Was any snow made by the new guns at Glencoe and Cairngorm (or the existing installations at The Lecht or Glenshee) and ... err ... which river is it in?
In response to David Goldsmith, snow was made at both locations for the period the Techno Alpin guys were over and it made a difference to the usually scratchy top of the Carpark Run. It was the first snow down and as people were skiing through that area yesterday, it wasn't yet in the River Spey! I believe the guys are coming back for more training and guidance.
But it will melt......
This argument is constantly trotted out, but let's consider these 2 scenarios. We've got a foot of consolidated snow on the Carpark Run at CairnGorm.
A ) We have that 1 foot of snow. A savage thaw removes a foot of snow. 1-1=0.
B ) Snow guns on the lower slopes have added a foot of dense machine made snow for a base. 1+1=2. Savage thaw removes a foot of snow. All machine made snow melted.
But in B 2-1=1. We still have a foot of snow on the Carpark Runs and are still skiing to the Daylodge. The next foot of snow falls and lands on a base, adding to the depth.
In scenario A no snow means no skiing on the lower slopes, new snow falls onto bare ground that maybe above freezing melting for a time before accumulations start. Analysis of skier days vs days skiable to the car park suggest the availability of the Carpark Run is a key make or break factor for many, having a run to the Daylodge is worth several hundred extra skier days per day skiable to the Daylodge.
Edited 2 times. Last edit at 23.23hrs Sat 24 Dec 11 by alan.