Skiing Aviemore
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Friday, December 23rd, 2011
Like icing on a scrumptious carrot cake, little flakes of snow have already started to dust the mountaintops in the Cairngorms National Park. High street shops are stocking up on down jackets, ski poles and snowboard boots and a mere mention or photo of snow on Aviemore and the Cairngorms Facebook page prompts hundreds of “likes” and gleeful comments of expectant joy! That’s right folks winter is on its way and with it a whole host of winter sports, exciting events and celebrations.
This month, What’s On turned up the heating, settled down with a mug of gluhwein and started to watch re-runs of Ski Sunday in preparation…. oh and we researched and wrote about some of the best things to do in the Cairngorms National Park during the winter months!
Snowholing and Winter Skills
The Cairngorms, protected from Gulf Stream warmth, are universally recognised as providing the most consistent snow and ice conditions. They’re Britain’s highest mountain range, Scotland’s high arctic and home to our most permanent snow beds. However, most of all we must remember that the conditions on these stunning mountains can change in a blink of an eye and that we have to have the upmost respect for them. That’s where winter skills come in! The most important aspect of getting out into the hills, at anytime of year but especially winter, is to be experienced and to be prepared. With plenty of courses going on around the Park there is no excuse not to be prepared when facing the mountains and the environment.
In addition, we are so lucky to have loads of experienced guides and instructors who will take you on guided walks across these stunning landscapes and teach you how to build your very own evening accommodation – a snow-hole! Made from cutting into the snow rather than building the blocks of an igloo, a snow-hole can become quite a cosy way to spend the night, but you must know what you are doing before you start to build your very own snowy Sistine Chapel!
Skiing and Snowboarding
This winter marks an incredibly important milestone for two of our resorts – Cairngorm Mountain and Glenshee. Cairngorm is celebrating 50 years of mechanical uplift and Glenshee 50 years of being an official resort. Celebrations will include a retro ski patrol day, a photo competition resulting in a memory exhibition, and a ceilidh. Both mountains have seen hundreds of thousands of people ski and board down the pistes since the winter of 1961-1962 – including Olympic champions, families happy to occupy the host of slopes and the new generation of freestyle skiers and boarders.
With over 90km of pisted runs across the National Park and heaps of off-piste terrain to explore (we’ll come to that later!) there is something for every skier and snowboarder to enjoy.
Recent research into the history of mechanical uplift at Cairngorm Mountain led me to a fascinating piece published in The Scotsman newspaper on December 23rd 1962. The reporter wrote how the ski road (finished the winter before) put paid to the three and half mile trudge up the mountain from Glenmore Lodge and that the new Cairngorm chairlift would save legs even more. Although he concedes a “walk to stretch and warm up the legs from the car park to The White Lady Shieling, the new centre of the resort, would still have to be accomplished!”
Since then, the resort has gone on to much bigger and better things and Glenshee, to mark their 50-year anniversary, will be opening their brand new chairlift this winter. It seems that as long as we have snow, there will always be a passion for snow-sports in the UK’s largest National Park.
Ski Touring
If you would, however, prefer a quieter jaunt into the wilderness than that of the busier pistes then ski touring may well be the sport for you.
If you’re a parallel skier with a decent level of fitness, it is possible to ski the original way – and experience that blissful tranquility. However, it does involve skiing up a mountain…. The idea is that you attach special grippy skins to your skis in order to prevent yourself sliding backwards. When you eventually reach the top of your mountain, you take them off and ski down. There are many guides within the Park who will lead you on a journey over untracked, unpopulated off-piste routes that penetrate the mountainscape. Many people see it as skiing as nature intended – elevating, sustainable and a great calorie burner.
So this winter, why not check out the Visit Cairngorms website for a list of activity providers and experts that run snow-holing, mountaineering, ski touring, winter skills and ice climbing classes. In addition, why not try out Nordic skiing, snow-shoeing or ski joring this winter – the winter sports list in the Cairngorms National Park is endless!
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Tags: aviemore, Cairngorm, cairngorms national park, glenshee, lecht, ski, snowboard
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
Scotland’s five mountain ski areas report another good snowsports season, with close to 290,000 “skier days”, the measure which allows one season to be compared with another and is the basis for calculating the value of the industry for the country.
