Weather :
Perfect: Sunshine and practically no wind.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Wonderful snow on the Goose and Warrens. Went over the back for the first time since they have expanded there. Just a little slick in places but overall fantasic snow and fantastic skiing. This really makes Aonach Mor the place to ski. David Leader
Weather :
Snowy spells and times of poor visability but generally good.No wind at all. Access roads clear.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Spring Run was shit-hot really soft snow, although by the end of the day there was 1 or 2 thin patches forming. Main Basin and Happy-Valley in excellent condition. The wall and The Canyon were good. Mugs alley was alright but still shite(as usual) All tows open except the upper button and the crappy wee trainer tow- Etive Galades and Fly paper closed but could be boarded. Small cues in the afternoon- about ten folk! Damn good day was had-and there was some exceptionally high quality lager in the Kingshouse
Weather :
Mild ( +7 in the car park ! ) Strong winds up top . Good Visibility .
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
The snow cover was extremely limited . Possible to walk to the top of the grouse with out touching snow ! Only appeared to be three lifts open ( eagle , osprey , grouse ) . To be honest the cover was crap . There was more heather showing than snow . The Buzzard side of the hill had NO snow it . The grouse was JUST skiable anlthough several sections were about five foot wide and were just pisted tracks of snow . While it would have been possible to ski back down with out heather hopping it wouldn't have been much fun. Who wants to queue to get back down a narrow section of run ! The osprey was open ( but only because it has a plastic base ) . The eagle looked liked the best option . The "snow" cover was a mixture of sheet " blue ice " and thin muddy snow . It looked possible that the run would break up during the day . We arrived about 9am and decided like most people that the skiing just wasn't worth it . The majority of the runs were 4 metre wide sheets of ice down the side of a snow fence . The teletext described these conditions as " most runs complete " and implied that the conditions were alright . This was bollocks . Ok so it might have thawed over night but to describe the conditions as "most runs complete" was being generous .
Weather :
Snowing heavily and nastily about mid-morning but clearing up into blue sky with occassional flurries.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Spring Snow - not dry, but lovely and granular.... A bit of wind slab on some of the steeper walls and a little bit underlain bt ice in some very exposed areas but otherwise great..no problems if you fell. Looked as though there may be a slight problem with a thaw though as the lowest runs where constantly being rebulldozed by the piste-bashers.. BIG QUEUES
Weather :
It was a little breezy from the south west initially but died away. A few snow flurries and as the day wore on the wind died.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
The Cas was OK not the sugar at the bottom of the last few weeks and a bit wider though the snow was quite wet higher up there were a few icy lumps to catch people out. The white lady was fun for a change but again with the lumps, it was not pisted while I skiied it and poping some air was not a good idea. The landings tended to break through a slight crust and getting out of the crust was not easy. Ptarmigan bowl was flat as usual with a better cover than of late but still needed more. Some of the tow tracks may need a repair if it gets hot again. They worked on several tow tracks and I lived in hope of the White Lady T getting used. Thet started the Fiaicail Poma up but realy only usable for access. Could ski down JUST, Car Park Tbar track hope round to the chair then bear right to the burn, stand on one foot for about 10 yards and pray for no rocks. It looks as if the West Wall is complete from the road the cover looks good and has drifted in well. As usual Cairngorm caters for the punters first so it may have been run later in the afternoon when I had left. There was about 5 inches of new snow during the night and with a wind this would have made a difference again. This is based upon the snow in Aviemore when I left this morning and the amount lying in Drumochter. I have got nothing left to cross for more of the real fluffy stuff. Caroline
Weather :
Very variable. Snow showers in morning frequently turn to rain in afternoon. Rarely getting below -1°. Very windy.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Because the temperate is always hovering around -1° to 4° snow condition is fairly poor. The frozen spring snow base and the large areas of polished ice (particularly at the tops of tows) are not bonding to the new falls of snow. There is reasonable ski ing immediately after a snowfall but with the wind, rain, and high volume of skiers it don't last long! In fact a lot of the snow is artificial made with chemical additives so it doesn't melt til 3°C !!! I ski ied on ice, frozen peat, slush, ice-hard pisted snow, and every now and then something approaching powder! It is very crowded, at one point I estimated over 200 queuing for the Eagle tow. Having said all that I had a good time, but no-one should go with any illusions.
