Author Topic: The Ski Locker thread (Read 127046 times)

Jakob · « **Reply #700 on:** 12 September, 2020, 05:03:32 am »

So, apparently we're going to have a La Nina this year, which would normally be good news, but with Covid and me, not even being certain I'm going to be in the province, I'm not sure if I should buy passes or not.
The border to the US is likely to remain closed, which should mean that Whistler might actually be worthwhile, so I'm leaning towards breaking my embargo on Whistler and getting a 5 day pass. Whistler will run a reservation system, so there will be a cap on how many people can be on the mountain. (Again, actually making it worthwhile to go)

My local hills are likely going to be overrun by locals in higher numbers than ever and with distancing restrictions, the line-up are going to be terrible, I suspect.

Ham · « **Reply #701 on:** 12 September, 2020, 08:05:02 am »

For the first time in about 30 years, Clan Ham will not be skiing over Christmas

Jakob · « **Reply #702 on:** 12 September, 2020, 08:20:23 am »

The alternative would be to finally get that avalanche course done and start going backcountry...but that would require another $2k+ in new gear.

hatler · « **Reply #703 on:** 12 September, 2020, 09:46:13 am »

Due to hols getting cancelled x2 I should be able to carry some leave over to next year, which means a ski tour could be on the cards, assuming the huts are open of course.

CommuteTooFar · « **Reply #704 on:** 13 September, 2020, 12:57:29 pm »

I have decided not to book anything until after Christmas. Then I will consider the state of play. There is no direct Eurostar which does not help. We also have the consequences of brexit to digest.

hatler · « **Reply #705 on:** 13 September, 2020, 04:52:38 pm »

Buy your Euros now !!

CommuteTooFar · « **Reply #706 on:** 16 September, 2020, 03:04:33 pm »

I am watching the tdf climbing the col de Madelaine and col de Loze listening to commentators saying hard climbs and thinking Blue runs.

Ham · « **Reply #707 on:** 16 September, 2020, 03:20:13 pm »

Isn't Madeleine road a green?

CommuteTooFar · « **Reply #708 on:** 16 September, 2020, 03:24:05 pm »

It was blue when I skied it. The main piste in St Francvois Longchamps is green.

CommuteTooFar · « **Reply #709 on:** 16 September, 2020, 04:40:10 pm »

It has changed a lot since I skied Valmorel. Pistes and lifts have changed.

Feanor · « **Reply #710 on:** 23 November, 2020, 12:19:00 pm »

You know that thing where after a day hiking around the Glenshee hills, you stop in at Braemer Mountain Sports for a coffee and accidentally end up dropping north of 2k on new ski touring kit?
Well, that.

Seems likely our French trip won't happen ( again! ), so we'll get a refund from that.
And looks like we'll be exploring some of the back country and side country closer to home!

hatler · « **Reply #711 on:** 23 November, 2020, 12:20:51 pm »

That's an 'accident' that I am currently trying to avoid.

Feanor · « **Reply #712 on:** 04 January, 2021, 07:56:09 pm »

First outing for the ski tour kit today.
Meikle Pap, one of the outlying peaks of Lochnagar.

In a group of four, we had a hike and skin up, quick transition and ski down.
Snow was in good condition higher up, but the lower slopes was soft with a deep heather base which was a little challenging.

I provided some amusement for a couple of Mountain Rescue guys who spotted me from afar doing a spectacular faceplant having failed to see a deep accumulation of soft snow!
Looks like it may be some time before the next outing :-(

https://www.strava.com/activities/4566950966

Feanor · « **Reply #713 on:** 16 January, 2021, 08:55:31 pm »

Another local mini-tour on the touring kit.

This time, to the Buck of Cabrach, the local high point.
A road I know well from cycling, but I've never skied the hills before.

There was little snow on the approach, but from the parking spot we could ski from ( and back to ) the car.
As we gained a bit of height, the conditions became good, if a little windy.
There were four other cars at the parking spot, and I reckon there were about 8 people out on the hill.

A blue-sky day, with pretty good conditions for Scotland.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4629931958/overview

Feanor · « **Reply #714 on:** 23 January, 2021, 07:10:00 pm »

Scottish conditions today, again on an pretty unknown ( from a ski point of view ) local hill the Buck of Cabrach.
A few others up, individuals or groups of 2.
Not exactly crowded!

