Latest posts for the topic "Cairngorm "

Cairngorm

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 22:07:33 GMT

I quoted this straight from snowheads, am I allowed to do that? Absolutely awesome...

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=58026

scottishskier wrote:First day of the season for me yesterday. Took the day off work at the last minute and headed to Cairngorm.

Driving up the road was spectacular. Loch Morlich at Dawn

First train up and straight to the White Lady. Fresh tracks all the way. Only one set of tracks from the day before. Continued to lap this 5 times before another sole ventured down!

More fresh over towards the M1. Getting a little tracked out...

Time to head further afield. Skinned up the Marquis Well to the summit of Cairngorm and into the sun.

Fantastic views from the top across the plateau. Excellent snow cover for the time of year.

Down the west face of Caringorm and up towards Sneachda. Looking into Coire an-tSneachda.

Coire Raibert and Cairngorm from Sneachda summit.

Hmm... time for something a little steeper. Looking into Alladin's couloir.

First pitch after the split between Alladin's and Jacob's. Perfect snow, 2" fresh on a hard but grippy base.

Not too banked out yet, giving interesting skiing with a small ice pitch to negotiate.

Out into the appron. Fantastic snow.

A slog back to Coire Cas via the Fiacaill ridge and back onto the lifts.

Back onto the lifts for a few laps then another skin up to the summit for sunset.

Skiing down the Coire Cas headwall after sunset. Cracking way to end a great day.

I just hope the snow doesn't all melt now. The weather is not looking great this week too. :( Heres hoping we get many more days like this! :)

Re:Cairngorm

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 22:18:56 GMT

That is just really good ski conditions. Why can't Michael Fish predict stuff like that?

Re:Cairngorm

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 22:31:00 GMT

Looks amazing! Why weren't you there Pabs?

Re:Cairngorm

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 23:15:24 GMT

Deadlines, had a report to complete and hand in (no digital submission). Off bar a few classes this coming week and 2 exams in January, until February 8)

Re:Cairngorm

Sun, 6 Dec 2009 00:11:44 GMT

Pablo
Brilliant pics of a great skiing day. Have experience of climbing up Aladdins Couloir back in 2008 & I can tell you that the bottom short ice pitch next to the head wall is tricky to negotiate with crampons & ice axes never mind skis. The top pitch was lovely to climb through & can see why it makes for an obvious line to ski down, whole area can be prone to avalanche. Next time I visit Cairngorm Jacobs Ladder is on the list to climb.
Definitely got me thinking about reaching that level of skiing & mountain craft to be able to get down grade 1/2 gully's.

Finn

Re:Cairngorm

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:32:21 GMT

Finn wrote:Pablo
Brilliant pics of a great skiing day. Have experience of climbing up Aladdins Couloir back in 2008 & I can tell you that the bottom short ice pitch next to the head wall is tricky to negotiate with crampons & ice axes never mind skis. The top pitch was lovely to climb through & can see why it makes for an obvious line to ski down, whole area can be prone to avalanche. Next time I visit Cairngorm Jacobs Ladder is on the list to climb.
Definitely got me thinking about reaching that level of skiing & mountain craft to be able to get down grade 1/2 gully's.

Finn

Found a funny video from the above trip, the youngsters in the vid are responsible for it ever getting published. Im the one exiting Aladdins Couloir in a blizzard. Winter in the mountains, good times. 8)

Finn

Re:Cairngorm

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:44:22 GMT

Well, Finn, I really enjoyed that. The joy of youth is shared with that of all ages.

Re:Cairngorm

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:26:15 GMT

Cairngorm is getting a snowcannon from Austria :D

http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/read.php?2,111084,page=1

Re:Cairngorm Snow Cannon

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:18:53 GMT

I'm surprised that this has not raised any comments. I think it is a good idea, but they need more than one!

Re:Cairngorm

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:45:16 GMT

AFAIK it is just a 'test'. Hopefully it is successful and they go for more.

Alan on Winterhighland keeps records of when snow making has been theoretically possible for each season.

Re:Cairngorm

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:55:52 GMT

Pablo Escobar wrote:AFAIK it is just a 'test'. Hopefully it is successful and they go for more.

Alan on Winterhighland keeps records of when snow making has been theoretically possible for each season.

It makes good sense to invest in the snowmaking especially after the huge invest made to build the funicular. Look forward to seeing the results from testing.

Finn

Re:Cairngorm

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:36:36 GMT

I had my first trip of the season to Cairngorm yesterday and conditions were perfect. Blue skies and no wind - is was fantastic. Unfortunately the snow line stops just above the Sheiling station so White Lady was closed.

Went back today and it was miserable; the vis was down to 50 metres in sleet. For beginners the Ciste Fairway is excellent but the Ciste Bowl is very icy and I wouldn't recommend it. 105 and Cas were good but the M1 and Gunbarrel are also icy making them quite tricky.

The forecast for this week is good so we'll hopefully have some more pictures like Pablo's posted soon.

Re:Cairngorm

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:40:05 GMT

Just to make it clear, not my pics (to avoid any confusion) 8)

Re:Cairngorm

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:17:53 GMT

You should have made it clear in your original post .......... oh you did. I should have read your original post properly! :oops:

Re:Cairngorm

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:21:11 GMT

I did a 10 hour round trip a week last Saturday for 5 hours skiing, there was only the M1 Poma open it was so windy at the Ptarmigan you could barely stand at times, there was zero visibility, there was spin drift blasting your face and it was raining at the middle station.

I loved every second of it, it is a unique experience "combat" skiing in Scotland I recomend it to everyone, it will put hairs on your chest!!!