 Poster: A snowHead
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As the wife is expecting our 1st cherub, skiing is out of the equation for a few years so i have devised a cunning plan. We would like a break in December but she won't risk going abroad so I've suggested a week in Scotland at the Cairngorm Mountain Resort where we can relax with the leisure facilities, take in a trip to Loch Ness, experience the scenery and be at one with nature in our wooden hut.
In the back of our car, secreted away under the bags will lie a pair of snowblades (although I havn't worked out where to hide the boots yet) but the plan relies on two small things going my way.
1. Snow
2. If there is snow, will the mountain open?
Also, I told her it's only 4 hours from Derbyshire but i'll tackle that one en-route.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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All about my workplace I find men in a similar position, I try to make them feel better by telling them about the holidays I've got lined up  Is there any respect for these lost souls?
Isn't it 4 hours from Derbyshire at 2am or something...I'm sure your other half knows exactly what you're up to already - I know mine would.
Oh dear, I seem not to have answered your question, but good luck anyway!
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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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Sorry, but I dont understand any of this. We have a 9 and 13 year old. We have never missed a years ski holiday since we started in 1985. Ok both children being born in September was down to planning around ski-ing. When they were small we stayed in Chalets with in-chalet creche's or once took a friends Nanny when they were babies. Once we even took the Mother in Law (yes the one all the jokes are based on)
If you have a baby why can you not go on a ski holiday?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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 Cos she's expecting, it's not due till April.
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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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Congratulations, as well, of course! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Our first is due in January 06....we didn't plan that too well a 
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up4it, the funicular railway up Cairngorm is open daily, snow or no snow. Fingers crossed for the former!
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up4it keep the faith - you may hit lucky. If aviemore gets enough cover and the wind keeps off there is no better place in my eyes.
Unfortunately, that is two BIG ifs !!!!!
Two tip. As soon as you get over the border into Scotland it is speed camera heaven - thousands of them !
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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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Paul Mason, There are a few on the A1 south of border as well, tell that to Bowyer ha ha
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up4it, You could always go ski ing with the lads and leave her at home?
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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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13 month old son, went two week in Jan (5mths) and 2 weeks in March (7mths) took him along - no problems whatsoever, had about 3hrs a day skiing most days. It's amazing how much you can do when the clocks running and we probably did more inthe 3 hrs than previously in a day.
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up4it,
We usually get snow late December. Most years I've got some skiing in December usually starting around 22nd and its always been good after Christmas and over the New Year period, with the exception of last year. I've been here getting on for 8 years.
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2. If there is snow, will the mountain open?
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Yes, however for early snow you might want/have to head to the Lecht as there slopes are much less rocky than the Cairngorms so they can often get underway with much smaller dumps of snow. If you are going to be here in December but before Christmas then it is very much pot luck wether there will be enough snow to ski on.
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You know it makes sense.
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brian
brian
Guest
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Poster: A snowHead
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Cairngorm must be expecting snow - my season ticket arrived yesterday
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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brian, snow at this time,is that normal ?
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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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Keep an eye on the forums on www.winterhighland.com for the inside on what the conditions are really like at Cairngorm. People regularly post pics of their days out so you can judge whether its worth hoofing it up the road to the lifts from the town.
Cheers
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Chris Brookes,
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snow at this time,is that normal ?
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Yes, its also not the first snow Cairngorm has had this season. It is unusual to have skiable snow in October, I think it last happened in 2002 (some pictures here: http://kiwi.webfusion.co.uk/~winterhigh/cairngorm/pics_30_oct.shtml ). Usually at this time of year there will be the odd fall, but it won't last long and there won't be enough to ski on. The chance of skiable snow increases in November and is almost certain for December particularly for the period between Christmas and New Year.
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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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Chris Brookes, yes like Dave Horsley says, it's quite normal, as is it's disappearance within 48hrs! Still, its nice to see. Occassionally you can get skiable cover in October, and CG has opened a couple of times in recent years in October. Its baseless snow, however, and vanishes without trace when the inevitable thaw comes. There's a school of thought that reckons that skiable october cover is the portent of a poor season ("skiers folly" or something). This sort of thing now is no indicator of things to come, but as the autumn goes on if we get more snow in November/December and a bit of freeze/thaw action, a base will begin to form which can withstand the thaw periods, and get topped up as the season goes on. A lack of a decent base has often been the undoing of scottish seasons - last year there was total cover for ages, but due to it being below freezing for weeks on end, very little consolidation of the snowpack had occurred, so snow depths which in a normal year would have given cover into may were wiped out in days when the milder weather arrived. At the beginning of March the fences at CG and Glencoe were buried totally, 4 weeks later things were deteriorating fast. Lets hope for another good season this year, just a bit longer would be nice! 
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The chance of skiable snow increases in November and is almost certain for December particularly for the period between Christmas and New Year.
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What?? I've been skiing in Scotland for yonks and there are no certainties
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What?? I've been skiing in Scotland for yonks and there are no certainties
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I've been skiing in Scotland for 7 or 8 years. Last year was the first year I didn't get decent skiing between Christmas and New Year. Even last year I got some poor skiing in December.
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I like skiing over the festive period too Dave so I hope you're right - it seems kinda fitting but you must take my point when snow, certain and Scotland are used in the same sentence you tempt disaster. I've had way too many bad seasons to say anything like that. Worst of lot was '92, my first yr at uni and precious little work to do, i was all set to teach loads at Glenshee, think the place was open 3 odd days the whole damned season, the rest of the places were not much better.
I'm from the North East too and am hoping for a ripper again this year - had some top days last season especially at Cairngorm on that bowl to left of WL tow - great stuff. cheers J.
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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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Jake, I was at Cairgorm in '92 (if my memory is correct) - wasn't much better .....
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