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kammy


Posts: 295
Joined: Jan 2004
Last Visited: 21:23
2nd Mar 2021
Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 14.08hrs on Thu 4 Feb 21
Some of Scotland's mountain ski centres are having their best winter conditions in years while closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cairngorm Mountain, near Aviemore, has reported "high quality snow" on its slopes.

Glencoe Mountain said it was experiencing the best conditions it had ever seen for the time of year.

It follows weeks of frequent snowfalls and freezing temperatures, with more wintry weather expected this weekend.

All of mainland Scotland, along with the Western Isles, are in lockdown to supress the spread of Covid and to help prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Ski centres, like the vast majority of businesses, are closed in line with restrictions.


Cairngorm Mountain has a "skeleton" technical operations team still working to keep lifts and other facilities maintained and protected, ready for when the site can reopen.

Susan Smith, interim chief executive of Cairngorm Mountain, said: "For the whole team here, it is hugely frustrating that we are unable to welcome snowsports enthusiasts to enjoy the high-quality snow cover, which is the best we have seen in recent years.

"We await guidance from the Scottish government on the potential opportunity to reopen the ski area and hope that this winter weather continues."

Andy Meldrum, of Glencoe Mountain, said his business was also working towards a date when they could welcome back skiers and snowboarders.

He said: "There is lots of snow - the best we have seen at this time of year - and the weather has been really good as well with less wind than normal.

"We remain ever hopeful that we will be able to open soon, even if it's only for locals.

"We successfully ran throughout most of December without any issues and believe we could do so again."

Presentational grey line
Lockdown and the outdoors

There are strict limits on non-essential travel and Scotland's mountains are out of bounds to most people. Those who flout the rules risk fines.

People who live within easy reach of the hills have also been urged to adhere closely to guidance on how to enjoy the outdoors safely.

For further information:

Scottish government stay-at-home guidance
Mountaineering Scotland ThinkWinter advice
Scottish Avalanche Information Service
Mountain Weather Information Service
Presentational grey line
Recent years have seen Scotland's mountain snowsports centres invest heavily in artificial snow-making equipment because there was not enough of the natural white stuff.

This year there is more than enough snow, but few can enjoy it.

Last year resorts also missed out on "one of the best springs in years" due to the pandemic, having to shutdown just as lots of snow and a spell of calm, cold weather arrived.

Iain Cameron, who researches snow in Scotland, said this winter had been unusual.

He said: "The snow cover that is present, especially over the north east Highlands, is more extensive for the time of year than any since 2010.

"The Cairngorms have almost unbroken cover above 500m and lying snow has been present at a partially-frozen Loch Morlich for over a month.

"In the context of the last 20 years, this is very unusual."

source BBC [www.bbc.co.uk]



growwild


Posts: 3550
Joined: Oct 2005
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 00.37hrs on Tue 9 Feb 21
Thanks for putting that up, saves me screaming inside while giving they stinking arsholes a click and adding tae their unjustified justification for being in fcking existence.





Edited 1 times. Last edit at 00.39hrs Tue 9 Feb 21 by growwild.
carsey


Posts: 400
Joined: Jan 2016
Last Visited: 17:11
22nd Apr 2021
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 18.42hrs on Tue 9 Feb 21
Does anyone know when wee nic will relax the rules?

All this epic snow and no way to get to it isnt good at all!
Jim61


Posts: 9
Joined: Sep 2014
Last Visited: 14:38
26th Sep 2023
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 19.57hrs on Tue 9 Feb 21
carsey Wrote:
Does anyone know when wee nic will relax the rules?

All this epic snow and no way to get to it isnt good at all!


IMHO it is not going to be soon. I think that people have to be realistic looking forward. Fräulein Sturgeon ain't going to open any `ski `centre before she gets the schools back. Infection numbers are still worryingly high and above the WHO recommended 5% level. At best she may move on education at the end of the month so given she has to give 2 weeks notice to the education authorities it's going to be mid March at least and even then I think the start up of education will be at least a couple of weeks prior to easing of restrictions on leisure activities, if so then we are now into April.

Even if she does go for April don't expect the luxury of unrestricted numbers at ski centres, its bound to be on a limited numbers basis. Sorry to be downbeat but that is the way I think we are going.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 20.03hrs Tue 9 Feb 21 by Jim61.
paulo


Posts: 129
Joined: Mar 2006
Last Visited: 21:31
16th Apr 2021
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 23.54hrs on Tue 9 Feb 21
Phased return to school is (hopefully) due to start straight after half-term, 22nd Feb. It's a start, but assuming say 2 weeks between each phase of opening it will take a while... and agree it's difficult to imagine ski centres being given the green light before. The way the snow is pilling up April might still be worth it though.
sspeirs


Posts: 370
Joined: Mar 2008
Last Visited: 09:59
22nd Apr 2021
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 15.22hrs on Wed 10 Feb 21
Wonder if this post from Snowsport Scotland gives any hope ... ?

[snowsportscotland.org]

It's a phased return, only at the moment for performance athletes - which is at least a start. Like Jim61 suggests above, I too can't see a "big bang" all can return to ski anytime this season. However I wonder if a phased return could be something government would consider.

Big issue in my opinion (and reflected on other threads) is how we could ensure there is no multi-household car sharing, and people stopping off en-route in (for example) villages with no covid presence.

And with the NHS under such pressure, I can't see any movement until the pressure comes off the hospitals a bit. The season is running out though ... while Glencoe can often maintain skiing to late April, sometimes May, how often does Glenshee for example so much beyond end of March/early April ? Tick tock.
growwild


Posts: 3550
Joined: Oct 2005
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 19.30hrs on Wed 10 Feb 21
Is saying the same pish in every fcking thread gonna make the universe take notice of the selfish vibes reverberating out fae earth and make the resorts open while keeping everything else shut ?

Easy tae ensure nobody is sharing cars to the resorts by keeping them fcking closed to the public.. If they do open then it should be actual locals only to stop selfish arsholes spreading the covid for no justifiable reason bar they are funts.....







sspeirs


Posts: 370
Joined: Mar 2008
Last Visited: 09:59
22nd Apr 2021
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 20.44hrs on Wed 10 Feb 21
Thanks for that constructive contribution, growwild :-)


growwild Wrote:
Is saying the same pish in every fcking thread gonna make the universe take notice of the selfish vibes reverberating out fae earth and make the resorts open while keeping everything else shut ?

Easy tae ensure nobody is sharing cars to the resorts by keeping them fcking closed to the public.. If they do open then it should be actual locals only to stop selfish arsholes spreading the covid for no justifiable reason bar they are funts.....







growwild


Posts: 3550
Joined: Oct 2005
Re: Covid in Scotland: Closed ski resorts have best snow in years
Date Posted: 22.23hrs on Wed 10 Feb 21
What ya want ?

Lets open up the ski resorts, track every human so we know where they are at aw times tae stop car sharing?

Any person that wants a chip has tae get it implanted behind the ear via a .22... That's rule one and it'll calm doon this planet a bit in the process and raise the sea floor by some. I wouldn't compost the daft....

Could also open the the ski resorts by giving locals whatever shooters they want to stop the selfish fae stopping in their village.. I'd pay a fortune in rent to stay in Tyndrum during the cull, I'm sure many others also would and this would more than compensate the areas for the loss in tourism...

Imagine Tyndrum being that place that turned Scotland socialist ?


"Freedom, OOoooh freedom well that's just people talking"

[www.youtube.com]

Should really start a fanstasy ski thread to keep the dreams contained.



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 22.32hrs Wed 10 Feb 21 by growwild.
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