thanks Timberline

went out to Gartly Forest (Glens of Foudland) after dinner this evening
the "middle" track was good and didnt hit any stones at all. but where i met the loop track after a couple km, that had bare patches and a vehicle had driven on it, so i came back same way
good snow, crispy top, for fast skiing on way back down and a bright moon rising as i finished

With temperatures rising to plus 5 by midday today the lower trails were beginning to get slower. It looks as if Friday may still have enough snow for skiing, but it will be thawing.

The Clashindarroch trails are now broken due to temperatures up to plus 6 and hours of drizzle. There are still long stretches of skiable, if soggy, snow 5-10cm deep (e.g. throughout Shortcut and at the aptly-named La Glace de Clash, while Hedder Wye may have some deeper stretches and appears to have been skied today), but "waterproof" skis and flotation devices would be recommended. Only in 2 of the past 9 seasons has there been skiing on the Clash trails later than this season so far (2005 -- 9th April; 2008 -- 11th April). In the "endless winter" of 2009-10, the last day of reasonable cover on the trails was the same as this year, i.e. 5th April, although trail snow patches lasted into May. If anyone recalls skiing the Clash trails in May, do add a post to this thread.

9th April 2005 is the latest I can remember - another sudden April snowfall.
I didnt go out, Mrs Telemarker did and next day we were in La Thuile in Italy for a weeks skiing
she well remembers the day, because she took my parents dog and it ran off and was lost for over an hour.






Edited 2 times. Last edit at 08.23hrs Sat 7 Apr 12 by telemarker.

Attachments: picture004.jpg (35kB)  

(Edited because I misread the year on my chart) Thankyou Mr and Mrs Telemarker -- glad you found the dog in time for the flight! Your photo shows good skiing conditions on the Haute Route. I'd recorded that day as having excellent conditions on the Timberline snowfield (which as you know is nearby but not a formal trail), and reasonable conditions on the trails. The 8th April was even better, and as you say, it was a sudden snowfall as there'd been no Clashindarroch skiing for the previous three weeks. By the 10th the trails were broken. Back to the present: the other day, near the Haute Route, the skis totally disappeared in a foot and a half of snow-on-heather causing one to plough rather uncertainly downhill. Despite the less than ideal conditions one must be thankful for this year's late bonus days, and of course enjoy the non-ski season too!



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 11.25hrs Sat 7 Apr 12 by Timberline.