heard a rumour that caircngorm is thinking of reopening the ciste chair for mtb and posably the west wall as well. Considering cairngorm is the only ski resort still not offering mtb in scotland i think this is definitly needed, and the of course we can use the chairs again in the winter

Is this true? and if so has anyone got any more info to fulfil my curious mind

And on that note, we have now had our first weekend in june, did glenshee open the tiger as they said they would on the wensite or has there been some delays?
thanks ben

I beleive they are looking into opening the ciste chair (not the WW) for MTBing in the near future and are currently at the planning stage. But thats all I know.

I still think its ludicrous that they have to invest such vast sums of money when there is a perfectly good (and rather expensive @~£26m) funicular just round the corner. But enough of that...

Cant deny my enthusiasm for the chair(s) spinning again.

Use the forum search...



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 23.52hrs Thu 7 Jun 12 by alan.

;-)





Edited 1 times. Last edit at 11.41hrs Fri 8 Jun 12 by Jamie.

Attachments: Screen Shot 2012-06-08 at 11.12.37.png (237kB)  

I expect the Yellow track to be built first - as I understand it,it will give access as they refurbish the chair starting at bottom and working up - it will also help the Electric Board access some of the cable points and other gubbins they have on the hill -

Unfortunately i cant read the text - what difficulty is the yellow



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 20.11hrs Fri 8 Jun 12 by daveski.

Ok thanks about that, i dont genrally trust search's on forums.
i cant read the writing either dave ski but would be intrested to see what it is

I have no knowledge of the plans but I hope that CGM plan the layout of their trails to allow the development of AT LEAST 2 trails at each grade of difficulty. This allows one to be closed for repairs/maintenance whilst still offering options to visiting riders.

This is one of the drawbacks at Nevis. In addition, riders get more variety and have more reason to return. If WC level DH is your thing, the Nevis DH course is great, but for many riders, and all casual users, it is very hard/unrideable.

If you are at the level to ride the red at Nevis, fine - ride it once, ride it again, and again. Bored yet? Will you visit again in a hurry?

At lower levels of difficulty there is no attraction for novices/families.

It will be impossible for CGM to provide all the important elements in one go, but it is important to develop with an eye to establishing a sustainable facility that attracts users from the widest possible spectrum, but essentially, return visits.

I watch this development with interest.

The blue track will have braided sections with red and black terrain features so that there will always be a variety of options. The yellow isn't a grade, it's to indicate the access track that is planned to the mid-station - this will be a multi purpose trail as I understand, it would be graded green on the basis of the current XC mtb grading but would also serve as a footpath into Coire na Ciste and it roughly follows the line of the existing rough and often boggy track under the Chair.

Red route is interesting not least that I think there is potential with careful siting for an M2 extension to the Ciste Carpark and there's some nice terrain features on that part of the Windy Ridge would would give an interesting run available to intermediates that can handle the existing M2 and it would as a continuation of the M2 draw a lot more skiers into skiing down to the Ciste Carpark than the present relatively obscure routes do when there is sufficient snow. Thus helping reinvigorate use of the Ciste and taking the strain of the Shuttle Bus service and the rest of the mountains uplift capacity too.

Great to see constructive feedback. I like suggestions on how to integrate benefits into multiple sporting disciplines

Am I alone in not understanding these proposals?

1. Is the map part of a planning application? If so, where is it to be found?

2. My clear recollection of the development of the Coire na Ciste (early 1970s) is that strict environmental impact controls were imposed: a. all concrete and engineering for the pylons was brought in by helicopter - thus there was no necessity to build an access track up there to build them (compared to Coire Cas) ... and b. a boardwalk was built from the Ciste Gully to the mid-station of the chairlifts to minimise trampling across the heather. Over the c.40 years since then, Coire na Ciste has remained relatively pristine and natural.

3. If it's proposed that a network of MTB tracks is to be cut from the mid-station to the valley, how will they be constructed? What will be the environmental impact?

Overall, this doesn't seem to make sense at all. Given that the Cas side of the mountain has been extensively earth-worked and has existing downhill tracks/roads, that's surely the place to offer MTBing - isn't it?

If uplift operation is to continue much longer in Coire na Ciste there is a certain amount of work that will have to be undertaken.

The rough and never formally constructed walkers track into Coire na Ciste is largely an ever widening quagmire now for almost its entire length to the mid-station level where the ground is drier and less peaty. The Access track will broadly follow/replace this. The state of the existing track is leading to erosion which has exposed high tension underground power cables - the fire fighting approach of trying to keep this covered with sandbags isn't sustainable and Hydro Electric require a long term solution.

Natural erosion in the lower Ciste has similarly exposed sections of power cable and needs stablised to prevent undermining of the Chairlift. These issues need earthworks up and down the length of the Ciste Chair, it makes a certain degree of sense thus to provide a robust path/track that will deal with the issues long term. What is envisaged (subject to final formal planning application) is a track sized for a quadbike and trailer - closer to the recent footpaths in Coire Cas than the 60s hill road there.

The biggest visual impact of the Ciste development at present is the present terrible state of dereliction, this will be addressed and the visual impact of the chairlift stations addressed and reduced with the OTT ramp structures removed.

It can hardly be an environmental positive that the mountainside is used as a toilet due to lack of even the most basic facilities in the Ciste car park.

As for further development in Coire Cas, it is the most popular point of access to the whole high mountain core of the Cairngorms and aside from the lack of suitable uplift, developing downhill mountain bike facilities in Coire Cas creates an unnecessary potential conflict of users. There is also the fact that the development in Coire na Ciste is at lower altitude in a substantially less exposed part of the mountain, it is therefore less sensitive ground.

It's funny that none of these concerns were raised with regard to the construction of the new Windy Ridge footpath over the last 3 years.

so what is the currant situation with the plans
has the planning application been entered?

Alan,
There is a path which goes from the bottom of the WW Poma
across the "late" Aonach track, below Rita's Ridge and back towards
the avalanche bank next to Rita's Cafe.
Perhaps it fits in as one of the MTB Trails ?

George

Good on them .

Always reckoned the only way Cairngorm would get funds to renovate Ciste chair is with a proposal that involved all year round activitys. (right or wrong HIE are 'apparently' very reluctant to fund ski area projects that dont have 'year round benefit'). Though despite being a mountain bike proposal this project has obvious benefit for skiers too

Looks like some easier DH trails are planned - which should have wider appeal.
Hopefully they get the green light and Coire na Ciste can be revived...



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 15.37hrs Sun 10 Jun 12 by Doug_Bryce.

Presumably a robust track up to the mid station would also overcome some of the H+S evacuation issues that have reduced potential operation of the WWP in recent years.