Nevis Range Blog

At last the back corrie has benefited from westerly snow resulting in increased cover and great sliding. Chancers top has filled in and has lost it’s twisted drop in but remains reasonably friendly with a roll in, all be it steeper than previously. Soft snow avalanches were released and then the ski down was knee deep powder. Looking round the corrie spontaneous releases of soft cornices and resulting avalanches were occurring. Rocks remain visible and lie in wait for the unsuspecting. Wingers and Cascade are very similar with soft cornices, great sliding, but hidden rocks. The traverse out is much better with increased cover and less rock, though very much as in the corrie. A lower traverse out seems the best.

The great sliding continues to the bottom of Braveheart, though thinning out, looking at the weather we will see what happens with thawing and or wind distribution over the next few days and conditions in the corrie.

In summary great sliding (big smiles)  for suitably experienced and equipped (safe travel techniques, slope assessment, transceivers, shovels, probes and a companion who knows how to use them), NOT PATROLLED (at own risk).

Freeze … thaw … and now colder temperatures bringing fresh snow have left the back corrie with mixed conditions today (29 Jan 2010). Wind blown, hard and icy on some aspects and others sliding great on fresh soft snow. Around the whole corrie soft cornices have formed that were readily collapsing with the weight of someone sliding past. The Nid Ridge itself remaining mainly scoured, firm but grippy. Chancers continues to have the best slide, but still with some rocks, with a steeper but still twisting rounded entrance. Rocks continue to make Back Track and Yellowbelly less attractive options. The traverse out can be achieved without walking but is still very rocky. Rob Roys traverse is complete back to Alpha Tow and the top station though slightly narrower from thawing conditions.

In summary the back has improved over the last few days with mixed conditions. It has some good sliding for those suitably experienced and equipped but is likely to remain Not Patrolled and therefore at your own risk.

Check the website for more info on the Back Corries, including definitions of the 3 status … Open, Closed, or Not Patrolled.

SKI PATROL

The recent freeze, thaw, fresh and wind blown snow deposits have resulted in little change generally in the back. Cover remains limited with lots of rocks mainly below Yellow Belly and Back Track entrances. Chancer’s is complete and remains the best ski within the corrie on soft snow, still with a friendly twisting roll in and limited rocks. Winger’s has less cover and no obvious skiable run though Cascade is improved and looks like a more viable option. Traversing out is certainly possible on a higher line though rocks are easily found and may require some walking to pass. The end of the Nid Ridge has better cover making access to Rob Roy’s Return easier.

The corrie remains beyond the limit of patroller area but has some good sliding for experienced and equipped off piste skiers happy to take responsibility for themselves.

Work in the park began on Boxing Day as we started pushing snow from the Aonach Mor summit down to the Spectre run. This area in the past has been the location for the very large kickers. It takes weeks of pushing snow to build it up, but it’s getting there.

The main terrain park area by then had a very good filling of snow, benefiting from the improved fencing from the summer. We set the first of the rails up (jump on box) at the same time as the smallish kicker on the 7th, quickly followed by the rookie rail. The double “C” was set up next half way down the park, but many be repositioned. The rainbow box had to go down to the garage for some TLC but was quickly back up and in position in the park a few days later.

The remaining rails will be set up soon once we get some settled weather, along with one or two other new features. The dog box is to get new sheeting and will be a couple of weeks yet.

Also, we are currently developing a new addition to the park, which many of you have been asking for … watch this space

CHRIS

The Back Corrie has some great sliding though still has limited cover. The Corrie has yet to benefit from prevailing westerly weather, less snow having fallen from the north and east which has provided masses else where. Chancers has the best cover to Braveheart tow, a twisting roll in entrance and consistent sliding. Localised instabilities have today been identified in the snow pack with soft snow on an icy base. Rocks remain either visible or just below the soft snow surface. The traverse out is complete on the right line up to the end of the Nid Ridge where it becomes impossibly rocky and icy to slide. Realistically a walk of about 200 metres is required to get to the top of Rob Roy’s Return from Pinball Alley where a complete traverse back to Alpha Tow is possible on the upside of the fence.

Formally the back corrie is NOT PATROLLED (at own risk) however for advanced skiers, with back country experience and suitably equipped, offers some early season potential.

We’re looking for a small group of folk to help us help our customers when we’re really busy. You’d work a few hours a day, a few days over the winter, at weekends and at holidays. If you’re willing to give up your sliding time to help people, and talk about the snow & run conditions, about what’s going on and how to keep in touch, then this may be for you. If you’re interested, then please email davie@nevisrange.co.uk telling him why you want to get involved

We’ve at last got the vouchers page live on the website. Its taken a bit of time to get to grips with PayPal and also to get the page design right!  But its live now.  We’ve used PayPal as the backend functionality as we think its pretty secure and it lets you buy either using your credit card etc or via your PayPal account.  We’ve put the most popular types of vouchers on the website, so you can easily buy them online in time for christmas.  If there’s anything else you’d like to see, then please let us know.

Cheers, Nevis Marketing, marketing@nevisrange.co.uk

 

Two men and a dog have been busy on the pistes of Aonach Mor getting ready for the SNOW :)  Amidst  blue skies tropical sunshine and horizontal hail, on the same day we hasten to add, they’ve been fixing the existing fencing and building new fencing.

There’s been a bit of filming going at Nevis recently and as it was a blue skies day yesterday, I took the opportunity to sneak up in the helichopper to take a couple of (hundred) pics.  For the skiers and snowboarders, there’s a shot of the last remaining bit of snow, the hill with no snow (check the gully down the goose) + you can see the new fencing that’s going in right now.  For the bikers, you can see the DH and the Nevis Red XC trails pretty clearly.  And for the climbers, we went over the back and you can see some routes.  Enjoy.  I certainly did

The helicopter drops were a success, the red run has been smoothened out in places and will be smoothed further lower down, to make it a bit easier and flow beter which is awesome.

The heli drops on the downhil track have also gone good some bits have been smoothed out with holes filled in and rocks have been added else where, we also have lots of imported rock and lije to build some new stuff, which will be comencing from tomorow. My self and James also rebuilt the hip jump on the motorway yesterday so it is now a  few meters longer which will hopefully stop the overshooting of it and make it ride a bit nicer and faster.

On another note, the endurance downhill was a success and was enjoyed by all despite the rain and sore arms and sore bikes.

The overall winner was James Shirley. Veteran winner was Alistair Maclennan who was also third overall behind James and Chris Hutchens who took the overall 2nd. Junior winner was James Scott, with local rider Rory Maclennan in 2nd. Female winner was Naomi Williamson, while Jesse Wigman took the hardtail win in an amazing 10th place overall.

Full results can bee found at http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/userfiles/File/resultsv09.xls