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Timberline


Posts: 491
Joined: Apr 2010
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24th Feb 2021
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Clashindarroch snow 2020-2021
Date Posted: 16.42hrs on Fri 4 Dec 20
Today saw the first good skiing of the season at Clashindarroch, with 8cm of snow on the lower trails and reportedly up to 20cm on the Haute Route. The snow was wettish, but being on frozen ground it did not cause the usual issues associated with early season snow on warm terrain. Temperatures had risen to plus 3 by midday. The road had been ploughed, but there was some ice and slush on the higher parts.The car park had not been ploughed but was accessible. With the freezing level rising somewhat above the forest, and rain in the forecast, it is uncertain how long the snow will last, but a rapid thaw seems unlikely.

Covid: With car-sharing not advised, there will be more vehicles than usual in the car park this winter. Clashindarroch is in Aberdeenshire. Please check Government travel guidance for your local authority area.
Timberline


Posts: 491
Joined: Apr 2010
Last Visited: 20:54
24th Feb 2021
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Re: Clashindarroch snow 2020-2021
Date Posted: 20.01hrs on Sat 5 Dec 20
Despite yesterday's optimism, there has been a significant thaw, with overnight rain, intermittent light rain during Saturday, and more in the forecast. The snow depth has reduced to around 5cm at all levels, and the burns and ditches have been running full of meltwater. Nonetheless, after a short walk in, it was possible to ski continuously today along the Main Drag with only occasional resort to the verge (e.g. the right-hand verge of Telemark Twist), up Highland Fling, and back over the Haute Route to the top of Short Cut. Heading from there towards the phone mast, the cover was variable with some stretches having as much as 8cm and some unusually lacking in snow, due to the wind direction when the snow fell. With temperatures as high as 5 degrees, the skiing was slow due to the thaw conditions. This assisted a cautious descent of the upper part of Leids Leap with only an occasional scrape, but towards Deer Track it became a slushfest, this continuing down Deer Track itself. Among the trails which cannot be recommended because of the conditions are Range Way, Short Cut and the descent at the start of Normans Way. Unless there is an unexpected frost, the prospects for Sunday do not look ideal. Some snow should be available for those keen enough to look for it -- but not a day for the new skis.

Covid: With car-sharing not advised, there will be more vehicles than usual in the car park this winter. Clashindarroch is in Aberdeenshire. Please check Government travel guidance for your local authority area.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 20.02hrs Sat 5 Dec 20 by Timberline.
telemarker


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12th Apr 2021
Re: Clashindarroch snow 2020-2021
Date Posted: 20.17hrs on Sat 5 Dec 20
Shame I was hoping the weather would dry out and cool down a bit more
Thanks for update
Timberline


Posts: 491
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Last Visited: 20:54
24th Feb 2021
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Re: Clashindarroch snow 2020-2021
Date Posted: 17.04hrs on Mon 7 Dec 20
As of 7th December there were still stretches of snow in the forest, but conditions were very marginal and are not likely to improve unless there is an unexpected drop in temperatures. On a walk from the Leids Leap gate, up to the Mast and along to Short Cut, the snow near the gate was indeed skiable, but the only stretch exceeding 100 metres in length was on the part of Leids Leap below the sharp bend. The snow was crunchy in places as there had been an overnight frost. On the Main Drag there were stretches of ice resulting from earlier thawing.
Timberline


Posts: 491
Joined: Apr 2010
Last Visited: 20:54
24th Feb 2021
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Re: Clashindarroch snow 2020-2021
Date Posted: 19.07hrs on Wed 9 Dec 20
The brief early season sliding has ceased for the time being. Any residual snow has reduced to soft patches -- spotty-dog (Dalmatian) pattern -- not worth carrying in the skis for. The ground has thawed too, which is a pity as it was nicely frozen when the snow came. Looking on the bright side (and ignoring the rain in the current forecast), it only needs a slight drop in temperatures to bring back winter conditions.


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