On Sunday it was too windy but still enough for snowsports, on Monday it was still too windy (30mph is not too windy for running surface lifts) but still enough for snowsports. On Tuesday with snow falling the visibility was too poor. Now on the 4th day of snow showers falling quite steadily there is not enough snow.

CML owe it to season ticket holders and those holding unused snowsports vouchers holders to open anything that can be opened. Failure to do so now will only further damage sales next year, while any snowsports that can be offered might repair some of the damage.

I agree. Just got back from a lovely drive out, checked the Cairngorm website (closed for skiing as usual) and i cant believe how much snow there is and they are not open. Personally, i think they are waiting for weekend to open it, therefore more people will come to the mountain. Looking at the webcams, there must be over a foot of fresh snow at the top, surely the skiing that was open on Monday will be in skiable condition with all that fallen on top of it?

I do agree with above. But, especially on the back of a poor season, we cant really expect them to open on days when it just not profitable. When they have a bit more cash to play with following a good season they have shown us that they will be open as long as they possibly can.

However, given the potentially short life of the snow up there part of me thinks they should make the most of it while they can.

Yeah I also agree with what Alan is saying about season tickets but even I (a real CML basher) will admit that Cairngorm has put on a good show up until now and many people, including me, were convinced and still think that the season was dead by March. And so for many people, including me, any of the recent snowsports is a "make do" afare and doesnt really mean much to the season as a whole. Its only happening because it can, not because theres much profit to be made, a bit of a cherry on the cake. Because the ski centres are run by skiers and boarders, etc, etc.

If that makes sense...

Looking at the ptarmigan webcam it seems there is decent snow for opening Ptarmigan Run, If more snow showers continue through tonight I cant see why they should not open tomorrow.

Does anyone know if I could take my son up on the train and go out for a play on his board tomorrow? Asking in terms of access policy, I know there is enough snow!

was up today for a look need a wee bit more for skiing on the gorm

In short when they are closed for snowsports you are usually not allowed out of the Ptarmigan building. However the walk up is usually not too bad, though tedious at time in bad weather and when there is snow/ice. Cant honestly remember how long it took me to hike up last time, 40 minutes? Someone on here must know. And you can enter the ptarmigan building and use the facilites and also get the train down if you wish.

Posted by Cairngorm on Facebook, a few minutes ago:

CairnGorm Mountain Ltd
Good conditions for beginners today. 3 cm fresh snow overnight. Minimal wind. Visibilty 200m and currently snowing heavily.
Polar express and Mini Shred area open. Ticket prices today are £15 for adults and £10 for juniors.

How does it take until after 9.30am to report that the Polar Express is open? .
It could have run yesterday but didn't.
It has to be said that CML's conditions reporting is simply awful. All too frequently their reports are out of date...like this morning when they simply put a new time stamp on yesterday's report with nothing to say if they would be able to open or not. If they still cannot reopen the WW Poma due to lack of snow then why do they not inform folk. [I suspect that they simply do not have the staff available and that's why they aren't opening]

Kind regards
Olderalan

Would make sense, I read in the news somewhere that they laid off all their seaonal staff back in March.

The web updates have been mentioned to them so often in the past. It is as easy to type a short paragraph as it is to go into the system to update the time. Most folks would appreciate proper updates not just sort of same as yesterday or the day before.

Having been in Scotland since Tuesday night, ive been watching the ski resorts carefully, wishing one of them would open a limited amount of terrain. Sunday and Monday Cairngorm was open, its snowed every day since then, yet they cant open the WWP which was open on Monday, why the hell not? Surely there is enough snow, judging by the webcam there is much more snow than on Monday, and it was open!!! If the Polar Express is open, then why cant the WWP? Ok it goes lower but there has been much more snow than on Monday, when it was running!!!

I also agree with others, the same text just updated on on evening isnt good enough.

looking good for the ciste tow for tomorrow,thought cml updates were good this season !!!!

A fine day on the Gorm today. Hardly anyone there and as much fun as you made it!
It looked like they were getting the WWP ready for the masses tomorrow.

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The last few years CML are usually one of the first to get open and the last to close - they open if they can - if there is no base then you go straight through to gravel/rocks/burn/grass or whatever. There now seems to be a base setting up which they can build on. Ironically the best way to create a base is to get the wind to blow in and fill the gaps - so snowing and drifitng are the key words to look for (I hope I have not put the mockers on this and too much wind). They are not only working to get skiing open they are alo building a mini shred to make it as entertaining as possible.

And in case anyone is wondering about using the snow cannon up in the bowl - there is no suitable convienent water supply.


May not get the Ptarmigan running but as mentioned above aiming to get the poma up and running




Edited 2 times. Last edit at 19.29hrs Fri 13 Apr 12 by daveski.