“This figure is around 25% ahead of the average for the previous three seasons, which included the outstanding season of 2009-10,” said Chair of ski-scotland Heather Negus. “That season was amazing, and we knew that we’d be unlikely to match it, particularly given the exceptionally warm spring weather in April.”
Excepting the 2009-10 “mega season”, the latest results are the best for a decade, and are good news not only for the snowsports areas themselves, but also for businesses in the locality. Using currently available data, from November 2010 until April 2011, at least £29M was spent by skiers and snowboarders, of which around £22M was spent in local accommodation, eateries, pubs, shops, attractions and filling stations.
“Of course, the ski season lasts all year round in Scotland,” continued Heather, “as SNO!zone, Scotland’s other real snow ski area, is open 364 days of the year, so you can even ski on real snow in the summer holidays!”
ski-scotland’s short film commercial can be viewed on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynjBOVm2pXo
Posted in aviemore, aviemore activities, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, skiing glenshee, skiing lecht, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, snowboarding glenshee, snowboarding lecht | No Responses »
Tags: cairngorm mountain, glenshee, ski, ski cairngorms national park, ski scotland, snowboard, the lecht
Friday, May 13th, 2011
Have a look at this video if you need a little help imagining the beauty of and fun to be had in the Cairngorms National Park or just if you need a wee reminder!
Just click on the Cairngorms National Park link below:
Cairngorms National Park Video
For more information visit the Cairngorms National Park website
Posted in Accommodation Aviemore, aviemore, aviemore activities, aviemore hotels, Boat of Garten, cairngorms, canoeing, canyoning and gorge walking, Carr Bridge, festivals, food, Golf, grantown on spey, kayaking, Kingussie, laggan, loch morlich, mountain biking, music, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, picnic aviemore, restaurants, Shinty, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, Strathspey Steam Train, walking aviemore, watersports, Weather | No Responses »
Tags: activities, aviemore, cairngorms national park
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
The skilful grooming work which has kept skiing going at CairnGorm Mountain (they are still skiing at the resort) has been rewarded for one member of staff in particular. Pisting machine driver Adam McInnes has been selected by German piste machine manufacturer PistenBully to be a coach at their 2011 park camp at Silvaplana near St Moritz in Switzerland next month. The course will be attended by piste groomers from resorts around the world who will come in groups of 20 per day to test new equipment and be coached on how to operate it. Adam first caught the eye of PistenBully two years ago when he was invited to go and work with them on secondment to assist with a two-and-a-half month contract at Mount Ruapehu in Whakapapa, New Zealand’s biggest ski resort. His skill at the helm of the Winchcat machine acquired by CairnGorm Mountain at Christmas has not gone unnoticed at home either by the skiers who enjoyed outstanding conditions on the White Lady this season.
In addition to coaching professional drivers, Adam who lives in Carrbridge will be supervising members of the public and groups from businesses who will be coming to try their hand at pisting on team-building days in Silvaplana.
Commenting on his selection to coach on the course Adam said: ‘This is a great opportunity for me to share my experience with drivers from resorts around the world and to pass on what I have learnt operating pisting machines at CairnGorm and in New Zealand.’
CairnGorm Mountain which has had over 120,000 skiing visitors this season expects to continue to offer skiing in the Cas and Ptarmigan areas of the mountain up to and including Easter Monday, but not beyond then. Sledging is likely to be available until then as well and the Volcom rail jam for snowboarders is also being held this Saturday. Non-skiing visitors have been taking advantage of the recent fine weather too to travel up on the funicular to enjoy the mountain panorama from the viewing terrace at the top station.
Posted in aviemore, cairngorms, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm | No Responses »
Friday, January 7th, 2011
FANTASTIC SNOW CONDITIONS AT CAIRNGORM THIS WEEKEND
SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports every day weather permitting. All uplift should be operating except for the West Wall Poma and all areas of the mountain should be open except for the West Wall and Gullies. It is however possible to ski down Coire Laogh Mor. The forecast for the next couple of days is for some more snow showers with a mixture of cloud and sunshine and some excellent visibility but it will be quite windy at times. Pisted runs are skiing really well with fresh pisted powder on a firm base.
TICKETS AND PRICES
Our day skiing ticket prices are £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.
