 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Which is likely to quickly vanish from 21 Feb onwards if the forecast is correct. Make the most this week, particularly Tuesday-Thursday!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
It’s the most usable snow we’ve had for a while that’s for sure. 20 and 21 had snow but we were closed !
|
I can confirm this, I was at Glenshee on the 6th of March 2020 and it was a bluebird day!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Meall Odhar and Corrie Fionn offpiste were great Friday and Saturday with plenty of tourers out in the sun. In Corrie Fionn the burn line had collected some of the windblown snow and had some great turns. Anywhere wind scoured was pretty icy - I only just managed to avoid using my ski crampons.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Cairngorm was a bit brutal today, heavy cloud, snowing heavily but it was very wet snow at the bottom. Got my clients up the funicular first thing in the morning but after one lap of the Ptarmigan they decided it was too cold so went back down. Real shame as the snow at the top was lovely. After I finished work I went back up the funicular but the visibility had dropped from maybe 100m in the morning to less than 20m at 3pm. Lovely snow on the M2 but the poor viz just sucked the joy out of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Bluebird freshies tomorrow. Could be one of "those" days 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
It’s a good week for Scottish skiing. A wide choice of open lifts and runs and some decent weather.
Across in the western alps and it’s a different story. Lots of lifts have been closed today by high wind, avalanche risk and poor visibility. The lifts that are open have big queues.
The reasonable weather won’t last long in Scotland so grab your decent, (affordable) skiing while you can 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
just looked out the window and there is a nice dusting of snow outside in aberdeen!
I am planning leaving 6.45 to get to Glenshee 8.15 lets hope the road is open. I am on my lonesome so a wait won't be fun at all. Brand new remedy boots to test out so lets hope they are perfect!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wind providing constant re-fresh at Glencoe over the weekend.
Good times...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| scottydonald wrote: |
just looked out the window and there is a nice dusting of snow outside in aberdeen!
I am planning leaving 6.45 to get to Glenshee 8.15 lets hope the road is open. I am on my lonesome so a wait won't be fun at all. Brand new remedy boots to test out so lets hope they are perfect! |
Good luck scottydonald, hope you get there with no drama and have a good day! One of my colleagues has taken the day off today to head on over.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| scottydonald wrote: |
just looked out the window and there is a nice dusting of snow outside in aberdeen!
I am planning leaving 6.45 to get to Glenshee 8.15 lets hope the road is open. I am on my lonesome so a wait won't be fun at all. Brand new remedy boots to test out so lets hope they are perfect! |
Hope you got on well with them, they're a really smart looking boot!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| thehighlandcowboy wrote: |
Good luck scottydonald, hope you get there with no drama and have a good day! One of my colleagues has taken the day off today to head on over. |
Easy to get there and was there for 8.10 so third row in the car park.
Snow was great, the queues were not.
conditions were great except the wind but being outside a lot It didn't really bother me but a family I know left after an hour as it was too much for their kids.
I was going to back tomorrow but will head to the boot fitters instead. Will try Lecht on friday I think....
| damanpunk wrote: |
Hope you got on well with them, they're a really smart looking boot! |
left boot was awesome, right boot is pinching a nerve so wasn't so fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Was also at glenshee at 8am this morning. Slow start with the wind keeping higher lifts closed for first hour or more. Not getting the chairlift running (it may have started mid-afternoon after I gave up) created a real shortage of uplift on a bluebird day during half term. I have never seen queues like that in Scotland. Cairnwell T-bar must’ve been close to a 30 minute queue at points.
Disappointing to see the Meall Odhar cafe not open having been in use over the weekend and judging by how long queues were elsewhere and how many folk were trying the door they’d have done well today too!
Sad to see Caenlochan open after hanging about the bottom for half an hour waiting for movement to no avail.
Will just need to go back another day
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Was at coe again today from first lift. I discovered why I was so tired the last time, it was because there was no queues on Friday. I sat on Rannoch chair a few times and listened to the silence while the sun beat on my suncream. This allowed me to rest a little between runs, and consequently I stayed longer today.
I went down Spring run, but it had too much snow on it and was hard work. Found myself spending more time on the beginner runs and Happy Valley as I was just enjoying the sunshine.
Added 3 more pics to my link below, but I am finding it difficult to add new angles.
