J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Snow Time

Tony_H wrote:But I would not plan to spend a weeks holiday skiing in Scotland, or consider buying a holiday property close to the slopes there.

As Pablo has already said, you are right that the snow cannot be guaranteed. However, it is more likely that the wind, rather than lack of snow, would ruin your week.

Just remember, a long weekend skiing in the Cairngorms in March will be much nicer that mowing the lawn in middle England. )

ise wrote:I think you're mistaken in thinking that English Tour Operators are anything other a minority in most ski stations, particularly in places like St Anton

I wasn't talking about any nation's tour operators, only tour operators in general. If you enquire about room availability, either by telephone or online, at larger hotels in any ski resort in Austria, France or Switzerland you will find very few (including St Anton because I have just tried 3 hotels).

Having tried to arrange a DIY skiing holiday in the past the problem seems to come when booking the larger hotels which, as Ian says, tend to be booked up by the TOs.

Many smaller hotels and guest houses can be found on the Internet but you are taking a gamble unless they come with a personal recommendation. Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.co.uk) is good for getting an honest opinion on a hotel.

The first real snow fell on 2nd October 2008 and blue run skiing was available at Cairngorm from 6th December through until Sunday 12th April. Three green skiing runs are still available but are not included below.

This season Scotland saw 127 days where there was enough snow for skiing but the wind (which can be a problem at any ski resort) reduced the number to around 90.

The Lecht had a lull in January due to high temperatures, but Cairngorm, and I believe Nevis and Glencoe, were available throughout the season. Cairngorm could have opened a few days earlier if the Funicular had completed its annual servicing earlier.

I may appear (and probably am) a little protective over the skiing available in Scotland but this is mainly due to ignorant comments in the media.

Bearing in mind I only ski at weekends, and only one day not both, I skied 14 times this season. There were at least another 4 or 5 weekends when I could have skied but other commitments took priority.

I also NEVER turn up at Cairngorm without checking the forecast, and because my kids are new to skiing, rarely go out when the wind is forecast to be greater than 20 mph. Only once this season have I skied when the wind been greater than forecast but the ski conditions have been great each time.

This is all based on personal experience, not a perception generated by the media. :D

225 cm of snow left on the upper slopes of the Lecht - I think they must mean peat, not snow!

I understand your point regarding investment, but just because snow cannot be guaranteed, it does not make Scotland a poor place to go skiing.

With pretty good 7 day snow and weather forecasts available online, anyone in the UK can be in the Cairngorms within about 11 hours (or only 6 hours from Manchester). This makes a long weekend or even a week's short notice holiday in Aviemore perfectly feasible.

I completely agree with Pablo on this one; although none of the Scottish ski resorts can guarantee snow, there is usually excellent skiing available from January to March or April. As Pablo has said, this year was good but not exceptional, although the snow in February was amazing.

There are plenty of European resorts that can be hit and miss, and unless you get above about 6-7 thousand feet you are always taking a risk. There are thousands of people caught out in Italy and the lower French resorts each year with poor conditions, having paid significantly more than you would in Scotland.

For me, the skiing in Scotland is excellent and very reasonably priced. A week's skiing this year at Cairngorm was only £146, which is a fraction of the price of most European resorts. For those of us that live close to the snow, a season pass for next year is only £265!

Just for the record, I also ski abroad but go for the higher resorts (Alpe D'Huez).

Glenshee is fine but like the Lecht the season finishes early. Cairngorm is much more likely to have snow later in the season, and by the end of March into April the car parks are much quieter.

Skied Cairngorm until mid-April this year. The intermediate runs are just about finished but the green runs still have a week left which is perfect for kids and beginners.