Glenshee is really struggling to get going. The problem now is that the ground has warmed up sufficiently that snow when it falls doesn't stay long. There is too much heather and ground showing through dark absorbing heat when the sun shines. (Daffodils are shooting through in Braemar) On Saturday 21st passing through Glenshee it still looked an awful long way off being operational. Only the plastic slope in its little cleft with all the artificial snow looked complete. Most of the snow on the Dink-Dink had gone. I would have said Claybokie had lost as well. Sorry....
Weather :
Sunny spells, occassional snow showers and good visibility
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
The snow was generally dry soft fresh snow. High on the mountain on a very firm base, else where on a well pisted base. Some of the higher runs had exposed hard neve, where the wind has scoured fresh snow away.
Plateau poma, cliffhanger and both T-bars open.
Mugs Alley is quite thin and patchy but complete and offered some good skiing. The runs of the top T-bar where very good. The Main Basin is complete although a little narrow towards the bottom. Flypaper was closed (? avalanche risk). The Spring Run was open and offered the best skiing on the hill, with some good fresh snow early on for leaving trails.
All in all, pretty good conditions after such bare time
Weather :
Variable.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Although all but the Buzzard lifts were open, heather protrudes through the snow on the Northern runs (reds and black) and the Eagle suffers from a case of just too thin a snow cover. By the end of the day the run has turned brown as skiers and riders gradually carve up the frozen peat below. However, the beginners areas are fine, and were suitably packed last week. I just wonder why the snow cannons haven't been used more.
Weather :
Tuck position essential to descend down into the wind from Ptarmigan, standing up blows you back up the slope!
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
On Thursday (13th) the snow at the top was lovely, plenty of it too, but ski down to mid-station and the nice new snow gradually turns into a mixture of spring snow and ice. The only lifts running were Coire Cas T-Bar (with HUGE queues) and the M1 Poma, the traverse being the only decent route back down. Potential for skiing is good - many slopes have good snow, unfortunately the rocks protrude just too far, and the snow line is 500ft too high to allow ski-ing below the cafe.
Weather :
Variable to the extreme - sunny one day but raining solid the next!
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
If the snow conditions at the top of Cairnwell were the same at the bottom then Glenshee could well be open right now. As it is, the ski area is depressingly brown, I think you could even drive our Fiat Uno up to the mid-station cafe!. The only poma running is up from the car park on the Cairnwell side to the cafe - we ran down this slope in about 30 seconds, so as you can see its not worth skiing on. They were busy setting up the snow cannons today, but they'll need to run for many days and nights to get any decent skiing. As the Cairngorm tickets say, Please everybody pray to the snow god, your fun depends on it.
Weather :
Weather was variable with strong, blusterly wind and driving snow on the upper reaches of most runs. However, the lower runs and nursery areas were o.k. so long as you avoid the ice patches!! Visibility also poor at times making boarding fairly hazardous!!
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Majority of runs open were ok with patches of decent snow especially later in the day However, the upper reaches of some of the runs (eagle especially) were at times treacherous to say the least with substantial ice patches lurking often out of site. This made boarding difficult in places. Beginner areas were good with ample snow cover on most runs. All lifts apart from Buzzard and snow school able to operate should demand require it. Access road from Tomintoul was passable with care. h but don't all on the icy patches, it hurts!
Weather :
Cloudy and wet in Aberdeen.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Just a brief message to say that there has been a temporary fix to the problem of getting a new paragraph in a report.
Lets hope for lots more snow soon!
Alan.
Weather :
Blue sky, sun! Yes really! I was warm while boarding with just a tee shirt under my jacket!
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Not much snow left around the resort but the slopes on one side of the valley aren't too bad by the afternoon. I was snowboarding and found the nursery slopes ok'is
Weather :
The weather was good with light winds and sunny spells
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Is it not amazing that the Lecht,despite being the lowest in altitude, has been able to keep open most of its runs during this spell of 'mildish' dry weather ! However, as it hasn't snowed properly since the beginning of December, the constant cycle of drizzle and frost has led to a hardening of the snow-pack which is not much use for us boarders. I have never before witnessed such quantities of blue ice developing on the runs which I found out to my peril.