If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, the quickest ways to get onto the slopes are:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore (01479 811711)
2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk which can be found on the left hand corner of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers.
3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or present your voucher book there and exchange a voucher from it for a day ticket.
Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts. Snowboarders must use a safety leash at all times on CairnGorm Mountain.
SEASON TICKETS
If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office but you may have to queue to collect it at busy times – be prepared.
HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy so please bear this in mind.
PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks.
The enhanced public bus service – see timetable attached will run 3 times hourly (with the first bus up at 0630 and the last bus down at 1810) between Aviemore and CairnGorm Mountain Car Park until 9 Jan inclusive. Normal fares apply to this service. Look out for no. 34 on the front of the buses. Thereafter the public buses will revert back to their usual timetables. We are always keen to encourage customers to use the public buses as they will drop them right at the entrance to the ticket office next to the Base Station. Shuttle buses which are free will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.
AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a considerable avalanche risk.
OPENING TIMES The ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.
Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.
INSTRUCTION
The Ski School still has availability for group and private lessons. To book a lesson please call 08455 191191. Please only leave one message on this line. The Ski School will get back to you as soon as they can. Please also try to give a few days‘notice if you are phoning to book a lesson as they are extremely busy, or call in person a day or two beforehand.
DISIBILITY SNOWSPORTS UK
DSUK help people with disabilities to take part in snowsports by providing lessons for anyone with a disability. Their Adaptive Snowsports School is now beginning 7 days a week at CairnGorm from January until April. Prior booking is essential. To book one on-one instruction call 01479 861272 or email skischool@disibilitysnowsport.org.uk.
SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.
SLEDGE PARK
The Sledge Park will open whenever conditions permit. Please check at the ticket office if the sledge park is open before buying your funicular ticket to get there. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.
MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 8th January: Wind N or NW 20mph although in morning possibly 30mph gusting 45mph. A few snow showers, cloud may be widespread above 900m but will become patchy with some sunshine. Poor visibility in snow but otherwise very clear air with superb visibility. Temp at 900m -3C to -5C. Freezing level mainly at sea level.
Sunday 9th January: Wind NW 35mph gusting 55mph and easing toward 25mph. One or two snow showers possible. Intermittent cloud at 1000m, intermittent sunshine and very clear air. Temp at 900m -5C. Freezing level at glen level.
Outlook: Cold with some snow showers for a few days, but becoming milder and windier with a thaw of lying snow.
Every day
Great shopping in the Mountain Shop and the Shop at the Top. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm.
Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.
Posted in cairngorms, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, Weather | No Responses »
Tags: aviemore, Cairngorm, cairngorm mountain, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, scotland, ski, Skiing, sledging, Snow, Snowboarding, Snowsports, Weather, Winter
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR ON THE SLOPES OF CAIRNGORM
SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports on New Year’s Day and every day thereafter weather permitting. All uplift has been operating today and all runs have been open except the Ciste gullies. The forecast for the next couple of days is for moderate winds but largely dry and cloud-free with excellent visibility so we will open everything we can weather-permitting. Pisted runs are skiing really well but off-piste is still pretty hard and the avalanche risk there is considerable.
TICKETS AND PRICES
Our day skiing ticket prices are £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.
If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, there are quicker ways onto the slopes:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore (01479 811711)
2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk which can be found on the left hand corner of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers.
3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or present your voucher book there and exchange a voucher from it for a day ticket.
Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts. Snowboarders must use a safety leash at all times on CairnGorm Mountain.
SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets and will review the situation at the end of next week to consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office. However please be prepared to queue if you come to collect it over the holiday period.
HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy which we expect to be over the course of the next ten days.
PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks.
There has been a modification to the timetable for the enhanced public bus service it will run 3 times hourly (with the first bus up at 0630 and the last bus down at 1810) between Aviemore and CairnGorm Mountain Car Park. This service will run until 9 Jan inclusive. Look out for service no. 34 on the front of the buses. We would encourage customers to use this as it will drop them right at the entrance to the ticket office next to the Base Station. Normal fares apply to this service. Shuttle buses which are free will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day until 9 Jan.
AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a moderate to considerable avalanche risk.
OPENING TIMES Throughout the holiday period the ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.
Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.
INSTRUCTION
The Ski School is busy but still has availability for group and private lessons. To book a lesson call 08455 191191. Please only leave one message on this line. The Ski School will get back to you as soon as they can. Please also try to give a few days‘ notice if you are phoning to book a lesson as they are extremely busy or call in person a day or two beforehand.
SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.
SLEDGE PARK
The Sledge Park will open whenever conditions permit. Please check at the ticket office if the sledge park is open before buying your funicular ticket to get there. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.
MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 1st January: Wind N 20-25mph. A few scattered snow flurries but largely dry with sunshine and excellent visibility. Temp at 900m -3C. Freezing level 300m.
Sunday 2nd January: Wind N 15-20mph. Isolated snow flurries. Little cloud, extensive sunshine and excellent visibility. Temp at 900m -5C. Freezing level at sea level.
Outlook: Milder conditions and westerly winds with rain spreading southwards followed later in the week by the return of cold conditions and fresh snow showers.
Every day
Great shopping in the Mountain Shop and the Shop at the Top. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm.
Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.
Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.
Posted in aviemore, cairngorms, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, Weather | No Responses »
Tags: activities, aviemore, Cairngorm, cairngorm mountain, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, food, restaurant, ski, Skiing, sledging, Snow, Snowboarding, Snowsports, Weather, Winter
Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be closed on Christmas day but open for snowsports on Boxing Day and every day thereafter weather permitting. The forecast for 26th however is for strong winds on tops which may limit what it is possible to open but we will open everything we can weather-permitting
TICKETS AND PRICES
Our day skiing ticket prices are £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.
If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, there are quicker ways onto the slopes:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore(01479 811711)
2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk at the Disability Snowsports UK office which can be found on the right hand side of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers.
3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or voucher book.
Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts. Snowboarders must use a safety leash at all times on CairnGorm Mountain.
SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets until the end of December. We will review the situation then and consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office. However please be prepared to queue if you come to collect it over the holiday period.
HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy which we expect to be over the next two weeks.
PARKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks. We have also arranged for a greatly enhanced public bus service to run 3 times hourly (from 6.35am up to 18.10 down) from Aviemore to CairnGorm Mountain Car Park. This service will run from 26 Dec -9 Jan inclusive and the timetable for it is attached. We would encourgage customers to use this as it will drop them right at the entrance to the ticket office next to the Base Station. Normal fares apply to this service. Shuttle buses which are free will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day until 9 Jan.
AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a moderate to considerable avalanche risk.
OPENING TIMES
Throughout the holday period the ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.
Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.
INSTRUCTION
The Ski School is busy but still has availability for group and private lessons. To book a lesson call 08455 191191. They will also be running ‘Rudolf’s Revenge ’2-day courses for children aged 5 and under 27-28 and 30-31 Dec.
SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.
SLEDGE PARK
At the moment it is too icy to open the Sledge Park, however we hope to have it open over the holiday if conditions permit. Please check at the ticket office if the sledge park is open before buying your funicular ticket to get there. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.
SEARCH DOG DEMOS
For non-skiers we will be running search dog demos by the lovable lurcher Moudy and his handler David Benson on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th Dec at 11.00am. Meet in the T bar upstairs from the Cas Bar. Demonstrations last approx 40 mins and are free but donations to the Scottish Search and Rescue Dog Assosiaction are welcome. Wrap up warm for these outside demos.
MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 25th December: Wind NW 20mph. Dry, cloud free with patchy sun and good visibility. Temp at 900m -3C. Freezing level sea level, all terrain frozen.
Sunday 26th December: Wind 30-50mph gusting 90mph on tops and ridges. Snow developing later. Cloud increasing and lowering as day progresses. Weak sunshine and some good visibility turning hazy. Temp at 900m -4 to -2C. Freezing level at sea level, all terrain frozen.
Outlook: Upland gales, pockets of freezing rain. Cloud confined to higher summits. Little sun but good visibility. Dry weather with overnight frost returning later in the week.
Every day
Visit the Christmas shop in the Mountain Shop next to the Base Station for lots of gift ideas. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm. Great shopping in the Shop at the Top in the Ptarmigan as well. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories.
Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.
Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.