Had a coffee first thing as the top lift was slow to open. Cafe was empty at this time, and car park also had lots of spaces. By the time I left the car park was overflowing. Lots of non skiers getting a lift up with babies and dogs.
I did not stop for lunch, as lunch is for wimps!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| bobalexander1983 wrote: |
Was also at glenshee at 8am this morning. Slow start with the wind keeping higher lifts closed for first hour or more. Not getting the chairlift running (it may have started mid-afternoon after I gave up) created a real shortage of uplift on a bluebird day during half term. I have never seen queues like that in Scotland. Cairnwell T-bar must’ve been close to a 30 minute queue at points.
Disappointing to see the Meall Odhar cafe not open having been in use over the weekend and judging by how long queues were elsewhere and how many folk were trying the door they’d have done well today too!
Sad to see Caenlochan open after hanging about the bottom for half an hour waiting for movement to no avail.
Will just need to go back another day |
We did get it running once the wind had dropped enough and changed direction, it was 44 knots at the top most of the AM so it wasn’t being tardy, the chairs can hit the towers at that wind direction. Caenlochan was same with wind. We did get that going eventually once it dropped enough. Appreciate there was a lot of queuing but we were battling all day after not being able to groom last night due to the storm force winds hey ho. We go again tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| bobalexander1983 wrote: |
Was also at glenshee at 8am this morning. Slow start with the wind keeping higher lifts closed for first hour or more. Not getting the chairlift running (it may have started mid-afternoon after I gave up) created a real shortage of uplift on a bluebird day during half term. I have never seen queues like that in Scotland. Cairnwell T-bar must’ve been close to a 30 minute queue at points.
Disappointing to see the Meall Odhar cafe not open having been in use over the weekend and judging by how long queues were elsewhere and how many folk were trying the door they’d have done well today too!
Sad to see Caenlochan open after hanging about the bottom for half an hour waiting for movement to no avail.
Will just need to go back another day |
We did get it running once the wind had dropped enough and changed direction, it was 44 knots at the top most of the AM so it wasn’t being tardy, the chairs can hit the towers at that wind direction. Caenlochan was same with wind. We did get that going eventually once it dropped enough. Appreciate there was a lot of queuing but we were battling all day after not being able to groom last night due to the storm force winds hey ho. We go again tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Really good buzz around the Coe today, lots of people and a bit of queuing but nothing too bad. Loads of snow up top. Run of the day was Springy out right and down to Rannoch chair. Fresh tracks until end of day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| orange wrote: |
| bobalexander1983 wrote: |
Was also at glenshee at 8am this morning. Slow start with the wind keeping higher lifts closed for first hour or more. Not getting the chairlift running (it may have started mid-afternoon after I gave up) created a real shortage of uplift on a bluebird day during half term. I have never seen queues like that in Scotland. Cairnwell T-bar must’ve been close to a 30 minute queue at points.
Disappointing to see the Meall Odhar cafe not open having been in use over the weekend and judging by how long queues were elsewhere and how many folk were trying the door they’d have done well today too!
Sad to see Caenlochan open after hanging about the bottom for half an hour waiting for movement to no avail.
Will just need to go back another day |
We did get it running once the wind had dropped enough and changed direction, it was 44 knots at the top most of the AM so it wasn’t being tardy, the chairs can hit the towers at that wind direction. Caenlochan was same with wind. We did get that going eventually once it dropped enough. Appreciate there was a lot of queuing but we were battling all day after not being able to groom last night due to the storm force winds hey ho. We go again tomorrow. |
Aww aye just to be clear absolutely no criticism of any of the team who were their usual cheery selves and clearly battling away against the winds in the morning. They only had one side of the sunnyside open too early on as wind had blown buttons over the cable 
Just a perfect storm of holidays, blue bird and the Scottish elements playing ball a little less readily than anticipated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| scottishandy wrote: |
| Really good buzz around the Coe today, lots of people and a bit of queuing but nothing too bad. Loads of snow up top. Run of the day was Springy out right and down to Rannoch chair. Fresh tracks until end of day. |
I haven't been up in years but heading tomorrow with my two lads. Really looking forward to it and hope conditions similar to what you had today!!
