 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Yes I’m going to book the hotel that’s just above the train station that’s quite reasonably priced. Getting quite excited with the chance for 2 full days of skiing and other 2 days travelling during the day where I can catch up on some paperwork on the train -hopefully trains/bus/hotel/ski pass may still come out under £500
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Good luck @Dr. Will and bon voyage! I hope you have a brilliant time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Quote: |
| Looking very promising conditions if a clearish weather spell aligns with the weekend (maybe Sunday??) |
Seems a big 'if' - every time I check, it's an ongoing forecast of cloud (low fog?) for the next week or more 
MWIS website says strong winds/gales potentially moderating next week.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I'm off Tue but will be working Wed, red jacket, big white crosses 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@Dr. Will, A plan from my own heart that one. About a decade ago I did a train plus bus trip to get 2 of my finest days ever skiing in at Nevis and Glencoe (lucked out with Braveheart and Fly Paper in April). It's a grand way to travel. At the time GWR (as I went via London for Cally sleeper) were fine with skis on board but I made sure I went with quieter services to avoid any problems and put them in overhead rack so were practically out of sight. Have been planning ever since a similar trip to Glenshee as the one Scottish resort I've never tried.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Indeed! Looking a bit windblown on the cams now let’s hope haven’t jumped too early seduced by photos from 2 days ago!  is the 10/25 cm snow depth in snow forecast correct? Odd that it still down there with the depth of new snow fallen unless the wind just blows it off or it’s rainier than I thought! Never mind!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
God no, snow depth on the runs, mind the fences are there to catch the snow is about 1m. Many fences are buried or almost topped out, they are about 1.3m high. Bits in between might look sparse but you don’t ski on them ! The towers out the back are 2/3 buried and they are probably 7m towers !
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Wed 4-02-26 18:35; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great obviously the 10/25 cm detail on Snow Forecast.com is somewhat inaccurate….pity Glenshee don’t publicise their snow depths in the same way as Glencoe- they are missing a trick comparatively if it wasn’t for you guys may have shelled out a lot more to go to Glencoe instead That should hang around for next Tuesday and Wednesday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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’d take the Glencoe one with a pinch of salt, getting a level measure is impossible but they probably have 1m up top and in main basin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snowsports Update – This Weekend  ️#NevisRange #FortWilliam www.nevisrange.co.uk
The team have continued working on the mountain through very challenging conditions. Winds over the past few days have been significantly higher than forecast, which has slowed progress, but teams have remained on hill whenever conditions allow and preparations are ongoing.
The upper mountain is in great shape, with excellent snow cover. Our Snow Groomers have been out prepping, pushing and redistributing snow the last week, and there is good skiing to be had on the upper hill.
Alpha is fully prepared and ready for operations. Work is progressing on the Goose T-bar, with boxes and T-bars being phased on. Once Goose is complete, the team will move on to the Summit Button Tow, subject to conditions.
Our plan is to open for snowsports on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February, with tickets going on sale on Friday 6th February. We are working towards operating Alpha, Goose and Summit.
The Mountain Gondola is back operational from today, Wednesday 4 February. While lift preparations continue for the weekend, the gondola is available for touring access. We ask that anyone touring is mindful of teams working on the hill and that you check the latest information from Scottish Avalanche Information Service for the most up-to-date conditions before heading out.
We’ll continue to keep everyone updated over the next couple of days as work progresses.
 Hear about the latest news at Nevis Range and beyond - http://nevisrange.co.uk/nevis-range-direction-growth-and.../
Nevis Range is proud to be the winner of the 2024 Scottish Thistle Award for Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience, reflecting our dedication to creating unforgettable experiences and our commitment to sustainability.
