Yes fantastic reports/pics. I can see my skis inching towards the car, as if by magic.

Alan, If its the same clamp like (similar to poma tows) arrangement I have seen elsewhere then yes it can be moved relatively easily though a piste basher would probably be essential given its a heavy bugger. But then the lift controls would also have to be moved or put on an extension lead which either can or can't be done at short notice depending if they have the kit for it.

If only they had a piste basher based at the goose then access wouldnt be an issue.

Engineering a plan to get out west the beginning of next week, I hope the weather plays ball!



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 00.01hrs Sat 14 Apr 12 by cammyammy.

Freeheel, I'm sure I saw your tracks skinning up the Goose as they were partially filled from overnight / morning snow. Shame you had poor visibility and can't get back. Even in perfect vis yesterday the Goose was wonderfully weird over the upper mid section. Looked even and smooth but as you skied and turned underneath it felt like a mogul field ! Wouldn't have been easy in a white out.

Looking at the web cams I think today will be another good one.

Helen

Hi Helen,

Yes probably my tracks but felt like I was feeling my way down to an extent, conscious of the burn to the right which is usually fully covered while sensation was one of undulation underneath, which tallies up with your mogul field description. Much smoother up top and Spider felt like it would offer a great blast if visibility allowed. Great fun nonetheless!

Sounds like you were replicating your April 2009 excursion, I was really hoping to have a play in An Cul Choire but conditions need to be good for that.

More snow to come I think which I hope will help you you complete another unbroken year. Fingers crossed

Cammy, if the weather is good go for it if you can and make it happen

It Looks busy for no tows to be running


go slide....

Sheesh good spot II and with the weather brightening they should be in for a very good afternoon. Not quite the same detail as the webcams at Glencoe though!

They appear to be skinning - is it one big group I wonder and is the objective the backs? On Thursday there were a couple of boarders went down after me and walked out, which they said wasn't too bad though would be easier on skis I reckon.

Freeheel

The backs were indeed the target of the day. It was as good as a piste down Summit gully. The Summit run and Goose was highlight of the day. Spicy exit from Spikes made me sweat.



Edited 2 times. Last edit at 20.13hrs Sat 14 Apr 12 by steelytail.

Busy busy. Hope everyone had fun, sounds like you did Steelytail , and that there will be some photos in the public/backcountry reports later.

I'd be interested to see if anyone went over to Aonach Beag. Was eyeing it up yesterday after that great trip in 2009 that you mention above Freeheel, but it looked sparse and rocky on the approach, and with the snow being unconsolidated I didn't fancy trying to walk up through the rocks.

An Cul Choire didn't look very substantial either. At least this snow will be preserving any patches there or elsewhere but as for another year ??! month at a time




Helen

Done Hilly!

! Looks like conditions were similar to Friday.... Great !

Helen

Yep that was us on the web cam heading up along with quite a few others on Saturday.

Some of the best snow and best weather of the winter with great company to boot !

Pics in the Backcountry section and video here -

[www.youtube.com]

Good to see you heading away from your beloved Cairngorm Helen !

Amazing day today, Easy Gully had an easy entrance and good snow all the way, the summit/ top of the goose were also in nice condition.

Enjoyed your video Al, and good that so many have enjoyed the fantastic conditions.

If Nevis wasn't at the other end of the A82 from Inverness I'd be a much more frequent visitor. Stunning scenery and great skiing.

Helen

Great video AL - I was the guy in the yellow trousers!! A fantastic day out & surprisingly quiet definitely the best snow of the winter in Scotland for me!! Hope the snow comes this week & holds on till I am back from offshore!!!

Hi Al,

Good to meet you on Saturday! Great video - bit strange to see myself skiing (Summit Gully) from that side of the camera. Haven't looked at my footage yet. I gather you bumped into Helen later after I had shamlessly abandoned her for a quick round trip in Easy Gully? Easy Gully was in great condition - even better snow than Summit Gully. Went up Carn Mor Dearg yesterday. The snow wasn't as good, but a good day out nonetheless.

cheers,

Scott

Just wanted to echo the other comments made and mention the great weekend I had. Saturday saw Dave A, Gav and myself hike up Tower gully on Ben Nevis for the second time in three weeks. What a transformation! Easily a foot or more or fresh snow in places making for slow going on the climb up Observatory gully and then across the traverse of Tower Scoop into Tower gully proper. The Tower gully headwall was wonderfully soft compared to three weeks ago and overall it's definitely the most winter-like condition I have skied the gully in.

Sunday saw a trip to Nevis Range - skin/hike up to the summit plateau followed by a lap of Easy Gully into Coire an Lochain. Great snow conditions with enough fresh overnight to wipe out the previous day's tracks in the gully. Hiked out via Spikes followed by a very nice run down Summit gully, one final hike back up to the plateau and a ski down the Goose etc to within about 5 minutes of the Gondola station. All things considered, brilliant snow conditions for the enthusiastic amongst us

I have loads of photos to go through so it might be a couple of days before I get some reports up. My GPS tells me we climbed more than 8,000ft over the two days. Also, it was great to bump into Da Kishman again and share some craic. We bumped into the big man in Observatatory Gully en route to Good Friday climb on the Ben and then again on Aonach Mor on the Sunday. I hope witnessing our antics in Easy Gully hasn't put you off Da Kishman