 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi,
Never skied in Scotland and I'm think about a trip in late April for 4 days. Anyone much experience of Scottish skiing in April? Is there generally good snow conditions? Best area/resort for going at that time of year? I'm hoping that its been such an epic season that there will be plenty of snow and good skiing (I understand even when its a bad season there is still snow in April). Im also on a tight budget so any hints for accommodation will be much appreciated.
Cheers
Doppelmayr
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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'd give any resort you do choose a quick call to make sure the lifts are still scheduled to be running. Most alpine resorts are closed by late April
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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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doppelmayr, welcome to snowheads. From all accounts, the snow in Scotland has been exceptional this year. I expect that Scots snowheads will be along to give you the information you ant for April skiing - but you may also wish to know that there is some discussion of some of us getting together for May bank holiday skiing.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Often some great skiing to be had then, good weather no q's and sometimes freshies from the lambing showers, might be weekend only skiing but then again they might still be running midweek, also plenty of places to stay that are cheap, crianlarich for glencoe, youth hostel and plenty others for aviemore, spittal hotel for glenshee.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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2 of my best ski days ever have been on May Day Bank Holiday in Scotland (Nevis Range on both occassions - but only chose there as it's easier for me than most other places to get to). Most folk will have packed away their skis and got out their golf clubs by then so should be quiet. Although I've not skied Scotland this (epic) season, from what I've read and heard, the snow is abundant just now and you should be fine late April
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At most resorts (eg Nevis) they generally close the lifts after about 3 weeks of April whatever the snow is like. However this may not apply to Cairngorm (Aviemore).
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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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doppelmayr Aonach Mor is the real name of the ski area normally called Nevis. In later April 06 and 08 the best snow depths were in April, but in many other years it was almost gone.
The first 3 weeks of April, snow depths on upper and lower slopes in that resort:
2006, ______________ 2007 _________ 2008 ________ 2009
week .. 1 ... 2 ... 3 ___ 1 ... 2 ... 3 ____ 1 ... 2 ... 3 ___ 1 ... 2 ... 3
upper . 46 . 58 . 60 __ 40 .. n/a . n/a __ 64 . 74 . 80 ___ 29 . 24 .. 8
lower . 22 . 28 . 30 __ 15 .. n/a . n/a __ 19 . 23 . 24 ____ 9 .. 4 .. n/a
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Cairngorm typically stays open the longest and if the snow is there (as it has been at least 2 of the last 4 seasons) will stay open into May, usually they have a good few events going over May day weekend.
On the basis of the snow that's there right now, and presuming nothing drastic happens, I'd be surprised if there's not snow into May (I wouldn't be overly shocked if there's enough cover at the top going into June to be honest).
In a normal year, and this 'aint been a normal year lol, there are usually decent dumps in March/early April which help to keep the season going. This year who knows to be honest but I hope we get the usual 'lambing' snows to freshen things up and give us one last top-up, however if they fail to appear there's so much snow already that it'll take some serious hair-dryer winds and rain to wash the cover away from mid-mountain up.
Accommodation wise there's plenty on offer, and outside of holiday periods you should be fine booking up until the last minute, what are you looking for, hotel, self-catering, bunkhouses?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Thinking of heading to scotland myself about the 15th, anymore recomendations for resort and accomodation would be really helpful 
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You know it makes sense.
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Plannning a trip up there around the 23rd. Hopefully get to ski one of the the gullys on the Ben
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brian
brian
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norris, found a nice pic of the Ben ....
#3 is bang in the middle, #4 is next on the right disappearing behind a buttress. Tower Gully is the big scary line on the left!
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Poster: A snowHead
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brian, 3 and 4 look good. Tower looks committing with a turn above a rather large cliff?! what is the one far to the right, from the large snow then gets very narrow.
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brian
brian
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norris, you may not be suprised to learn it's the imaginatively titled, "number 5".
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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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I'm more interested in number 6, that looks like a proper run! Is it a red?
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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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davejsy, might have to do it on snowblades! 
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The BMC map is cracking and worth purchasing. Nice to have the bearings off the summit marked too for when it goes pea soup.
There is always Gardyloo gully or Good Friday Climb if your feeling brave!
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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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Yeah thats the one
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norris,
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davejsy, might have to do it on snowblades!
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Backwards!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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FWIW I've skied in a t-shirt at Cairngorms, on May 1st - 1991 I think.
Top Bowl should still be open late April, possibly down to funicular mid station. Might even have M1 uplift still by that point this year!
Bit hard to predict winds and thaws though!
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