Learn more about our journey: http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/nevis-range-triumphs-at-the.../
Discover our sustainability initiatives: www.nevisrange.co.uk/sustainability/
#ThingsToDoInScotland #scotland #dogfriendly
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
^^^^ That's actually all quite positive for Nevis Range. Thanks for posting @kitenski.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@orange, how’s it going with the middle valley prep? Is the ongoing snow likely to delay things to beyond middle of next week (I arrive on Tuesday) not sure also whether the posssible rain at lower levels is a help or hindrance- looks like quite a lot of precipitation due on Sunday night!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wow! That was full on. Cairngorm was stormbound today but Glenshee was open in Heavy drifting snow all day. Above 700m and my gear was frozen. A lot of snow was deposited today on Sunnyside and this afternoon it was fantastic ski almost anywhere conditions on that side. The snow was heavy and dense but supported a ski really nicely and was very predictable to turn in the poor visibility. Orange and the team at Glenshee have being doing some great work and Sunny side must have supplied thousands of skier movements today. The pisting is superb. Top ski tow management and lots of cheerful, wind blasted, faces.
Had a walk up to the top of the Cairnwell Chair from the Thunderbowl and it was pretty fearsome up there compared with how sheltered the car park is.
Heard a rumour today that parts of the Glas Maol Poma are buried up to the rope. Just a rumour but I wouldn’t be surprised. After more than two weeks of continual snowfall and easterly drifting it might just be very wide, very deep and very gentle
They just have to keep digging out. No doubt Orange will have the accurate gen.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/183gT8SScE/?mibextid=wwXIfr
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Wow certainly going to still be some snow when I arrive on Tuesday even if it rains all weekend!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@orange, thank you for all your efforts! Looks like it will be still quite windy Tues/Wed but def not worried bout snow cover…it’s also good that the majority of the runs don’t rely on chairlifts or gondolas to access them unlike some other resorts so I guess once dug out the additional lifts can still operate if it’s windy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Mon-Tue will be delightful, genuinely.
Don’t thank me, we have a massive team across Ops, Patrol, lifties, cafe staff.
Our Patrol team usually has between 6-9 on every day at the moment plus more at weekends and even then we are quite busy. Open and Close in this weather takes more time, I lost a chevron barrier yesterday to the wind and had to go and get it hahaha
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@orange, looking forward to it! Out of interest if the forecast stays the same for Wed (where wind and snow seems to be picking up a bit in the pm) how does the resort manage it- do they still open in the am and try their best to keep the road clear or could close in anticipation of the road being affected later? My transport is effectively the bus back to Dundee so I guess if the snow gates shut before the return bus might be a bit stuck!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
You’ll never get stuck, we’ll always get you to somewhere. We’re in almost constant contact with the council teams (who control road clearing, we are not allowed to touch it other than round the car park) and Police (who control opening and closing of the gates, we do have some input to this and can be directed to do either as well)
I’d not worry about it really. You’ll get out, I often take people down the road. Worst case is you’ll get down the road enough o get back to Fundee even if the road is closing and we need to evacuate. Important point that, we park cars on such a way as we can evacuate a convoy so when people dump cars like last weekend we have to cut off big bigs of the car park.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
As we're dying to get up there in all this snow, and the weather seems stuck in permanent Groundhog Day, we may be edging towards just going for it - say skiing next Mon & Tues.
A few Qs @orange, if I may:
1. Given that it's school hols up there, is ticket availability likely to be an issue? How many tickets are available each day?
2. Is the place likely to be mobbed? ('New queue!' )
2. What time would you recommend arriving at the car park?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. It's only partial holidays - some Edinburgh schools but not all, not highland, not P+K either i don't think, Aberdeenshire Mon-Wed i think so I doubt it will be weekend rammed but it won't be deathly quiet either. Number of tickets varies day by day depending on what they think lifts will run i.e. more lifts more tickets, honestly don't know the full number but the other weekend it was 2000 or thereabouts. Very likely they will have Caenlochan an Meall Od open as well by the weekend, they were pushing super late last night.
2. No
3. 8:30 to 9:30 if possible, lifts open 8:30, you can get brekky from 9 in the cafe as well.