Weather :
It was super fine quality, Nickolas Stephen Whittaker
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Again super fine quality
Weather :
Pishing with Rain . Misty . Freezing Level 7000 ft . High winds Conditions couldn't have been worse
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Only VERY small patches of snow left . Basically back to square one . Need a big dump to save the season .
Weather :
Pishing with Rain . Misty . Freezing Level 7000 ft . High winds Conditions couldn't have been worse
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Only VERY small patches of snow left . Basically back to square one . Need a big dump to save the season .
Weather :
Mostly clear, with occasional blustery showers at the top. Pretty cold with very good visibility
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
There was plenty of snow on most of the upper runs, but thinning out as we approached the day lodge. Icy patches formed just about everywhere. Infact given that the excellent snow conditions don't just fall overnight but take at least a week, I cannot help thinking that the Cairngorm management must be hibernating until they hear the first vehicle approaching the resort. Why do I think this???? Out of a possible ten ticket windows, only four were staffed - why? Queuers for snowboards weren't told there were no more snowboards until the last snowboard had been hired - why not???? An indecently long queue for skis and boots suffered the same fate - why??? The 'feeding stations' up on the mountain were vacated by the cattle - citing some EU law about un-bovine conditions. The various tee-bars, chairlift and tow-bars at the foot of The White Lady were all stopped within minutes of each other due to time, leaving up to a hundred skiers having to ski down to the day lodge, instead of down the M2, then across to take the chairlift down to the bottom car park. Why?? Because the tee-bar had broken. Apart from these man-made balls-ups, nature provided some excellent conditions - there must be a moral there somewhere! Come on Scottish Skiing Incorporated, get your act together and actually make sure your punters get their money's worth because of you - not despite you!!
Weather :
Fine
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Just thought that I would the fact that the west wall is complete the odd rock is there but in most cases are visible from above. Small bumps appearing near the top. Return to either the poma or chair is a bind but no hassle compared with some other seasons.
Weather :
Blue Sky , No wind , Very Very Light snow showers , Good Visability Temp sub zero all day .
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
All runs open , mountain white . Excellent jumps at top of the Harrier run . Beginers areas were also in good condition ( wide and soft cover ) . All runs had 2 inches of fresh snow . The queues were not too desperate on main slopes but beginer runs were packed . Plenty snow between the fences and possible to ski most areas outwith fences . Snow was fresh with occasionally patches of ice lurking below . In conclusion : Excellent skiing
Weather :
2nd - white out, windy 3rd - clearer, some light cloud cover, bitterly cold 4th - very clear, good visibilty, cold
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
The first day gave great boarding conditions(apart from the visiblity!) with loads of fresh up on the top areas around the ptarmigan. The skies cleared on friday and the snow crisped up a bit, leading to icy patches later in the day, particularly on the narrower runs like the M1 and M2, but there was still loads of good boarding to be had. Saturday was the probably the best, great visibility enabling some off piste riding in the ptarmigan area and fresh to be found near the m1 traverse area. Georgous sunset too! All in all, it was greta boarding up there, with plenty of snow but probably too many people (it took one hour to get the chairs up to the top on saturday morning!)Add the fact that you can drink a pint of Guiiness in Chevvys after you come off the slope, I would highly recommend the Cairgorm experiience. Lesley B.
Weather :
Morning:- Started bright with clear skies, cold with light easterly wind Afternoon:- Remained cold with light E wind. Clouded with cloud level down to 2500 feet.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Top run: In good condition with light covering on fresh snow on firm base. Snowgoose: Limited cover to main gully and very icey in parts. Others: Alpha dry slope tow running Limited traverse areas open but thin in places LOTS OF ROCKS - WATCH YOUR BOARD
Weather :
Occasional light snow showers, with heavier late evening snow. Winds mostly light-moderate easterly. Even got to see the sun now and again. Freezing at all levels, all days.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Cairngorm Very busy all days. Top car park full by 9.15, bottom (Ciste) car park (almost) full by 11.00. Queues bad, but at least most of the uplift was working, if not all the runs open. Some of my friends had nightmares hiring kit (moral: get it in Aviemore or elsewhere if it looks like it will be busy), and the ticket office had only a couple of ticket machines working one day (40 minutes to get a lift pass). Runs were mostly good, although the steeper and more popular runs were quickly losing the thin layer of fresh snow. The Ciste gully was soon scraped clean, but the White Lady and M1 not too bad. Good wide cover above 3000ft for touring.. but don't be tempted off-piste by the White Lady.. nice powder but theres no base! Managed to christen my new skis on a particularly pointy bit of rock. Runs below the mid-station thin though, with heather and rocks still lurking around. Fiachail ridge run shut as well, although the poma was open for access. West Wall shut for some reason.. despite it being in excellent condition (...so a 'friend' told me...). Overall, the best skiing I've had at this time of year for many a year. However, whilst its been cold, it hasn't been that snowy, and the gullies (eg Lurchers) still lack a good depth of snow at lower levels. Lecht Quieter than Cairngorm (especially on New Years day) with a wide cover at all levels. Still some heather showing between the fences, but good skiing 'off-piste' when the steeper pistes had been scraped clean of fresh snow. Easy runs in much better condition than Cairngorm.. nice packed powder. Valley Cover There is a couple of inches in the valley around Aviemore, but still not quite enough to go touring on. This almost runs out completely down the A9 at Drumochter before starting again near Perth. Not much snow below 2000ft anywhere in fact. All roads clear. Basil (half a brain.. half a binding..)