Posted in aviemore, aviemore activities, cairngorms, food, restaurants, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, Weather | No Responses »
Tags: aviemore, Cairngorm, cairngorm mountain, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, ski, Skiing, Snow, Snowboarding, Snowsports, Weather, Winter
Friday, December 17th, 2010
SNOWSPORTS CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports this weekend. The forecast is looking good (good overhead conditions but cold) and there is now good snow cover over the entire hill with skiing available from top to bottom. We expect to run all uplift other than the Polar Express.
TICKETS AND PRICES
Full price tickets apply; £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers for £102.40 (juniors £61.60) are also on sale online or at the Ticket Office. They can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used.
If you don’t have a season ticket and you do not need to hire equipment, there are quicker ways onto the slopes:
1. Buy tickets at Aviemore Ski & Board Hire in Aviemore (01479 811711) 2. Bring cash (we don’t have an ATM machine on site) and pay at the cash only desk at the Disability Snowsports UK office which can be found on the right hand side of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This desk handles adult, junior, senior, student, family (2+2) day tickets only. It does not handle ski hire, 2 day tickets, discounts, credit cards, afternoon tickets or vouchers. 3. Buy online and take your booking reference to the Ranger Base to exchange it for a day ticket or voucher book.
Please be ready to show your ticket to the lift operator at all lifts
SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets until the end of December. We will review the situation then and consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased, but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may collect your pass from the Ticket Office. However please be prepared to queue if you come to collect it at the weekend and over the holiday period.
HIRE
Ski Hire will be open every day from 8.30am at CairnGorm, so you can hire any kit you need but there are also several places in Aviemore where you can hire. We can sell out of hire by mid morning when we are very busy.
PARKING AND TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks. 2 shuttle buses will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day at the weekend and then from Friday 24th December and throughout the holidays.
AVALANCHE RISK
Off-piste skiers please beware there is still a moderate to considerable avalanche risk.
OPENING TIMES The ticket office will open at 8.30am with the first train up at 9.00am, possibly later depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm. These hours will apply from now and every day throughout the Christmas holidays, including Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. We are closed on Christmas day.
Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.
INSTRUCTION
Ski School will be running group and private lessons every day from Saturday. They have also added an additional ‘Rudolf’s Revenge’ course on the 30th and 31st December. To book a lesson call 08455 191191.
SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors are running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.
SLEDGE PARK
At the moment it is too icy to open the Sledge Park, however we hope to have it open for Christmas. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.
MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 18th December: Wind E 20mph. Snow showers, mainly eastern Cairngorms. Extensively cloud free summits except in snow. Bright sunshine at times. Visibility ranging from superb to zero in snow. Temp at 900m -8C. Freezing level sea level, all terrain frozen.
Sunday 19th December: Wind E 10-20mph. Snow showers mainly east. Intermittently cloud free but cloud base 750, occasionally 500m if snowing. Bright sunshine at times, visibility often superb but very poor in snow. Temp at 900m -7C. Freezing level at sea level, all terrain frozen.
Outlook: Terrain across all mountain areas frozen until at least Boxing Day. Substantially dry with frequently light winds. Much milder air will approach western Britain, and probably penetrate into or across Britain just after Christmas, bringing a thaw.
Every day
Visit the Christmas shop in the Mountain Shop next to the Base Station for lots of decorations, cards and gift ideas. More stock arriving each day. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm. Great shopping in the Shop at the Top in the Ptarmigan as well. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories.
Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.
Eating and drinking: Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.
Posted in Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, Weather | No Responses »
Tags: activities, aviemore, cairngorm mountain, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, food, scotland, ski, Skiing, Snow, Snowboarding, Snowsports, Weekend
Friday, December 10th, 2010
SNOWSPORTS
CairnGorm Mountain will be open for snowsports this weekend. There is now good snow cover over most of the hill and skiing is available from top to bottom although a few bare patches are appearing on the lower slopes. The uplift we expect to run this weekend is: Funicular, Ciste, Ptarmigan, M1, Cas, Sheiling, Car Park and if possible the West Wall Poma.
