Glencoe, Sunday 23rd April

Glencoe is still going. After a storm-bound Saturday the weather eased slightly for Niels and and I to head for Coe. All lifts were open providing access to spring snow conditions on all runs. Spring run was best, Flypaper fun. Thrombosis had a nice gully exit to jump and the run down Etive Glades and the Wall was a real thigh burner.

Weather was pretty good, warm and light winds. Passing cloud, but a majority of sun.
Epected to warm up but maybe the snow could last another week or so. Here's hoping.

Glencoe, Monday 17th April

Easter Monday! It's been a while since Coe could boast at being open at this time of year. But the news was not all good. Today was forecast 15-30mph winds I thought since it hadn't lived up to this the last few times, I'd risk going up. I sat in the car as it rocked side to side in the wind. Eventually I braved the Access Lift to find fresh snow coming down (horizontal actually). The snow actually is improving, a little soft at the bottom of the Plateau, but still increasing on upper mountain.

Looks like more wind next weekend, I may try Friday. But I'd really like to see Coe get into May, and the way things are looking it could do it. So long as the thaw predicted next Sat isn't too severe.

Glencoe, Saturday 15 April, 2006

Glencoe is still holding on with a good cover of snow all over the hill. Wet conditions with spring snow, slightly less wet higher up where showeres are more wintery. Visibility above Mugs Alley was very poor but the snow was better.

Winds once again were not a problem, but this is probably why the clouds didn't move on and remained with us for the rest of the day.

All in all it's great to see Coe open till Easter. It looks like a few Atlantic lows shall be coming in mid week followed by colder weather toward the weekend, slowing the thaw. Can we make it to May? Better not push my luck!

Glencoe, Sunday 9th April

Again hopes were not high today, thought we'd make it a half day. When we did get up there we arrived in the middle of a typical white out and getting caught out by the huge drifts that had formed earlier. This only lasted half an hour though and low and behold the sun made an encore, which lasted the rest of the day.

Spring Run was awesome, full of pow, nice and steep. Main Basin was fun with jumps and the Canyon was excellent . We did the whole hill, several times.
This weekend has been the best I have seen in Scotland. What a recovery and it looks like the base may last beyond Easter.

Glencoe, Saturday 8th April

Forecast was possibly windy, but Coe were promising 4ft of snow. The trees were swaying at 6.30am but the sun was starting to show through. Loch Lomond side was lashing with rain, Crainlarich was dumping snow up till Rannoch Moor, but at the Ski area the sun came out and the the wind was not an issue.

Although not 4ft all over (some were over!) the powder was in plentiful supply. The conditions were the best I have seen in Scotland. What's more there were no queues. People are either ignorant and/or lazy at this time of year and do not realise it is by far the best time to shred. We also played the Kinder Challenge, who has the most complete chocolate egg at the end of the day. I won! Jon broke his doing up his bindings at the first lift.

Glencoe Forecast

Saturday 8th April. Expected to open with 4ft of fresh snow on a firm base. Make fresh tracks this weekend awesome boarding conditions.

http://ski.visitscotland.com/

Saturday 8th April BBQ at Coe

News from Coe. Does anyone fancy a trip up there at the weekend?

Open 7 days. WEDNESDAY 5TH APRIL. Fresh snow on an icy base on all slopes. Lower slopes narrow and thin in places. Continuing snowfall improving conditions SATURDAY BUDWEISER BBQ AT THE BASE CAFE FROM 3.30. .. GRAB A BURGER AND A BUD AND JOIN THE PARTY!!!!!!

Michael.

Glencoe, April 2, 2006

Similar conditions to previous entry. Although it was better than forcasts had predicted. Slightly colder surface snow which must have been frozen the night before. Softening lower down. Also seemed to have a light dusting of fresh snow.

Once again only really the top was worth any attention. When visibility was good, Fiona and myself thought Etive Glades was a great run, so much so we missed the return to top t-bar and ended up going down near Wall T-bar. Thrombosis was fun, avoiding top of mugs alley which was worn.

Glencoe, March 27, 2006

Good old Scottish 'White-mare' conditions. The top of the hill was enveloped in a Föhn due to the very warm conditions. Must have been around 10 degrees C. Lots of water rushing off all the hills due to warm temperatures. Lower runs were broken including mugs alley. Main Basin was holding together well, did not stray too far from that due to visibility.

Conditions did not look promising this Monday morning as Gareth and myself headed up to Coe. Drizzle in the carpark just became mist as we got higher. Soft spring conditions with lots of slow 'sucky' patches. The home run down the plateau, although thin was fast and good fun. This could be the last day of the season unless we get colder conditions.

Glencoe, March 19, 2006

A bit of cloud cover with some sunny spells. Slightly warmer with a touch of spring/slushy snow. Not too wet though. Still good coverage with all lifts running. Etive Glades and Happy Valley again proving to be the best runs. Crust gone and slow spring type conditions prevail. There was the odd snow flurry in the afternoon.

Jon and Fiona joined me on the slopes today. High altitude training and the previous weeks boarding help keep me going to the end of the day. Let's hope we don't lose the cover so we have a few more weeks of sliding.

Glencoe, March 17, 2006

Crisp blue sky, around freezing. Hard pack, crust and some soft stuff. Another great day at Glencoe. Good coverage with the Etive Glades and Happy valley providing great cruising runs.

Fiona and Deirdre up after texting me on arrival back from holiday. Decided not to go in and spend this Friday up at Coe. This was definitely the right move. Scotland had received a good dose of the white stuff, leaving the towns at a standstill earlier in the week.

Photos

Breckenridge, Colorado, USA.

March 8, 2006

One week in Colorado with 2-3 metre base covered with packed powder. Breezy up top and snowy spells, 2-3 inches each night. Perfect piste absolutely nothing to be said against the conditions. Bluebird on the last day with some epic riding, jumps and rails in the small park.

Breck, is a very nice resort, with a rider friendly hill. Nothing to push you really apart from the severe effects of altitude. Being left breathless after doing up your bindings isn't a good sign. 9.5 hour flight also leaves you a bit knackered.

Photos