Patroller’s Blog “A Winter’s Tale”
I think the Christmas Snow Cannon fairie took pity on the lonely little snow cannon sitting at Cairngorm and decided to send tons of snow to the Mountain so he did not have to work over Christmas.
As a result we now have great snowcover on the hill and light winds forecast over the next few days so we hope you all have a great Christmas Day and hope to see you on the slopes again on Boxing Day and over the holidays
We had a look at the Ridge track but probably need a little bit of drifting to get it going, we should have the Sheiling Poma on for Boxing Day. We had a mishap with the West Wall Poma rope with a couple of strands being broken, but the boys are working flat out to splice in a repair and it will be up and running as soon as we can. There is still some great first tracks to be found off piste and the main trails have great cover, with a great run down the M2 and Day Lodge
We still intend to have the cannon fired up soon to see how it performs and see where it can best be utilised.
I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year and it is a great season for all the Ski Centres
Cheers
Colin
December 24th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Colin,
I was up on Wednesday and I was very proud how you and your team rallied to get the hill open. There is so much snow up there and I think we are all lucky to have this snow over the festive period.
Had a great laugh barrel rolling down the Lady and picking my way down the M1 with no visability. But I am sure you are all going to have that snow pisted down soon so it stays that little bit longer.
Again a big thanks to you all and all the best over the Chrsitmas and New year period!
David
December 24th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Colin, Merry Christmas to you and your crew from a happy punter.
I’ve just had three great days at the Gorm, enjoying pistes and some wonderful powder from lifts that worked (most of the time). I think I need to get myself some fatter skis to make the most of the deepest stashes.
There has been a great atmosphere on the hill throughout, loads of happy faces on those folk who chose to get out there and enjoy some of the best early season conditions I’ve come across in years.
December 26th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Merry Xmas Colin - not up today because I’m at my brother’s in Ullapool but conditions look absolutely stunning; to quote a ski instructor I know who works in the Alps “better than most of the alps at the mo I think” - how about that!!
Will be back tomorrow, can’t wait!
December 26th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Yeah thanks Roger awesome day today, some of the best powder we have had for many years , i never new one littlw snow cannon could produce so much snow:0) Off to find some freshies er i mean check the pistes.
Later
Col
December 26th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
What a day. So over the moon we were able to enjoy some of the best powder turns we’ve ever had on the hill. Long may it continue! Thanks to all involved in getting the hill open.
December 27th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Happy Christmas Colin. Boxing Day was awesome!!
Great if you can get Day Lodge and West Wall lifts running. Has the splicing on the wwp been a success?
December 27th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Thanks Paul
Back on the splice this morning after we get everything open. Ran the DLP yesterday, some big dips on the lower track but might be able to slide it if the machine cant get in.
Will update with progress later.
Colin
December 28th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Any news on the WWP?
December 28th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
oops m1 poma breakdown looked terminal! whats the craic? - new motor?
December 29th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
The Miracle workers played a blinder last night with a little help from the red bull fairie -All Good
Cheers
Col
December 29th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
hi colin
are you getting the polar express or sheilling platter up and running?
December 29th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Hopefully tomorrow Martin, now all the major breakdowns have been fixed, the guys should have more time.
Cheers
Colin
December 30th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Hi Colin,
Well done to you and all the team - especially the fitters. Great to have the WWP and the M1 running. Had a great day.
Noticed the fence line on the M2 has changed slightly so the gap to get into the Aonach is much smaller and has more overlap - missed it first time. If this weather keeps up though it will become irrelevant as the fences have almost disappeared under snow :-).
Noticed you’ve opened up a run the train side of the elephant fence and closed off the train track with poles and ropes - great idea as there is often snow down there.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Thanks Dave, Yes it was a great effort from the team in baltic conditions.
Myself Adam , Ian W and Brian worked till 5.30 am the other morning to get the West Wall ready and a great Job by Ian Pentland and the apprentices to get the M1 fixed by about 11.00pm. There were also sparkies patrollers and Lifties de icing ropes and counter weights.
Snowing like stink at the moment with whiteout at the top. If we can get open it should be fantstic, but the wind could be an issue with all the snow that is lying around. The forecast for New Years day is looking good though.
Cheers
Col
December 30th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Colin, was up at Cairngorm yesterday (Tue 29th). Fantastic snow conditions and skiing, despite the pretty horrendous queues! Great off piste available back to the lower Ciste car park. Congratulations to all the staff. You said you had over 3000 visitors yesterday and felt as though you were at full - or overflowing - capacity.
let’s hope the snow conditions continue into the New Year …
David
December 30th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Hi Colin
What a fantastic effort by the team. It would be good if their efforts could be written up in the Strathy - too much is taken for granted, and CML has had some bad press recently in the Strathy etc, quite a lot being based on fallacy/fabrication.
Maybe the wind will be for the best long term - fill in/flush off any gullies not already filled. Don’t think I’ve ever seen so much snow at Christmas.
Something completely different - some of the non-funicular users are grumbling about the possibility of having to pay to use the car park as the council clears it - what is the true story? I thought CML cleared the CP and the council to the Hayfield but who does the bit inbetween?
December 30th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Thanks Guys, its good for the team to get some good feedback amongst all the moans and groans but hey that’s life,we can only do the best with the resources and infrastructure we have.
Andrew, CML are responsible for clearing the road from Glenmore gates up and also the Car Parks, although it is a council road. The council give us a 100 tons of salt a season then we have to pay for the rest. the council also supply us a snow blower for when the road is really bad.
I think the idea for car park charges would be mainly for the summer when people do not spend any money with us, so we can get some money back to help maintain the Car Park.
Cheers
Colin