Glencoe Thursday 24th January

After a thaw some snow eventually started falling. It's been all over UK, apart from West of Scotland. Really once again only the top was really worth riding. Main Basin had soft in the middle but ice and rocks were a constant threat. Skiers right of the top tow had some nice wind packed powder. But again rocks would bite you if you we're not careful.
Not too cold and winds were light. Probably why the clouds hung about. Was supposed to have 80% chance of sun but spent all day In cloud.
Still did lots of runs and finished with last lift.
Looking forward to more snow though.

Scotland Outdoors

That's me that is, in the title banner.. Looks like Glencoe dishing out my photo. I don't mind. 

Scotland Outdoors

Glencoe 21st April 2012

Well, over the last week I've been watching the weather from my office with interest. The webcams have been teasing me with late season snow reviving Glencoe Mountain Resort.
They opened midweek but were dissappointed by the numbers showing up.
Saturday looked promising. Most of the drive up was sunny but as usual, on arrival I saw the cloud was sitting on the top of the mountain.
The top t-bar was running. However the uptrack was super gnarly. Even came off once. It was littered with base grinding rocks and occasionally lifted you by the crotch over some of the many dips.
Mustn't complain though. This is the first chance to slide since Chamonix in February. No Scottish snow the whole of March!
Despite visibility being poor the snow was actually pretty good. Etive Glades, top of Happy Valley was fun with soft buttery spring snow. The rocks were taking their toll and a few runs later I was finding my heelside turns were dragging. If I plan to go up tomorrow I'll need to get the sandpaper and p-tex out.
Wasn't cold and wind was minimal. I swear I saw midges on the slopes!

Going to sleep on it and maybe head up again tomorrow. Beggars can't be choosers.

Chamonix February 2012

Not been a lot happening this spring largely due to the lack of snow. Only three days in Scotland, a tragedy.
Anyway to make up for it I thought I'd post the video Tony Marsh made. A photographer, he was part of the large group that spent three days exploring the Chamonix Valley during one of the coldest spells it had seen in a while.
Snow conditions were excellent and fun was had despite -20 C. Judge for yourself.

Glencoe 11th April 2010

Up early to make the most of the great sunny Spring conditions. A long
warm day with the same conditions as the day before. Many in T-shirts,
some even in shorts. 20 degrees and soft snow to play in. It doesn't
get much better. Main Basin starting to mogul slightly. Spring Run was
great fun but care had to be taken cutting under the flypaper, closed
due to unstable snow. Mugs alley was becoming increasingly broken.
There was a great spirit on the hill. Smiles all around and continued
classic spring snow conditions. Let's hope it continues into May.
Fingers crossed.

Glencoe 3rd April 2010

Had car for Saturday, but not Sunday, although Sunday did look the better. Driving up through the rain things looked gloomy. There had been good snowfall during the week and the base had filled in giving a much needed top-up. Overhead conditions were grim. As was becoming familiar with Glencoe this season visibility was zero. Usually optimistic ticket office staff predicted it would clear up. I new better though. Once the mist has a hold here, it rarely lets go. Snow was great however. A few runs at the top did not provide much in the way of fun, so I decided to stay low and shred around Mug's Alley. It wasn't too busy, despite the Easter Holiday. Towards the end of the day snow returned, low down it was very wet and mixed with rain. Hopefully we'll see what's left hang on till May, but temperatures are due to increase so we'll have to wait and see if we get some of those classic sunny spring days at Glencoe.

Glenshee 4th March 2010

Gareth, Jon and myself took Thursday off work and headed to an icy but sunny Glenshee. Started the day off with a cooked breakfast in Blairgowrie and arrived at Glenshee bathed in warm winter sun. Started off with the Tiger black run, rocks and grass poking through and plenty of moguls. Didn't do a good job of it but probably not the best choice for first run of the day. Should have wondered why no-one else seemed to be attempting it. Over the back on Meall Odhar was great with packed powder and nice gulleys to play in. Huge cornices too, hanging formidably above the corries. A great day in the sun and a continuation of a great season so far. Wide coverage but not a great depth of snow. Heavy traffic areas scrubbed down to ice.

Glencoe, Sunday 28th February 2010

The previous Thursday & Friday saw a huge snow fall making Glencoe the snowiest resort in the world (according to Glencoe). The whole lift system needed dug out overnight and the road cleared of drifting snow. We thought it would be better to wait till the Sunday even though they did manage to open for Saturday.
Once up there it was a bit misty but midway and lowdown it was nice and clear.
Using my new board setup we made short work of Happy Valley, Main Basin and the home run down to carpark.
Etive Glades and Flypaper were closed due to avalanche risk. The previous Friday two skiers were airlifted from Etive Glades after triggering an avalanche there. The week before this had been a powder playground.

Glencoe, Wednesday 17 February 2010

The day before the webcams for Glencoe were showing blue skies and fresh snow. It was quickly decided to take Wednesday off work. The weather report made good reading with 60% chance of sun. The day however started foggy and cold. On reaching Tyndrum the snow started coming down heavy. The road conditions got very sketchy. The car park at Coe was quite busy and we were soon up the hill. Snow was still falling and the top of the hill shrouded in mist. Visibility was poor but the snow was exceptional. Etive Glades was full of untouched powder, absolutely phenomenal riding! Rannoch Glades was tricky with few reference points. The bottom slope falls away and as I lead the group down I found the slope breaking away and the small slab avalanche took me down the slope. Having cleared the slope of loose snow I persuaded the others to follow. Looking back up I could see them sitting above the break in the snow. It was quite a drop.
Visibility improved lower down and many more runs on Etive Glades were inevitable.
A great day and the best snow I've had at Coe for a while. Not too cold, but cold enough to keep the powder fluffy.

Glencoe, Sunday 7th February 2010

Headed up to Coe with Jonathan, they journey was overcast but due to brighten up. On approach to the ski hill you could see the profile of the mountain with small cap of cloud on top. The hope was for this to lift. The reality was that it would get thicker. Throughout the day it became more of a 'white-mare'. But, the wind was non existent (the reason why it didn't shift).
The snow however was great and we carefully picked our way down the main runs at the top as well as Mugs Alley. Spring Run and Flypaper were closed. No doubt to stop people wandering off the wrong side of the mountain. A distinct possibility. On the lifts you could not see as far as the next pylon. Soft snow and another win for me in the Kinder Surprise challenge although I did break mine eventually when I lent over to do my bindings.

From Glencoe 7 February 2010

Glencoe, Saturday 23 January 2010

No photo today I'm afraid, after driving all the way up last weekend for a half day and being chased away by the weather, I got up to Coe bright and early to make the most of fair conditions in the West.
Cairngorm was still being dug out as I drove up early taking care on very slippery roads.
It had been a cold night so once up the hill I found Mugs Alley, the run from Plateau to Cliffy very hard ice. Once up the top at Main Basin though, most of this was softer, Etive Glades too was very nice at the top. Spring Run however stayed in the shade and never really softened, but cover meant Thrombosis was available amongst the very wide coverage.
Conditions deteriorated a bit in the afternoon, only slight mist though. Calm winds and wide coverage with short queues meant everyone had a good day.
Still could do with a bit more depth though. I'm sure that will come though. It's still early days for the season.