Aye what ever Happy Girl but using the "Uk" is a weak argument as it could mean anything. Personally I'd see the UK go out of existence tomorrow as it's draining the resources of Scotland and in a round about way, meaning that HIE/CML and we have less money in our pockets.

Anyway, I digress. Has anyone here actually dealt face to face with officers at HIE? I have and I think it's fair to say that they aren't pulling any strings.

I reckon the climate change part comes from one individual who finds it very hard to accept other people's opinion and digs himself into a hole by blasting out the same argument.

Did CML not have to limit season ticket sales the last 2 winters ?

As usual, some people seem to interpret any criticism of the Strategic Management of CML as a personal attack on the people who actually keep the operation working despite the Strategic Management direction.

Probably DonaldM has hit the nail on the head, and it must be recognised how damaging this particular individual's pronouncements are to the whole Scottish Snowsports industry.

DougBryce: What is worse - objective criticism (whineing) on WH, or completely negative statements being put out by the organisation itself into the widely read public media ? I would suggest that the latter is potentially far more damaging.

Hippenine - you seem to be confusing 'objective critiscm' with using the forum / web site to promote your own personal agenda and grudges. If you actually want to be respected or engage with Cairngorm then putting a spoof Hitler video on the front page is not a good start ?

[www.haggistrap.co.uk]

I can only agree, but I don't think that Olderalan did that either.

Clearly there needs to be some kind of coming together between CML and interested parties about the chairlifts which is dedicated to that subject. I am not a season ticket holder so raising at those meetings wouldn't work for me.

Should someone approach CML to enquire about this? I mean someone who is not too biased on their opinion?

True. FWIW I am not being awkward or argumentative just for the sake of it.
Though maybe I shouldn't wind up Older Alan so much

Just presenting a counter argument that bad things happened for a reason. I personally don't believe that Cairngorm management have an anti-skiing agenda or are totally inept (as some want us to believe). But I do believe the the ski area was bankrupted by the funicular debt and suspect at one time the wolf wasn't far from the door.

Like everyone else would love to see the Ciste Chairs run again. But being realistic getting funding in the current financial climate wont be easy. Plus there will be 4 other Scottish resorts asking where their share of the HIE pie is ?

Its my guess that all 5 ski areas will only ever get major public funding for 'year round' projects. However anything that generates profit going during lean snow years, and also the 8 summer months, can only be good for snowsports in the long term ?

[www.haggistrap.co.uk]



Edited 2 times. Last edit at 10.37hrs Fri 16 Sep 11 by Doug_Bryce.

it wouldn't hurt to talk the recent conditions up a bit, especially as its been 4 good seasons in a row- 08 and 09 were decent years with exceptional spells.

I think that most folk would regard the redevelopment of the lower Ciste as a good thing if it leads to year round business and an increase in company profitability. Personally speaking, I consider diversification to be a good thing...more employment on the hill and more tourists in the area with the potential for benefits all round.
The debate, for me, isn't so much about that but more about the impact on snowsports customers. I see no reason why anyone shouldn't be able to question the plans and suggest alternatives.
Fact: the WW Poma opened on only 44 days last season when the ski area was open for a period of 141 days (of which 21 were stormbound)
Fact: If the Ciste Chair had been open for business last season then that would have had no impact on the availability of WW Poma uplift...to be fair, folk could have skied down and taken the Ciste Chair out to the carpark and then the shuttle bus back round, if available, but I doubt that many would do that....and the Ciste Chair would most probably be closed if it was a lift to nowhere)
Fact|: The proposals will ruin the interchange between the Ciste and WW Chairs and the boardwalk. In my view that isn't a a positive that snowsports users can take out of the re-opening of the Ciste Chair.

Having said that, I sincerely hope that the operator will be able to bring their initial Ciste redeveloment proposals to fruition and that the cash comes in so that the WW Chair can be next up....but it would be good if they would keep an open mind with respect to their plans.

I remain firmly of the view that there is little milage in talking down the snowsports business by repeated references to the possible impact of climate change, particularly in the lead up to a new season.

Lets hope for a bumper season, whatever our views.

Regards

Olderalan

Don't mention the war/climate change/Hitler video

I can't take any credit for the Hitler video, but I think it was a bit of genius. People weren't going to watch a 10minute video giving a dry presentation of the facts, but over 2500 people have watched the Hitler spoof.

Season ticket sales were briefly suspended through the Christmas and New Year holiday period last year.

Putting a hard cap on season pass numbers seems to be self defeating? It's guaranteed income no matter how the season pans out from date bought. The more season pass holders, the fewer people queuing for day tickets and given ticket queues is one of the big bug bears on the 'Gorm that is surely a win win for customers and CML alike.

Also new season ticket holders nearly always find they actually ski more often with a season pass than they did without. More bums on lifts = more people on the mountain more often to spend money in retail and catering.

Re. Warmy Girl's quote that 5 years out of those between 2010-2019 will be happier than the happiest on record, here's a link to the press release. The UK Met Office's deserve a great deal of respect for most of the activities but their 'experimental decadal forecast' should really be taken with a great big helping of salt. Read it (and the linked data) carefully. ...

[www.metoffice.gov.uk]

2010 was the warmest year worldwide since records began. Now tell me that that was a bad season in Scotland.

The key point here is not to confuse a generalised prediction of future climates for a prediction of snowfall in the Scottish highlands, the connection between the two is poorly understood. An average annual temperature is just that, an average, it doesn't account for seasonal variation, which could easily be greater than it is now with hotter summers and colder winters still leading to a higher average temperature and higher snowfall. But then again it might not, we just don't know.

On CML blog Colin is predicting weekend either side of 7th November - as opening for snow sports. They are also still working away, not repaired the Boardwalk yet - being held up by climate (sorry weather). Here's hoping the temporary snow fencing works out, especially round the tunnel and other areas

[www.cairngormmountain.co.uk]