 Poster: A snowHead
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No, it didn't snow overnight (I think there was a rare drop of rain) ...
... but Cairngorm took delivery of the largest commitment to snowguns in the half-century since the first chairlift was built in 1961, when the mountain's magnetism to skiers triggered the development of Aviemore as a resort.
Last winter the mountain tested a computerised Techno Alpin gun (as did Glencoe), to see how it would cope with the challenging climate of the Highlands. Last night further guns (four, as I understand) arrived. They are on a two-year lease, with an option to buy.
Scotland has had mixed experiences with snowmaking. It's been extensively trialled at Glenshee and The Lecht over the years. Way back in 1963 (ten years before snowguns were seen on any scale in the Alps) two Swiss brothers tried to develop a new ski area at Mar Lodge (near Braemar). They installed "Europe's largest artificial snow making plant". See this fantastic historic advert and story on Highland Instinct ...
The advert: http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/graphics/skiresorts/ml3.jpg
The story: http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/skiresorts/history/marlodge/index.php
Climate change has been less threatening to Scottish skiing recently than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. There's a sign that the upward creep of the snow-line has halted.
This is the most sophisticated trial of snowmaking in Scotland to date. So ... will it work, and will it prove economically viable?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Where's the water coming from? OK, I know Scotland is marginally wetter than the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but have they created a small reservoir up there? Also, what's it's 0-60?
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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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As I understand it, the water will be swilled from the burns up the hill. I don't think Cairngorm have said anything more specific, but these are the provisional locations for the guns - as specified in a recent Cairngorm press release:
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| ... 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. |
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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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It's a great step forward and hopefully they will prove a good investment. Didn't they recently estimate that 10 guns and infrastructure for £1 million would allow them to cover from the plateau to the day lodge?
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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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Nevis Range also have a T40 on trial this year I wonder where on the hill they have plans to test it?
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