As anticipation builds for the forthcoming season at Scotland's premier snowsports resort, Cairngorm Mountain has announced that it will have the capacity to make snow this winter if nature's own supply is insufficient. Following the sucessful trial of a mobile snow gun which was loaned to them last season, the resort has arranged a two year lease (with an option to purchase) of four state-of-the art snow guns from Italian manufacturer and market-leader Techno Alpin.
As an extension to this trial, these mobile guns will be able to be used in a number of different locations around the mountain; in two or three places around the Ptarmigan tow and in the vicinity of the top station; and in 7 different locations around the Zig-Zags and Gun Barrel area of Coire Cas. The snow guns are due to be delivered at the end of November.
Commenting on the forthcoming arrival of the guns, resort Operations Manager Colin Matthew said:
''Although last season was not the best we were able to take the opportunity to trial one of these guns in a number of areas of the hill and it performed extremely well, with the gun making technical snow for over 300 hours. Equipped with four of them, and with the right conditions, we will be able to undertake some serious snowmaking in different parts of the mountain, whether it be creating a base, topping up natural cover or restoring thinly covered scoured areas. It should increase the number of days on which we are able to offer snowsports and improve customer experience overall. The first of our season ticket holder liaison meetings takes place at CairnGorm this Saturday 17 November at 2pm and I am looking forward to telling those who attend more about this development and about our new style of fencing''
IMHO fantastic news
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
And a piccie from Facebook to accompany the news showing Corrie the Cairngorm 'avalaff' dog and snow cannon last season:
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?
Agree Roga this is great news and will make a huge difference, looking forward to seeing them in action as the single one was pretty impressive last year.
Brilliant news. Always said that cairngorm should use snow guns. It's set up for it, usually cold temps, and an endless water supply from Loch Morlich.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Ricklovesthepowder wrote:
Brilliant news. Always said that cairngorm should use snow guns. It's set up for it, usually cold temps, and an endless water supply from Loch Morlich.
I agree that there is an endless supply from Loch Morlich, but it would have to be pumped up quite a height (Loch Morlich weather station is at 1050 ft (320m), whilst the Ptarmigan Restaurant is at 1097m) so that might be quite costly in electricity (not to mention the necessary pipeline installation). Does anyone know where they get the water from for the snow cannon? If they have any higher sources of water on the mountain (there's usually some flowing water even underneath the snow covered streams) that might be easier.
Pretty sure they got the water from streams last year.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
The water will come from the streams, there's a number of pools or existing small weirs/ponds for water abstraction for the buildings that are suitable. Even when running in pretty cold temps last winter one gun didn't make a noticeable dint in the small Gunbarrel burn and several bigger burns join in and around the Sheiling Tow area.
i'm hoping their not moved about too much as a better test of their potential would be making more snow in fewer areas than a little snow in many areas, but the pattern of use will in part be determined by what the weather brings and where the snow sticks. Lower Gunbarrel, mid-station and access to middle tows and top of the Carpark Run being a priority area. Being able to ski to the mid-station and easily access the lifts around it is a critical make or break deal for many people.
Combined with the most extensive new fencing for a number of years with much more robust structural snow fencing that should prove much more resilient, and is taller, it's great to see investment still being made after a frustrating season but thanks to April and esp May CML reached their budgeted skier day figures though that wont show in the year end accounts, but next years financial statements will start with 22,000 skier days in the bank before a lift has spun for the 2012/13 season!
After all it is free
After all it is free
Might I ask what the fencing is for? It seems that is a pretty big deal up there.
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homers double wrote:
Might I ask what the fencing is for? It seems that is a pretty big deal up there.
To help stop the snow being blown clean off the slopes when its get windy (which it can be quite often there!). The fencing helps trap the snow.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Winterhighland, You'd hope they would do what the USA resorts seem to do and build up huge 'whales' of artificial snow in vulnerable areas, bash them down then repeat.....
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
homers double, the fencing is to encourage deep snow drifting. The terrain underski in Scotland has a lot of large rocks and tough, coarse heather that needs covering to a greater depth than on Alpine pistes. Because snow rarely falls directly from above, snow fences are used to encourage drifts across a ski run from the prevailing wind.
Different attitudes to the mountain environment prevail in the UK but if Alpine resorts didn't use bulldozers and similar 'landscaping' hardware to eliminate vegetation and destroy natural rock, you'd see more snow fencing on your holidays too.
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.
I see.
Would a good summer raking to get rid of the rocks not go amiss?
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
homers double, ha ha, yes but it'd need a preety beeg rake and anyone doing it would be burned at the stake for trying.
To create a piste from a previously rocky couloir, Méribel Alpina has removed a number of large boulders and added a snow fence at the steepest and windiest spot to trap snow.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Not having every skied in Scotlnd is the general winter temperature there such that as long as the snow machines were gong well then the snow would stick and you would get regular skiing.
Or does the temperature fluctuate a lot there above freezing and the canons will be used to quickly provide snow when the conditions are right?
Will this mean regular skiing available?
Also another dumb question - how many kms of runs are there??
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
kitenski, Making whales of snow is one of the things they tried last year at the bottom of the gunbarrel and it worked pretty well, they also did a lot more snow farming. They have been looking at resorts in Scandinavia how they manage as they have similar conditions, you should have a look at their Facebook page but you would have to go back quite a bit for some of the information.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:
Might I ask what the fencing is for? It seems that is a pretty big deal up there.
Most ski areas in the world that are above the tree line use snow fences to trap blowing snow. They are common throughout the Alps, Pyrenees and North America. There are just more of them in Scotland.
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?
moffatross wrote:
homers double, ha ha, yes but it'd need a preety beeg rake and anyone doing it would be burned at the stake for trying.
Aye, it was very kind of the fairies to come along at night and create these little piles of rocks at the side of the old Mugs Alley at Glencoe!
In addition to the new snow cannons coming, there has been probably the most extensive re-fencing for a number of years, with much more robust structural fencing. The 1 complete and 1 uncomplete new fence line in the picture above is primarily for snow farming for the Ptarmigan Bowl, though they've been positioned to point towards the bottom of the Ptarmigan T-bar as well.
The Traverse has been completely re-fenced and the new fences are generally 6-7ft high compared to 4-5ft high for the chestnut paling.
In addition the M1 Poma has had a lot of it's chestnut paling renewed and it's properly double fences back into the loading area once again - the fences here suffered particularly badly from 'Hurricane Bawbag' 1, 2, 3... etc last December & January.
Hmm, yes maybe need a bit of the fence set up like this....
Yes there are tracks on to it, though not that visible at that size!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
How funny that as a born and bred Scottish skier I had never even thought much about seeing snow fences out here in the alps until you showed the pix of the new solid stuff, which is all over the place.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Great news, they've arrived and just in time for some colder weather
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.
I'm visiting Cairngorm for a week in February. Hopefully the machines will increase my chances of skiing.
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Poster: A snowHead