Any tips from your experience today?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
As long as you are fairly confident/competent stay high. Main basin, happy valley and Etive glades all excellent nick pistes. Rock garden and spring run providing some fun sport, lots of interesting shapes! Cliffhanger chair was main choke point today, top queues not bad with button going - and it has a wide smooth uptrack which is unheard of. Rankins return is the pick of the easy runs. Can get to car park but not recommended!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| scottishandy wrote: |
| As long as you are fairly confident/competent stay high. Main basin, happy valley and Etive glades all excellent nick pistes. Rock garden and spring run providing some fun sport, lots of interesting shapes! Cliffhanger chair was main choke point today, top queues not bad with button going - and it has a wide smooth uptrack which is unheard of. Rankins return is the pick of the easy runs. Can get to car park but not recommended! |
Many thanks!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I made it up to the Shee today, super busy, cables blowing off tows regularly, 4 lifts at same time?
Delighted to see it so busy and thriving today, I had to leave at 12 but friends who were also up said was great once the chair opened and queues disappeared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah sorry it was a bit of a battle in the AM as we were managing the lifts, changing wind direction and strength. It massively dropped off at about 1:30 so we could open more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
@orange,
No sorry needed, hats off to you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| orange wrote: |
| Yeah sorry it was a bit of a battle in the AM as we were managing the lifts, changing wind direction and strength. It massively dropped off at about 1:30 so we could open more. |
and I gave up at 1.45 and went home! being a single for the T bar was good as got called forward a few times.
were you the ski patroller in orange at the T bar?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Nah that was Matt, I was there on and off, red jacket, radio harness at the front.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Does anyone know the status/serviceability of some of Glenshee's lifts?
Butcharts t-bar doesn't have any tbars on the line.
Carn Asda no tbars on the line, cable lying on the ground in places and lift towers dont look in a good state of repair
Meal Odhar poma. I know some towers were nearly buried, but the lift looks rusty and abandoned and poma hangers haven't been installed the season.
Are the staff likely to get to these lifts at some point, or have they been mothballed/abandoned?
Thanks (not having a dig at the staff, just curious about the future of those lifts).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Quote: |
| Does anyone know the status/serviceability of some of Glenshee's lifts? |
The Glenshee website still refers to the full house of all 22 lifts @Skifun66. Maybe @orange can confirm the position 
On a related note, the piste map on the Nevis Range website still shows all of its formerly-operating lifts (ie Warrens, Braveheart and more). Although these are in a lighter shade of grey than the operational lifts, there is nothing to indicate that the lifts aren't working. Very misleading for any first-time visitors... 
Does anyone know what's happening with the Summit Tow at Nevis? It's not been showing as operating on their daily reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
MO has been run last week, so is on the plan ad far as I’m aware. CF same and they’ve been working on it in between windy spells. Not sure about CA in all honesty, agree though would be a shame if it had gone. Butcharts hasn’t had enough snow to run until late last week but again don’t know the details.
I think it’s tricky - some of those lifts are quite old and not been used for…years. Ops do lifts, we do slopes and broken people 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Oh and GM is still planned but we need the Avi risk to drop , can’t send anyone in there at the moment and also can’t bomb. And I’m not going near that cornice no matter how well tied on I am !
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Wild day at Glenshee today - trip report with photos here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Excellent report @denfinella. Cheers!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@denfinella, yes very accurate and informative, thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't think you quite caputured how wild it got very quickly Great report, thanks for that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@orange, I can't tell if you're joking or not
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Hmmm, I am very glad I didn't head up yesterday.
I was originally thinking heading up to Lecht on Friday but now with busy-ness and forecast I am tempted to risk Glenshee Monday after the warm weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yesterday was a tricky one. The wind direction wasn't quite as forecast, and we do look carefully, so we got Tom and Cluny open and I was on Caenlochan, when i had to lie down to make progress it was clear the wind had shifted. Then it was straight across Tom so we had to evacuate everyone off that lift. Sorry if you had to walk up, if its any consolation i had to crawl across the top of caenlochan before i could come down and help Then it was gusty, shifty and we just kept trying to keep multiple lifts running esp the N and S on Sunnyside. We got there, it's hard work for everyone when it's like that. Welcome to Scotland.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
. Very icy from about halfway so we didn't go to the top as didn't bring the harscheisen and the ski down would've been crap. Lovely, creamy stuff from about halfway though. Hellish bike in with wet feet, mostly lovely downhill bike out 
