 Poster: A snowHead
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The Ballachulish hotel is a much better offer for Glencoe, £30 DBB per person
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Great report Cathy, I just wanted to flag up though, for anybody reading this and put off by the cost, or wanting to moan that they can ski abroad for the same price, that the sleeper can be done a lot cheaper.
The sleeper sells "bargain berths" which are the proper beds (not the reclining seats) from just £19 single. They go on sale about 6 weeks before travel but you do have to be quick to get the cheapest rates.
http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/caledonian-sleeper-bargain-berths.html
If you are driving up you can also take advantage of some great cheap but warm accommodation available called tipis or wigwams (basically heated sheds with mattresses and mod cons such as TV, fridge - you just bring your sleeping bag). They are up in Grantown (for Cairngorm) and also in Duror (handy for Glencoe and Nevis). See http://www.wigwamholidays.com/
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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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Ray Zorro, wigan's info on bargain berths is useful for any snowheads planning trips in the future, and I think she should be thanked for it  . I presume she hadn't looked at the other thread.
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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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Alastair Pink, yes - on reflection my post does read a little ungracious - wigan, sorry if that was the case, some helpful trips for future travellers!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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wigan, yes good point - I'll amend my earlier post to reflect this. And yes, there was a paragraph and link on the main booking page to the bargain berths.
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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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Bergmeister, thanks - great to meet you and hope you have another good time this weekend!
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We did thanks, Cathy!
We drove up Friday night (with Mrs B, Mountainaddict and Mrs M), stopped off en route for an excellent Indian meal in Pitlochry (near the station), then drove on to spend the night at Newtonmore.
As forecast, the rain was lashing down until mid morning on Saturday so we had a look around ski shops (where Mrs Mountainaddict was hoping to buy touring boots - no luck though..) before heading to the slopes for the afternoon, by which time the rain had stopped and the skies were brightening.
The ski area was almost deserted when we arrived (maybe the morning weather had put off a few  ) and things were looking good.
After (very nice) sausage sarnies in the Daylodge we skinned up (from the car park) via the Fiaicaill Ridge tow track, up the ridge itself and then (as a further storm closed in behind us) climbed diagonally right from the col, eventually reaching the summit cairn in the fog and rain. The storm cleared after a few minutes so we descended south east(ish) on some nice snow to the north of the Ptarmigan tow, to reach a gully descent that Mountainaddict & Mrs M had skiied last season and recommended.
It was not disappointing - a 200m (vertical) descent on great, untracked spring snow. Guess who got 1st tracks?
By the time we took our skis off at the bottom of the descent the rain was lashing again and we took a good dousing. Well worth it though, although our skins didn't think so and refused to stick properly to our skis...  We then (frustratingly) had to make do with shouldering our skis (up the gulley we'd just descended) as Mountainaddict and Mrs M continued skinning on their still-adhering skins! We then managed to half stick the skins back on as the rain stopped and we limped up the last 20 minutes of the climb out with skins flapping and trailing pathetically
We are relatively new to this touring lark but (after completing 3 guided tours abroad) are beginning to strike out on our own in the Cairngorms. So far so good - until our skin problems last weekend!  We are wondering if re-gluing the skins would be a good idea as they are a bit old 
By the time we reached the top of the Ptarmigan tow the ski area was closed and we had a brilliant descent down a deserted White Lady before picking our way down the Daylodge Tow track, which was broken but good fun nevertheless. Lots of heather hopping but better than a hike down
Then back to the car and a 5 hour drive home. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz but well worth the trip!
We are hoping the snow holds up there until the weekend...
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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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Skins just don't stick if they get wet. I doubt that the skins need re-glueing. I am told, though I can't vouch for their efficacy, that there is a new type of skins which work by different principles and still stick when wet.
I gather Glenshee and Lecht have closed and Nevis might or might not open for the last time next weekend, and Glencoe may re-open for Easter week.
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clipskisn - the way forward (havent tried em yet, but are on the list once a bit more established - I HATE fannyin about with sticky skins blowing all over the shop trying to get em on and off  )
http://www.clipskins.com/
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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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Bergmeister, That does sound great! Hope you have a lovely time in the Silvretta & the snow is good 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| barry wrote: |
clipskisn - the way forward (havent tried em yet, but are on the list once a bit more established - I HATE fannyin about with sticky skins blowing all over the shop trying to get em on and off )
http://www.clipskins.com/ |
Interesting but not what I meant. The ones a friend has use a different principle of adhesion rather than clips.
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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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| Quote: |
Interesting but not what I meant. The ones a friend has use a different principle of adhesion rather than clips.
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You probaly mean these:
http://www.telemark-pyrenees.com/en/geckogluelessskins-p-7298.html
I've not tried them though.
I've never (touch wood) had problems with my skins, though the glue is getting a bit minimal. I think the tail clip helps though.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Dave Horsley, yes, those were the ones.
moffatross, I'm kicking myself I didn't do those when I was there on the snowheads Saturday morning, instead of bothering with the rather tame Headwall.
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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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mountainaddict, if I'd my skins with me I could have done with them going down the headwall - it was THAT slow that day!
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mountainaddict, Winterhighland, Headwall was okay higher up but really sticky lower down with the fresh snow wetting up - we walked up though rather than skinned
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I had skinned up twice in the morning by myself. The first time I did Headwall (the sticky stuff was only right at the bottom then) and the second time kept to the left side of it and considered continuing towards the shutes moffatross pictures but didn't know what I was going to, or if there was snow to get back afterwards so didn't go. Wish now I had but instead I walked across some rocks and went to a much steeper slope than Headwall in deep shadow just right of some rocks (slope at right angles to headwall but ending at the same lift) and made the only track there. Only about 5 turns but quite fun. In the afternoon I returned to Headwall with the others.
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FAQ
Hope there won't too many zzzzz coming from the driver's seat 
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