TICKETS AND PRICES
Full price tickets apply this weekend, £30.80 for adults, £22.50 for seniors and students and £18.50 for juniors. 4-day vouchers will also be on sale. There will be a cash only window available at the Disability Snowsports UK office which can be found on the right hand side of the Day Lodge as you look up the hill. This will be selling full price adult, senior, junior and student day tickets only. It will not be handling two day tickets, discounted tickets, vouchers or hire. Students need current ID. Please have your cash ready as we expect to be busy. 4-day vouchers and internet booking vouchers can be exchanged for day tickets in the Ranger Base.
SEASON TICKETS
Please note that we have suspended the sale of season tickets until the end of December. We will review the situation then and consider whether we put any more tickets on sale. If you have already purchased but not yet uplifted a season ticket you may do so from window 4 in the ticket office but if you are doing this on Saturday or Sunday be prepared to queue for some time to collect it.
HIRE
Ski Hire will be open from 8.30am at CairnGorm this weekend, so you can hire any kit you need.
PARKING AND TRANSPORT
Get here early if you want to be sure of getting into the Cas car parks. 2 shuttle buses will be running between the Ciste and Cas car parks throughout the day at the weekend. Off-piste skiers please beware there is still an avalanche risk on the Coronation and Head Walls.
OPENING TIMES
The ticket office will open at 8.30am on Saturday and Sunday. First train up will be 9.00am possibly earlier depending on weather conditions. Last train up 3.30pm. Last train down 4.00pm. Lower lifts will open from 8.30am and lifts will start closing from 3.30pm.
Cas Bar and Mountain Shop will open daily from 8.30am until 4.30pm
Ptarmigan open daily from 9.00am until 4.00pm.
4 Day Snowsports Vouchers
We are now selling snowsports vouchers. A book of 4 adult vouchers costs £102.40 (juniors £61.60) and can be used on any day throughout the season until the end of April 2011 but only one voucher per day from each book can be used. An ideal Christmas present or stocking filler!
INSTRUCTION
The Ski School have availability for beginners ski lessons only on Saturday. There is no lesson availability on Sunday. Private lessons only will be available Monday-Friday this week. From 18th December both private and group lessons will be available. To book a lesson call 08455 191191.
SKI AMBASSADORS
Our volunteer ski ambassadors have now taken up their duties which include running free guided tours of the hill daily at 11.30 and 2.00pm. Meet them on the top platform at these times if you want join one of these tours. They wear bright yellow jackets.
SLEDGE PARK
Weather-permitting we hope to open this on Sunday but please check with ticket office first if you are planning to go up on the funicular to sledge. Only CairnGorm Mountain sledges may be used and they can be hired in the Shop at the Top for £5 per half hour session.
MOUNTAIN WEATHER OUTLOOK
Saturday 11th December: Wind NW 45mph gusting 60-70, easing to 35-55 later. Some cloud lifting and clearing to give good visibility and bright sunshine. Rain unlikely. Temp at 900m
1 to -2C. Freezing level mostly above summits.
Sunday 12th December: Wind N 10-20mph. Rain unlikely. Cloud from 1000 -1200m. Some sunshine breaking through. Temp at 900m -1C. Freezing level 750m.
Outlook: Light winds, some snow flurries, sunshine and fine dry weather until Wednesday before colder air brings severe frosts and substantial snowfalls.
Every day
Visit the Christmas shop in the Mountain Shop next to the Base Station for lots of decorations, cards and gift ideas. More stock arriving each day. Open daily 10.00am to 4.30pm. Great shopping in the Shop at the Top in the Ptarmigan as well. Look out for clothing, skiing essentials, fabulous gifts and accessories.
Exhibitions 10.00am – 4.30pm
The Big Freeze exhibition of photographs taken by staff from last winter is on display in the T Bar and on the stairs up to it and in various other locations. Many of the pictures are for sale.
Euan Baxter, local photographer and snowsports enthusiast is displaying his collection of winter photographs Vanishing Tracks in the Ptarmigan Restaurant (closes 4.00pm) until the end of December. Inspired by 30 winters spent in Strathspey, Euan is transfixed by the beauty of these months and the ever-changing conditions. Mounted and framed prints are on sale.
Eating and drinking
Hot rolls are back being served in the mornings in both the Cas Bar and the Ptarmigan Restaurant to get you warmed up ready for skiing. Delicious home-baking can be found every day in our restaurant and cafe bar, and hot meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients in the mountain-top restaurant. ‘The Chocolate Mountain’, a huge concoction of hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream beckons in both locations. Or enjoy a mulled wine at the end of the day to help soothe the aching bones.