Mon/Tue is looking lowest winds and best conditions for the last few weeks, i'd just take a punt and go for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@orange, thanks for that. The snow forecast.com forecast seems v variable at the mo at any rate in terms of wind and snow intensity but anyway have booked pass/equipment for Tuesday/Wed as my trains from and to Plymouth are on Mon and Thurs (yes I know people say don’t book in advance in Scotland..) so will just take it as it comes!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Peter S wrote: |
Heard a rumour today that parts of the Glas Maol Poma are buried up to the rope. Just a rumour but I wouldn’t be surprised. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great photo! I see forecast is ramping up a bit more snow and wind wise Tues/Wed- can’t believe I’m wishing for it to snow less in order to ski 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Very good day today. I’ve never skied Sunnyside before when the whole hillside has been so easily skiable, well not since the 1980s!
There is a fearsome amount of snow on Meal Odhar but there were an unlimited number of fresh snow lines possible today even just out to Clunny. Definitely don’t miss out on this event by waiting for everything to miraculously open up. You have to grab it. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Oops. Duplicate message! (Oddly, won't delete...) See the following!
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Fri 6-02-26 23:06; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
@Peter S, im thinking half term is going to make it very busy!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@mountainaddict, thanks- forecast seriously uncertain as predicted wind speed now dropped by 20 mph 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@Peter S, does sound good. I'm tempted by Sunday and possibly touring but the visibility isn't expected to be great. Any thoughts from on the ground??
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
| I'm tempted by Sunday and possibly touring but the visibility isn't expected to be great. |
We're planning a Glenshee downhill trip, but we're ski tourers too @Derek Branflake. Have you seen that, whether or not you use the lifts, you need to buy a ticket to ski tour at Glenshee? I'd only ever previously heard of ski touring charges in the USA. I'm genuinely curious to know how it's enforced and what area(s) require a ticket (presumably within the ski area boundaries).
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Touring we request people pay for their parking. Honestly have no idea what that charge is ! Touring route info is on the specific board at the base of Cairnwell chair, it defines the designated up track for skinning of course you can park and skin from outside the ski area boundary as well. Sunday will be rammed, getting parked will be the challenge after about 9:30/10 I’d say. Today is already blinking busy and I don’t even have my boots on yet !
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
The conditions were not really conducive for touring yesterday. The difference between car park height and Munro height is extreme in this easterly. Also some big cornices in some unlikely places that you just cannot see. I’d be very wary of travelling far unless I was certain of the terrain. If the wind drops it will be better. Looks like they hope to run all three chairs today which should deal with the numbers. Solid cover in the middle valley.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
If you do head out towards Glas Maol just make sure you stay on the skin route as there are 3 machines working in there all day at the moment and with this low viz they struggle to see people wandering around And don’t skin under the winch line-yes, it’s happened.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Cheers orange looks like temps going up and wind down midweek so should be ok for access (phew!) with likely a fair few lifts open with a base that should hopefully survive some rain- may need to purchase a poncho or bring my dry robe though
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah I suspect we may get some wet stuff at road level , does then go super cold again so not the end of the world. My rain poncho has seen some action this season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@orange, @Peter S, @mountainaddict, all noted, thanks. I appreciate all the effort going in to getting things prepped and cleared in this weather. Hope you'll get a good spell after to let the crowds in and enjoy it all.
RE touring and parking I haven't been over that way for a few years but if touring I'd usually start/end lower down. Around the Devil's Elbow if heading out W towards Vrotachan from the S or the loch Callater track if going E from the N.That helps with the parking and helps avoid the ski area but sounds like the sweet spot combination of snow cover/rain or snow/ visibility/ wind probably will be around the height of most of the tows. So a bit of a dilemma.
Could always head to Cairngorm area where visibility may be slightly better and greater familiarity with some of the lower options might be handy. Just a bit more driving to contend with and nice to do something different. Always nice to have options though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Not too long to go now! @orange, were you involved in the avalanche rescue yesterday? I guess with the rain possibly introducing instability, may put a bit of a dampener (so to speak!) on the plans to open more terrain?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No I could hear the radio chatter, I was dealing with casualties when the call came. The drivers took some of the MRT out there, there have been quite a few avalanches out there already, it’s really the only place within our boundary that slides. I don’t know much more about what happened.
It will have slowed them down as they were out working on Coire Fionn.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