Weather :
Light winds in the morning getting strong in the afternoon. Visibility excellent
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
All runs complete, some icy in places. Depth of snow generally good on the runs. The artificial snow system seems an excellent investment. Areas normally icy had a covering of snow. Eagle has major icy bit in the middle (as per usual), but softened in the afternoon. The Eagle run to the left of the poma (as you go up the slope) had good snow, but some serious ice at the bottom. One Buzzard run was in good shape though icy in places. Falcon also looked good, but didn't ski it. All beginners slopes open with wide good cover. Sharpen those edges!
Weather :
Some sunshine in the morning but generally overcast from noon. Windy and very cold for much of the day. Sporadic v.light snow falls.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
{SUMMARY: Icy on many runs but with soft snow over-lying. Some fun skiing but lift queues terrible - if you can wait for the schools to go back, DO!} Hard-packed base in most areas but with a couple of inches of new snow. There was some very nice skiing to be had (once the legs warmed up) on most runs. I don't know which runs were closed but whichever they were, they weren't obvious (i.e. you could ski in most places). Still plenty of ice around due to the lack of a good (deep) dump of new snow. Ciste Gully very mogulled now, so lots of thrills! Despite the ice patches there was still enough real skiing (as opposed to skating) for all skill levels. The main problem was the lift queues - OK, so this close to New Year what can you expect? But I got to the bottom of Aonach to be told they were shutting it to piste the track - why not close the run at the top first to reduce the crush for the only remaining chair? Not smart CSD. So plenty of challenging & fun skiing but lift queues terrible. And if you think I am moaning unfairly, go to Europe and see how they move people up mountains there! Tony T(elemark).
Weather :
Dry, bright & sunny in the morning. Patchy cloud in afternoon with occasional light snow flurries. Cold all day, very cold in brisk easterly breeze.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
First trip out this season for me and well worth the effort. Conditions at Cairngorm were fairly good, especially for this time of the year. Although most of the lifts were open by no means were all of the runs (I'd estimate 60 - 70% open). The snow is generally good, especially on the top of the hill and in Coire Cas, but generally thin from the middle of the hill downwards. The Ciste side of the hill in particular needs more snow. As for the runs, those open were all full width but thin, especially lower down. The White Lady is complete but thin and suffering from it's popularity. The M1 is good but icy in places and was much quieter than the White Lady (probably why it's in better condition). Rocks and clumps of grass showing through at the bottom of both these runs. The runs in Coire Cas were in good nick. Ciste gully was complete but difficult and getting back across to the tows/chair isn't easy due to lack of snow. Most other middle runs on the ciste side were closed/not worth the effort due to lack of snow. Best way back Cas car park was via the M2 (in good condition) and the Daylodge (icy at bottom) runs. Enough snow for a good day's skiing, especially if it's quiet and you haven't got to wait in lift queues (which were well in evidence in the afternoon). William.
