Righto folks,

West coast was offering some EPIC skiing over the weekend. As our lot might say "It was OFF THE DIAL".

Get yourself up there over Easter if you get the chance.
Yes - it is nearly mid April and Scotland is offering snow like this



Unfortunatly I forgot my camera on Saturday... however "waist deep in places" wouldn't be an exageration. Sunday was also excellent - just not as stupidly deep or avalanchy.

p.s Baws tae the new snowdome and PY Gerbau... He might want to re-evaluate his comments about xscape "being the saviour of scottish snowsports" and "not be abel to ski in Scotland anymore" once he see's some of these pics.



Edited 4 times. Last edit at 22.14hrs Sun 9 Apr 06 by Doug_Bryce.

Attachments: Powder stash Between Spring and Fly.JPG (70kB)  

One more...

Maybe you should make that photo into a postcard and we could all send PY one with our best wishes. I think his comments have goaded the scottish snow gods into the best late season for years

Big thanks to the Eric and the guys for sorting me out with a lift home.
No doubt i'll be seeing you up on the hills a few more times this season, weather permitting

I echo Doug's comments. Glencoe was superb on both Sat & Sunday. Skiing doesn't get better than this. Deep powder, sunshine and light winds. It was superb.

AWESOME skiing!! Bring on four more days next weekend!

Just back from Glencoe, was a good afternoon. Snow was still great although seemed to be getting a little icy at the end of the day. Not as beautiful weather wise as yesterday, bit cloudy but still a good day. Not sure if my body can handle going up tomorrow!

glad to see everyone came home with the perma grin that we all had.still struggling to remove it,especially after looking at the pics on w h as they really are breathtaking.the flypaper,baillies and the east ridge offered me possibly the best riding experience ive ever had and thats after 11 years of riding around europe and canada but that tops the lot.treasure the weekend of april 8/9 ive a feeling we will be talking about it for a long time.popped ma head into xcrap on the way home,2 skiers 1 boarder whos me mate and works there,little french man take heed: mother nature always wins.the big fridge vs the big mountain? no contest



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 20.26hrs Mon 10 Apr 06 by scottyboy.

Can Doug or anyone else add any more info about Saturday's avalanche(s) on the Fly Paper?

a small group of skiers headed down the fly (for their second time). it avalanched. one guy was buried, luckily in a shallowish area, with an arm and a skistick above the snow. far as i know none of them had probes or shovels, though i think doug b arrived with a shovel shortly afterwards.

i think doug has some pics, and maybe ally could give his first person account.

the deepest bit of the debris was a good few metres, and left an unexpected drop for those exiting baillie's gully later in the day.

cheers,

-d

doug:

how can you possibly compare your photo above with what xscape has to offer:

[www.xscape.co.uk]

to quote xscape's web page: "Nothing can beat the adrenaline rush of speeding down a slope covered in crisp snow with the cold air in your face"...

indeed...

-d

.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 16.30hrs Wed 12 Apr 06 by Doug_Bryce.

OK,

Pat Smith emailled me these pictures of Saturdays flypaper avalanche. Thought some people might be interested...

Firstly I should point out that the ski patrol had CLOSED the flypaper and that there was a big rope across the main entry point.

It was clearly a dangerous slope early Saturday a.m.. We had skied the East Ridge a couple of times already, but decided to leave the Flypaper well alone - mainly because the spring run bowl, a good inidcator slope, had already avalanched.

No point in being self righteous about these things - as we have all skied stuff that is dodgy or suspect. However maybe there is a lesson for all (myself included!) to learn.

Ally, his brother and another group had skied the flypaper once already - proof that previous tracks on a slope are no indication that it is safe. Another group of 3 skiers had also been down as well.

On their 2nd run Ally (or "avy ally" as he is now known) apparently made two turns on the top section - before the whole slope went and he got taken down about 800 feet.

Pat Smith and his brother arrived just after it happened and helped Ally's brother (in grey) and girlfriend to dig him out. Fortunatly Ally was apparently sitting on the surface but only a glove and ski pole were showing. Have been informed the first picture was taken when they thought they they were just digging for a lost ski ! The debris was at least 8 feet deep and maybe 45 feet long, as the pics show.

Myself and Eric arrived about 2 minutes later, having seen the debris and a small group digging. Although I had a shovel / probe in my pack it wasn't required as others had already pulled him clear.

No doubt Allys lost skis will reappear sometime in late spring
However he is clearly a lucky boy. I never realised just how lucky until I saw these.

Doug.









Edited 7 times. Last edit at 16.31hrs Wed 12 Apr 06 by Doug_Bryce.

Attachments: untitled.JPG (42kB)   untitled2.JPG (42kB)   untitled3.JPG (37kB)  

One more pic. (please remember these are Pat Smiths pictures not mine! - he might appreciate your permisson if anyone wants to use them).

The slab cracks at the top of the slope are visable in this pic.




Edited 1 times. Last edit at 17.53hrs Tue 11 Apr 06 by Doug_Bryce.

Attachments: untitled7.JPG (41kB)  

blimey, that's one lucky chap, hope he's bought a lottery ticket!!