
Never a truer word spoken, in my opinion.
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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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roga, lol yep, i'm counting on the big 4x4, winter tires and a husband who's very experienced driving in Canadian snow . . . if all that fails i'll try the power of sulking until he gets me there 
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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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roga, you big tease! I have to get through 3 more days of work yet!
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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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LOL, oh well I'd better not link to the rest of the photos on Winterhighland ... I must mention it's started to snow tonight though
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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roga, i'm getting snow reports by the hour practically from my friends fiance who is coming up with us . . . its only his 2nd time out skiing lol
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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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Nice one, sounds like he's quite keen
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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roga, he's very very excited lol unfortunatley my friend cant ski cos she broke her shoulder at Castleford, so i have to look after him i've promised to be good
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roga, of course i will
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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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snobunni,
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My truck driving mate reports loads of snow in the area of Chillyjockoshire. He's queuing to get into Edinburgh
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