Posted in art exhibition, aviemore, aviemore activities, cairngorms, food, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, Uncategorized, Weather | No Responses »
Tags: activities, Cairngorm, cairngorm mountain, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, food, scotland, ski, Skiing, sledging, Snow, Snowboarding, Snowsports, Weather, Weekend, whats on, Winter
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
Recent heavy snowfall has meant an early start to the Scottish ski season, and it looks like the three ski areas based in the Cairngorms National Park will, once again, be welcoming a host of visitors over the winter months – all with high expectations of another season full of good snow conditions. But what of the regions après ski?
Visit Cairngorms, the tourist body behind the UK’s largest National Park is aware that visitors have to banish all ideas of a ski holiday in the Alps from their minds so has launched an app-rès ski for the iPhone geared towards visitors wanting to know what’s on when they have finished a day on the slopes.
Chief Executive of Visit Cairngorms, Alan Rankin, said: “Cairngorm Mountain alone welcomed more than 2,500 skiers– the highest number for November for a decade and last year there was an incredible 373,782 ski days to be had. We know that skiing in Scotland is vastly different from skiing in the Alps, but the main villages and towns do have great après ski nights and events taking place throughout the winter months – you just have to know where to go and what’s on as we are rather more spread out than your traditional ski resorts. With this in mind we launched the world’s first National Park iPhone app , which gives tourists the most up-to-date information on what events, live music and special offers are taking place around the entire Park.”
In addition, the app informs visitors as to whether the ski areas are closed due to bad weather conditions and suggests other things to do and see on a visit to the region. Alternatively, if good conditions and weather are forecast visitors can make their way up to the Cairngorms National Park and book last minute accommodation as they travel via the special offers button.
Mr Rankin continues: “There are days when the ski roads are blocked or the conditions are too bad to ski – just as there is in resorts across the world – but we wanted to make it easier for tourists visiting the area so the iPhone app ensures they get the latest information as they are on the move. Equally, the special offers aspect allows folk to leave work and head straight to us – booking their accommodation on the way! As with every destination in the UK we are encouraging the increasing popularity of the staycation – we have the perfect setting and the activities and attractions up here, it’s simply our job to make holidaying in the Cairngorms National Park easier, more accessible and fun for our visitors. And as for après ski – the Scots are renowned the world over for putting on a good party atmosphere so in my mind there is no better place to be!”
The Cairngorms App gives the user the opportunity to search for restaurants, cafes activity providers and attractions closest to them wherever they are in the Cairngorms National Park. It will also tell the user how far away they are from any one business as well as giving them information on the company, Visit Scotland star ratings, contact information to make a booking and a link to the inbuilt Maps App giving them directions to where they are aiming to go. It is fed by a database of over 1200 listings and choices for the visitor and, like the website www.visitcairngorms.com, gets the customer to the business fast. It identifies the users location and then provide through Google Maps directions and a live map tracking their progress to the selected business. The app also provides directions by car, train or on foot to the chosen business.
The project is supported by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Northern Periphery Programme funded Clim- ATIC Project,
For further information on the I-phone App or the Cairngorms Business Partnership, please contact Charlotte Kissack at Rock Solid PR on 01479 810695/0783 487 1707 or email charlotte@rocksolidpr.co.uk
Notes to Editors
- Alan Rankin is available for interview, please contact Charlotte Kissack at Rock Solid PR on 01479 810695 or email charlotte@rocksolidpr.co.uk
- The Cairngorms Business Partnership was launched in April 2010 to give a stronger and more equal voice to the wide range of businesses in the National Park. It now has more than 300 member businesses.
Posted in aviemore, aviemore activities, cairngorms, food, music, Skiing Aviemore, Skiing Cairngorm, Snowboarding Aviemore, Snowboarding Cairngorm, Weather | No Responses »
Tags: aviemore, Cairngorm, cairngorm mountain, cairngorms, cairngorms national park, iPhone, iPhone App, scotland, ski, Skiing, Snow, Snowboarding, Snowsports, Weather, whats on, Winter
