Click on Thumbnail to view larger images. Click on Title for Image Index.
Ski School hard at work!
Looking down the Main Basin.
Skiers in the Main Basin.
Top of the upper tows looking north towards Ben Nevis.
Sledge Park is still full length and great fun in the sun.
The shallow gully on Old Mugs Alley was giving very nice skiing on Thursday.
Heading for the Plateau Cafe on Old Mugs Alley.
View from the Plateau Cafe, which can be reached on snow from the top of the Rannoch Chair, so no need to walk up from the Access Chair!
Lunch with a view at the Plateau Cafe.
Telemarking in the Main Basin, most people were traversing out into Happy Valley above here, but Island Rock Gully had the best snow!
Upper leg of Mugs Alley from top of the Cliffhanger.
Might not look pretty, but you can get to the Plateau Cafe on snow from the Rannoch Chair which is running for access.
Click on Thumbnail to view larger images. Click on Title for Image Index.
Displayed: Images 1 to 12 of 12
Report
A classic spring day and both a bit brighter and warmer than Wednesday, but the drier air meant anything not in the direct sun was firm (either hadn't softened or quickly skinned over again) above about middle of the mid mountain.
The main action is on the upper mountain, with the Main Basin and Happy Valley being the place to start in the morning as both are being groomed. Then it is a case of trying to follow the sun to hit other parts of the upper mountain at the optimum time! Speak to ski patrol for the latest info.
Where as yesterday the Wall was the best route for advanced riders to get down the mid mountain and near the Plateau Cafe, today it was via Old Mugs Alley now that it is possible to get all the way from the top of both the Cliffhanger Chair and Rannoch Chair to the Plateau Cafe on snow.
Elsewhere mid mountain the Wall this afternoon was a bit meh compared to yesterday, firm and rattly at the top, more sort of breakable crust where the best snow was yesterday, then more classic granular spring snow lower down. The Wall caught the most new snow before the mild spell, so this is mostly fairly new snow, so as it consolidates and undergoes freeze/thaw cycling, it may improve each day again.
While the Cliffhanger and mid mountain are primarily for access to. / from the upper mountain, there were a fair few people lapping the loop via Old Mugs Alley from the Cliffhanger Chair.
Glencoe is best suited to more confident intermediate and above skiers and snowboarders at this time. For sightseeing visitors there will be some fantastic views while the weather holds and the sledge park at the Plateau Cafe is open daily.