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Current Page: 145 of 145
CairnGorm Mountain - Fri 3rd Jan 1997
Posted by: Guest at 16.46hrs on Sat 4th Jan 97
:: Snow Cover
Most Terrain has Good Cover.
:: Surface Conditions (out of 5)
3
:: Weather Conditions
Dry, bright & sunny in the morning. Patchy cloud in afternoon with occasional light snow flurries. Cold all day, very cold in brisk easterly breeze.
:: Snow Conditions & Info
First trip out this season for me and well worth the effort. Conditions at Cairngorm were fairly good, especially for this time of the year. Although most of the lifts were open by no means were all of the runs (I'd estimate 60 - 70% open).

The snow is generally good, especially on the top of the hill and in Coire Cas, but generally thin from the middle of the hill downwards. The Ciste side of the hill in particular needs more snow. As for the runs, those open were all full width but thin, especially lower down.

The White Lady is complete but thin and suffering from it's popularity. The M1 is good but icy in places and was much quieter than the White Lady (probably why it's in better condition). Rocks and clumps of grass showing through at the bottom of both these runs. The runs in Coire Cas were in good nick.

Ciste gully was complete but difficult and getting back across to the tows/chair isn't easy due to lack of snow. Most other middle runs on the ciste side were closed/not worth the effort due to lack of snow. Best way back Cas car park was via the M2 (in good condition) and the Daylodge (icy at bottom) runs.

Enough snow for a good day's skiing, especially if it's quiet and you haven't got to wait in lift queues (which were well in evidence in the afternoon).
:: Riders
William.

CairnGorm Mountain - Fri 3rd Jan 1997
Posted by: Guest at 13.44hrs on Sat 4th Jan 97
:: Snow Cover
Most Terrain has Good Cover.
:: Surface Conditions (out of 5)
3
:: Weather Conditions
Some sunshine in the morning but generally overcast from noon. Windy and very cold for much of the day. Sporadic v.light snow falls.
:: Snow Conditions & Info
SUMMARY: Icy on many runs but with soft snow over-lying. Some fun skiing but lift queues terrible - if you can wait for the schools to go back, DO!

Hard-packed base in most areas but with a couple of inches of new snow. There was some very nice skiing to be had (once the legs warmed up) on most runs. I don't know which runs were closed but whichever they were, they weren't obvious (i.e. you could ski in most places). Still plenty of ice around due to the lack of a good (deep) dump of new snow. Ciste Gully very mogulled now, so lots of thrills! Despite the ice patches there was still enough real skiing (as opposed to skating) for all skill levels. The main problem was the lift queues - OK, so this close to New Year what can you expect? But I got to the bottom of Aonach to be told they were shutting it to piste the track - why not close the run at the top first to reduce the crush for the only remaining chair? Not smart . So plenty of challenging & fun skiing but lift queues terrible. And if you think I am moaning unfairly, go to Europe and see how they move people up mountains there!
:: Riders
Tony T(elemark).

CairnGorm Mountain - Tue 31st Dec 1996
Posted by: Guest at 13.50hrs on Thu 2nd Jan 97
:: Snow Cover
Most Terrain has Good Cover.
:: Surface Conditions (out of 5)
3
:: Weather Conditions
Very cold in the morning (severe wind chill on the West side) but warmed(!) up a bit after lunch. Mixture of dull overcast conditions with snow flurries plus periods of brief sunshine. Wind light for most of the day. Some fabulous views.
:: Snow Conditions & Info
{SUMMARY: Plenty of skiing available for all standards.}

Good snow cover compared to this time last year offering some good skiing. Spent most of the day on the West side of the hill so have little info. on the lower lift numbers. Most runs appeared complete although the snow was thin in a few places - the dark spots in the snow are as likely stones as oil from the drag line, so be warned! Both car parks full so a busy day, but lift queues were moving quite well.

The Fairway (13) was good and just right for shaking off the rust. Ciste Gully was interesting but very icy so edge with care! M1 was good but icy on the steeper sections. There was new, dry (squeeky) snow in most places but watch the steeper lines for ice underneath - a perfect time for the telemark. The final run down the M2/Day Lodge was superb but, again, watch the ice. A good day for most I think.
:: Riders
Tony T(elemark).

CairnGorm Mountain - Sun 15th Dec 1996
Posted by: Guest at 13.53hrs on Mon 16th Dec 96
:: Snow Cover
Mostly Skiable - Some Areas Thin/Narrow
:: Surface Conditions (out of 5)
3
:: Weather Conditions
Generally overcast, with few light snow showers. Below freezing above mid-station.
:: Snow Conditions & Info
Most runs have very hard base, with mixture of loose and new snow. Corrie Cas runs excellent, sugary at the bottom. M1 has very good cover but quite icy and a little hard on these old knees. White Lady very narrow with lots of bumps and again quite icy.

Best run on the mountain is the M2, which has a quite hard cover full width to the the Link poma. The run from the Link to the West Wall poma is narrow but worth the effort . The best route from top to bottom is via the M2 and Link to the Car Park.

On Sunday I never queued all day, the snow was pretty good, and it was my first skiing of the season and I feel on top of the world.

CairnGorm Mountain - Sun 8th Dec 1996
Posted by: Guest at 13.54hrs on Tue 10th Dec 96
:: Snow Cover
Mostly Skiable - Some Areas Thin/Narrow
:: Surface Conditions (out of 5)
3
:: Weather Conditions
Warm, not too windy, good visibilty.. even saw the sun a
few times. Almost quite 'pleasant'!
:: Snow Conditions & Info
Ciste, Fiacail ridge closed and lower runs definately on their way out. But the rest were good, if a little thin in a couple of places especially the White Lady.

The base on the open runs was fairly deep and should survive the current thaw. The mild weather meant for soft snow.. just the biz with Tele skis.

Out of the area.. The plateau is complete, but bare along the ridges in the usual places.. a couple of friends skied down to Loch Avon and back OK. Lurchers is also complete, but looking narrow after the thaw. All in all the best early December skiing I've seen for many a year.

Basil

'half a brain - half a binding'
:: Riders
Basil

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