Weather :
Light Winds, Snow showers, clear intervals throughout the day
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Snow conditions very good in the morning getting icy in the afternoon. South side of Buzzard had best snow of all. All lifts open At least one pair of skis stolen from cafe area
Weather :
Very cold in the morning (severe wind chill on the West side) but warmed(!) up a bit after lunch. Mixture of dull overcast conditions with snow flurries plus periods of brief sunshine. Wind light for most of the day. Some fabulous views.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
{SUMMARY: Plenty of skiing available for all standards.} Good snow cover compared to this time last year offering some good skiing. Spent most of the day on the West side of the hill so have little info. on the lower lift numbers. Most runs appeared complete although the snow was thin in a few places - the dark spots in the snow are as likely stones as oil from the drag line, so be warned! Both car parks full so a busy day, but lift queues were moving quite well. The Fairway (13) was good and just right for shaking off the rust. Ciste Gully was interesting but very icy so edge with care! M1 was good but icy on the steeper sections. There was new, dry (squeeky) snow in most places but watch the steeper lines for ice underneath - a perfect time for the telemark. The final run down the M2/Day Lodge was superb but, again, watch the ice. A good day for most I think. Tony T(elemark).
Weather :
Dull and cold (allegedly).
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Slightly unfair as this is info. passed on from a (reliable!) friend. Cover limited and icy in patches. Some stones etc. poking through so glad I wasn't there from the sounds of things. Very quiet I understand and whilst skiable, probably not worth the drive. More snow coming in from the east as I type this but (as usual) it might burn out in England before it hits us. Will submit a first-hand report this week if I can be bothered to face the ice! Tony T(elemark).
Weather :
Generally overcast, with few light snow showers. Below freezing above mid-station
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Most runs have very hard base, with mixture of loose and new snow. Corrie Cas runs excellent, sugary at the bottom. M1 has very good cover but quite icy and a little hard on these old knees. White Lady very narrow with lots of bumps and again quite icy. Best run on the mountain is the M2, which has a quite hard cover full width to the the Link poma. The run from the Link to the West Wall poma is narrow but worth the effort . The best route from top to bottom is via the M2 and Link to the Car Park. On Sunday I never queued all day, the snow was pretty good, and it was my first skiing of the season and I feel on top of the world.
Weather :
Warm, not too windy, good visibilty.. even saw the sun a few times. Almost quite 'pleasant'!
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Ciste, Fiacail ridge closed and lower runs definately on their way out. But the rest were good, if a little thin in a couple of places especially the White Lady. The base on the open runs was fairly deep and should survive the current thaw. The mild weather meant for soft snow.. just the biz with Tele skis. Out of the area.. The plateau is complete, but bare along the ridges in the usual places.. a couple of friends skied down to Loch Avon and back OK. Lurchers is also complete, but looking narrow after the thaw. All in all the best early December skiing I've seen for many a year. Basil 'half a brain - half a binding'
Weather :
Very Windy! But reasonably sheltered at the bottom. Freezing level rising through the day to above summits by lunchtime. Low cloud/fog at times.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Snow cover quite good, particularly between the fences. All runs mostly full width with reasonably deep cover. The base should survive the current thaw. Outside the fences its still fairly bare though. Basil 'half a brain- half a binding'
Weather :
pretty wet, with intermittent light rain. top sections were in mist, visibility was good in the mugs alley area below the 1-man chair
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
All runs bar the flypaper were open. Most of the tows were working, the exception being the pomma next to the top T. Snow cover was good, although as the day went on the snow got wetter and wetter. the majority of people up there were boarders, and the place was 'going off', as i believe the saying goes.
Weather :
Rain, some snow and very, very gusty winds.
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Falcon, Grouse, Eagle, and Osprey Pomonas all operating. Buzzard operating intermitantly. Thin cover at the lower end of all slopes with mud patches peeking through. Not a lot of people around and the weather was closing in at 5pm. Looked like more snow. Snow type: damp granular snow over a thin hard icy base. There was a blizzard at Glenshee at 5pm.
Weather :
Mostly rain, some snow on the highest ground. Very windy
Snow Conditions & Other Info :
Eagle and Buzzard are the best but both are now patchy after slight thaw at the weekend. Best day was Friday, when the sun was shining and there was plenty snow.
Weather : Cold here in Aberdeen. <
Snow Conditions & Other Info : No this is not a report...
Just a message to let you know that the reports server is now up and running for this season. To avoid problems with reports being unreadable, this page no longer uses pre-formated text, but this means just entering a blank line will not begin a new paragraph. This is the next fix.....
Alan Mackay.