Scotland’s Easter Skiing On A Knife Edge
Scotland’s Easter Skiing On A Knife Edge
Published : 25-Mar-2024 06:57
Quite what ski terrain will be open in Scotland over the coming Easter weekend and school holidays remains uncertain.
Four of the five centres have functioning all-weather snowmaking systems and these have successfully been used to create nursery slope areas and short runs as mother nature has failed to oblige for much of the season, again. It seems certain these limited snow areas will be open for the coming fortnight.
However two centres, Cairngorm and Glencoe have managed to open more runs with natural snowfall at times this season, as, briefly have Glenshee, Nevis Range and the Lecht.
But last week the snow at Glencoe and Cairngorm, the only two areas still offering slopes beyond the all-weather snow areas, had thawed to an extent that they couldn't open. A return of gale force winds on Thursday and Friday closed lift anyway.
But now things have turned colder and there's more snow forecast in the week up to Easter, with forecasting models predicting up to 20cm of snowfall in the next 24 hours with more to follow, potentially. So could we see more terrain open?
Both Cairngorm and Glencoe already re-opened runs on Sunday, but both say they're only suited to experts, in Glencoe's case mostly due to the conditions, in Cairngorm's in large part because a 30 minute hike with ski gear is needed up to and back down from the runs and lifts as the funicular, the only access to the upper mountain from the base, remains out of action.
At Glencoe the Access Chair, Plateau Poma, Cliffy and Rannoch Button have been running serving upper mountain runs complete.
"It's possible to ski down mid and lower mountain runs, but will be unpisted as snow cover is unconsolidated," a spokesperson posted on social media.
At Cairngorm (pictured top on Sunday morning) the M1 Poma as well as The Ciste and Ptarmigan lifts have been running on the upper mountain, with The Ptarmigan bowl upper M2 and Fairway runs.
"If you are touring there are no routes through the Cas, the best Route is on the lower M2 fence line, which is closed at the moment. Touring tickets and snowsport tickets can be purchased at the ticket office. The Upper Cas and 105 have improved, with a narrow route back down the Gunbarrel to the M1 poma. Below this area, the Gunbarrel is broken with walking required," a spokesperson for the centre above Aviemore explained.
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