 Poster: A snowHead
|
Well don't be to despondent about the Sunday thaw, there's been another 2-3 inches of fresh and plenty of drifting in the past 24 hours with the winds set to moderate overnight and good sunny spells on a largely fine Wednesday for those who can get out to grab some fresh tracks on the 16th of May! First train up scheduled for 10.20am, ticket office, Cas Bar and Ski Hire open at 10am.
^Tasty M1 RaceTrack. Best route via Horizon Road and down Chicken Gully, closest to mid-station.
^Looking up the Ciste Tow between showers on Tuesday. Total cover in the Top Basin and that's a 5ft snow fence up the left side of the tow.
^Upper Cas also loading up with the windblown fresh on Tuesday. Boulderfield and Fiacaill should be sweet too.
Near blanket cover above 3000ft, good till 2700/2800ft, then it thins out quite quickly meaning a short walk is required to regain the Funicular, but you can get level with the M1 queuing area via a combination of Chicken Gully and Zig Zags. A short hoof is a wee price to pay for fresh tracks mid-May and of course no such issues up in the Top Basin or on the upper Cas if the Cas runs. Ciste and Funicular run today and will on Wed, another tow or two if sufficient demand can run from the Ptarmigan, Polar Express, M1 Poma and Coire Cas.
Moderate off-piste on the Ptarmigan Ridge and upper East Lady, also in the Cas Boulderfield. Speak to patrol if thinking about steeper stuff. Coronation Wall and Headwall still looked pretty sketchy stability wise, wind blown accumulations sitting on a thaw/freeze layer.
More Pix: http://www.winterhighland.info/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=799
Yet More: http://www.winterhighland.info/publicreports/index.php?50,3038
Maybe see you up the hill Wednesday! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I have to keep pinching myself that I'm looking at picture of Scotland, in the middle of May, after there was no snowfall at the summit for the majority of March. Quite amazing really.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Some photos from Sunday 20th May from Helen who posted a public report on Winterhighland at:
http://www.winterhighland.info/publicreports/index.php?50,3048
^Looking over the foot of Coronation Wall to the Cas Headwall from the Traverse.
^Upper Cas early on Sunday Morning.
^Some combat riding on the skirt of the White Lady approaching the foot of the M1 Poma below the 2700ft contour on Sunday.
Mid mountain trails still have good cover above 2700ft, with extensive moderate off-piste between the Traverse/M1 and 105, plus Cas Boulderfield, then for advanced riders the steeps of Coronation Wall and subject to dubious cornice/bulge the Headwall. Walking is required to regain the Funicular at the mid-station, Chicken Gully had been the best route for the shortest walk. With warm weather, the best option might be the Gunbarrel where the top third is good, but it comes to an abrupt end, then a hoof down the narrow old walkers track between the Gunbarrel and 105 which leads to mid-station. With weather like this and great fun end of spring riding it will be well worth the walk down. The time of year has finally caught up with the bottom of the M1 Poma uptrack after yesterday, so it's Funicular for mid-mountain uplift today.
At Top Basin level the mountain still has basically total cover which means not just good lift served riding for all ability levels, but huge scope this week for extensive high level touring on the Plateau. A genuine risk of bad sunburn, dehydration and heatstroke - so BE PREPARED for such excursions, don't under estimate just how much the snow, esp fairly new snow will amplify not just the strength of the Sun's UV, but also the effective heat!
Aviemore is forecast to be 26 to possibly 28c on Wednesday, we might nudge 20c shade temp at Munro Level! Pack the t-shirt and factor 50 and hit CairnGorm Mountain while you can, don't miss out on some absolutely classic Scottish T-shirt riding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Think I need higher factor suncream for tomorrow's planned day on the 'Gorm:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
did they ski that face behind them? and what's it called? thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| mag1882 wrote: |
| did they ski that face behind them? and what's it called? thanks |
Yep; there is someone on the way down; look skiers right; 1/3 way down; Looks like person is sitting down for a rest after some side-slipping.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
^There's actually a second boarder in that shot, just below the skier - mistook for a rock when I posted the smaller copy on here! The real thing to note about that line is just how much potential there is to end up stranded above a cliff if you don't absolutely know the line.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
I still can't quite get over the fact that it's the end of may, and cairngorm looks like that after the February and March we had.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Looks like one last chance to play on CairnGorm Mountain on Saturday, but check in the morning for the latest updates. Ciste Tow expected to operate, but loading half way for the Upper Fairway. Will have some photos shortly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Still going. Amazing!!
Puts the Dolomites to shame which also had lots of late snow and didn't keep the lifts open. Going by what I saw I reckon more people would still be skiing there it if the Scots lived in Italy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Should add a huge thankyou to the team on CairnGorm who spent the final 2 days armed with shovels to keep the show on the road to get a weekend closing day. Fantastic happy vibe on the mountain both days, quite a few sunburn cases too mind I guess!
In a few days it will be June, CairnGorm Mountain will be calling for myself and Helen's 32nd consecutive month of sliding on the 'Gorm since the start of the epic 2010 season in November 2009. Perhaps snow and weather permitting, Coronation Wall on Tuesday 5th June would be apt!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Winterhighland, And a big thanks to you for keeping us all up to date on conditions through the season
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Like that a lot!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
.....Fingers crossed that they can hang on for some (lift served) June turns eh? 