Blue skies and fresh snow.
We did 4 laps off the back, where the best snow was.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4668617355

Cabrach by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

hatler · « **Reply #715 on:** 23 January, 2021, 07:11:35 pm »

Fantastic !!!

Ham · « **Reply #716 on:** 23 January, 2021, 07:37:47 pm »

Looks worth the climb.

almost

Feanor · « **Reply #717 on:** 23 January, 2021, 09:18:45 pm »

Quote from: Ham on 23 January, 2021, 07:37:47 pm

Looks worth the climb.

almost

It is, but you need to regard the skinning up as an enjoyable part of the day, not a chore that needs to be endured.

It's a different experience to resort skiing.
More akin to mountaineering really.

But anyone who regularly goes 'off-piste' off the side of regular resort runs is ready for this.

Feanor · « **Reply #718 on:** 29 January, 2021, 08:29:27 pm »

Looking at the SAIS website, and considering my options for tomorrow.

There's been a bunch of fresh snow in the last few days, but it's loaded onto a weak base. Also a bunch of wind loading previously.
Avalanchy ++, dependent on slope and aspect.

The snow gates to Glenshee and the Lecht were closed today.

Hmm. Perhaps something lower down.

Feanor · « **Reply #719 on:** 30 January, 2021, 10:53:34 pm »

I'm going to stop posting to this thread.
Another Blue-sky Scottish backcountry ski day.

A local hill called Morven, which I've never been up before.

Morven by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

Ham · « **Reply #720 on:** 31 January, 2021, 07:08:53 am »

Please don't stop! it's lovely to see the pictures and fantasise.

Feanor · « **Reply #721 on:** 31 January, 2021, 07:31:15 pm »

Oh, ok! Today's expotition was to Glenshee, but shorter that original plan due to poor visibility. Original plan was to continue up Glas Maol then ski round to Cairn of Claise and Carn an Tuirc. But since we couldn't even see Gals Maol from Meall Odhar, we revised our plan.

Visibility cleared up for our descent off the North face of Sròn na Gaoithe, which turned out to be the best bit of the day.

Glenshee mini-tour by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

Glenshee mini-tour by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

Cleared up just as we finished! That's Sròn na Gaoithe in the middle of the picture. Our descent route was down the left flank of it, pretty much where that snow pole is pointing.

Feanor · « **Reply #722 on:** 07 February, 2021, 09:46:29 pm »

It's been dumping it down here, and the snow-gates are closed to the higher ground.
So today was a loop around a smaller local hill, off the Cairn O'Mount, a road well-known to local cyclists.

We went round Clachnaben, and it's neighboring peak, Mt Shade.

Clachnaben by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

Hare tracks on Clachnaben by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

Clachnaben by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

https://www.strava.com/activities/4750814952

Feanor · « **Reply #723 on:** 11 February, 2021, 09:27:19 pm »

Took a day off work today.
A friend I ski with had his last day at work yesterday, and is retiring. He's now using up his remaining vacation days until the end of Feb, which is his actual retirement date.

So with temperatures in Braemar dropping to -23, the coldest in the UK for 25 years, where better to go.
By the time we arrived and set off, the car was showing a balmy -16.

We had a few plans in the bag, as we knew the snow gates on the A93 to Glenshee were closed.
We did a loop around a couple of minor tops near the Linn of Dee.

For I am very small creature in a very big landscape. by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

For I am very small creature in a very big landscape. by Ron Lowe, on Flickr

https://www.strava.com/activities/4771407962

Feanor · « **Reply #724 on:** 21 February, 2021, 06:37:47 pm »

Up to Glenshee, not expecting much due to the massive thaw. The river Dee is thundering with snowmelt and had burst it's banks at several points on the road out to Braemar.
However, we managed Scottish ski-in / ski-out! (Able to ski to/from car!) Snow has taken a huge shift. However, surprisingly decent snow cover further up. Top was windy and zero vis, requiring skiing to a compass bearing off the summit. But once we got going on the descent, we dropped below the summit clag and things improved greatly.

There's been a big full-depth avalanche in the Glas Maol corrie, and the SAIS dudes were having a poke around.
It looks like nothing in the photo, but it's really quite a big avalanche. Certainly not something you want to be caught up in.

Big full depth avalanche in Glas Maol corrie by Ron Lowe, on Flickr