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pix from the slopes // glencoe
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Click on Thumbnail to view larger images. Click on Title for Image Index.
 Spring Run giving good spring snow riding once it loosened up. Walk in now required at the top even for skiers, but well worth it today.
|  Andy trying a shortcut to the Kingshouse!
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 Looking down Island Rock Gully to the Haggis Trap on the Main Basin.
|  Island Rock Gully and the Haggis Trap becoming banked like shallow natural pipes.
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 Launching into the Main Basin off the Island Rock - various natural kicker features around.
|  Andy hard at work...
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 Wide cover on the upper half of the Main Basin, narrowing into the Haggis Trap.
|  Air back into the Main Basin.
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 Good sledging outside the Plateau Cafe thanks to the TechnoAlpin Snowfactory.
|  The Wall is the best route back down to the cafe level. At the end of the day Old Mugs Alley gets you nearer the Access Chair.
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 Old Mugs Alley still provides a route to the Cafe / base of the Coire Pollach, but there is a break now in the link from Mugs Alley which is a bit Swiss cheese!
|  Looking back across the Flypaper Bowl to Radio Gully.
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 Laying out a big carve in the lower Flypaper Bowl.
|  Last run of the day down the Wall.
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 Checking out the Flypaper.
|  You don't find a closed door here when the lifts close.
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Click on Thumbnail to view larger images. Click on Title for Image Index.
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Early mist over Rannoch Moor rose into low cloud first thing, but it quickly burnt off to be another spectacular spring day on Meall a' Bhuiridh.
Snow set up firm overnight and the Main Basin was groomed first thing, but the bumps rebuilt through the day with it being the run seeing by far and away the most use. Snow quickly loosened up as the April sun got to work, and the freeze / thaw further improved the surface conditions on Monday. That should be the case each day this week with the granular spring snow getting better and better day by day.
The main action is off the Main Basin T-bar on the Main Basin, top of Happy Valley and the Spring Run, all of which had fantastic granular spring snow once things loosened up. If the snow firms up the Main Basin can be groomed first thing.
The Flypaper Bowl has a lot of snow once in it, but because there is no ski route in or out it's not patrolled - any incident here would be a mountain rescue job! Speak to Patrol at the Rescue Station for the latest as you definitely don't want to go in there if the snow is still firm.
While it is possible to get back to the Plateau Cafe via Mugs Alley and Old Mugs Alley, the mid section of Mugs Alley is only suitable for experienced riders as it is getting patchy in places. The Wall is the best route down the mid-mountain in terms of cover, though a short walk is required back to the Cliffy. Thus the mountain is only suitable for confident intermediates and above, except for novices with Ski School.
Sledging is available adjacent to the Plateau Cafe and use of the sledges is free. The Plateau Cafe is open daily weather permitting.
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