Re. Evacuation

They only need to have appropriate chairlift evacuation apparatus (ie to safely lower punters onto the ground) and people on site who know how to use it. From there on the punters are legally on their own (as far as I can tell from the small print in T&C's of ticket sales) though it is one of the ski patrol's many duties to safely guide people off the mountain in the event of an evacuation, if not with the help of ski-doos and piste bashers then on foot.

It's a similar scenario to Coire Fionn I believe. And evacuations are rare largely because ski patrol will take precautions such as closing an area for the day if a risk is present. But like all things there will be a robust evacuation plan should one be needed. Its quite possibly a requirement for insurance.

Its really another case of "accepting the risks" though when you purchase a ticket.

or better not thinking about it.

I think it unlikely (Dave) that a gondola would get through planning right now.

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For campervan hire in Scotland visit [www.albacampervans.com] - Bhanaichean Campachaidh ann an Alba

Never mind the Glenmore Gondola etc., Today folk
were golfing up at the Top - driving from the
Ptarmigan !!
STV News

George

From Cairngorm facebook:

CairnGorm Mountain Ltd Greg, check out winter highland forum under h11lly, Helen was up the other day skiing on various snowpatches, she is very good at putting up the pictures, there is still huge snowpatches on the back of Ben Macdui if you are prepared to walk!

Was up at CairnGorm on Sunday racing on rollerskis from the Hayfield to the Cas CarPark. One of the First Grp bus drivers is definitely a curmudgeonly old git. He was most displeased having to share the road with other users.

Other than that it was a pretty good day, with nice weather again - twice in a row for the Cairngorm race which must be a record. CML looked busy again with a fairly full top carpark.

Cas CarPark to Hay field sounds a better route to me glad to hear the the weather was good

Sounds terminally lethal to me, though some of the younger nutters rollerskiing claim to have rollerskied down some or all of the hillroad. Just thinking about it brings me out in a cold sweat as on all my rollerskis there are no brakes or speed reducers and snowploughs are dubiously effective once you get any speed up.

I've skied back from just before the first bridge after the hayfield to the start of the campsite on my race skis and that was fast enough for me and that section is almost flat (at least in comparison to the rest).

Yep - I was thinking mmore from the effort to up-hill compared to down-hill. I can rember free wheeling down the ski road on a bike being scary enough and thats with brakes.

Last Aug cycling down Lecht Road, pipped 60mph (98kph) which felt quite quick for Lycra & a plastic helmet. And coming off Gorm it's normal to hit 90+kph going into the first hairpin. And with some commitment you'll get round bend faster than 4-wheels.

But im a granny on the skis. That's a job for a better skier than me.

54mph is my cycling record going down the access road. If I had disc brakes on my road bike I'm sure it would be higher. Fastest section is 200m prior to hairpin junction and junction with ciste road. I love that cycling that road.

CML should be negotiating with the Tour of Britain to have a stage finish. It would be awesome.

A tour of britain stage from blairgowrie to cgm via glenshee and lecht would be a great stage but not so nice for the riders

The Tour de France goes up the road to Alpe D'Huez, which is an absolute monster of a climb, the route you suggest would be a great equivalent "mountain stage" for Britain.

Tele, yes I agree it is a shame the Tour of Britain hasn't done this. Probably a sponsors & TV issue. As the logistics of the show seem most important.

I did that route last August, starting from Tay Bridge In Dundee. 200km took me 10hrs. That's when I clocked 60mph off Lecht, and actually the Gorm climb felt almost pleasant after Shee & Lecht.

And yes it's not in the same class as Alpe d'Huez. But overall your route is about 10,000ft of climbs. A good chug.

The towns have to bid for the stages and that fixes the route. Think this all down to sponsorship.

I saw the TDF over the Col de Glandon, 4pm, after snowboarding on the Deuxs ALpes glacier, finished on the last uplift, this july.