snooooooooooooowboarding (Read 341879 times)

lagerstarfish · December 10, 2019, 08:34:14 pm

example of stuff I was happy going up without crampons. Had an axe in the bag, but didn't get it out.

took the left ridge to the summit, so never exposed to big fall potential

lagerstarfish · January 18, 2020, 04:07:06 pm

turns out that Grivel do their G10 crampon in extra wide to suit snowboard boots

they also have long bars available for BIG boots

best of all, there is a video of Stevie Haston demonstrating (the end is worth watching)

SA Chris · January 23, 2020, 03:16:30 pm

Portes du Soleil report - pistes in great shape, had about a foot of fresh on Friday night, and bluebird powder on Saturday.

If you are in Les Gets or Morzine, go by the bottom of Pointe de Nyon lift, they now have bird of prey centre at the restaurant; Eagles, Condor, Vulture, Owls. Flying down from the top of the drag lift. Great to see. And the bottom of the restaurant is now a picnic are complete with soft play, and accessible by the telecabine Nyon from the car park, ideal for kids.

lagerstarfish · January 28, 2020, 11:59:16 am

I have a chance of heading up to Scotland for a couple of days

looks like there may be some snow

I assume the weekend will be busy, so was thinking of heading up Sunday night and sliding Monday and Tuesday

West looking best at the moment. I haven't ever been to Nevis and haven't ridden Glencoe for nearly 30 yrs.

I know there isn't much recent data to go on, but does Nevis have bigger queues?

How are they both for sleeping in the van at the car park?

Any advice other than wait and see what the weather does?

SA Chris · January 28, 2020, 12:07:26 pm

West is definitely best right now, both Nevis and Glencoe are fine for car sleeping, access to bogs etc all night and in the morning. i think due to the fire at Xmas you are unlikely to get any breakfast / coffee at Glencoe, but they might have a temporary setup, and tif tickets are / were cash only.

I'd avoid either at the weekend, queues will be bad, maybe a bit better at Nevis if you intend using lift access, but if you intend hiking for some turns on the weekend, Glencoe may have more options.

Otherwise worth a page through the nevis and glencoe offpiste guides for some ideas

http://www.skimountain.co.uk/ski-guidebooks

SA Chris · January 28, 2020, 12:09:49 pm

http://www.winterhighland.info/general/

good to keep an eye on.

lagerstarfish · January 28, 2020, 12:17:53 pm

thanks Chris

good info

SA Chris · January 28, 2020, 12:27:16 pm

All good, good luck. Would love to join you, but next week might be tricksome..

galpinos · January 28, 2020, 03:02:50 pm

Quote from: lagerstarfish on January 28, 2020, 11:59:16 am

I have a chance of heading up to Scotland for a couple of days

looks like there may be some snow

I assume the weekend will be busy, so was thinking of heading up Sunday night and sliding Monday and Tuesday

West looking best at the moment. I haven't ever been to Nevis and haven't ridden Glencoe for nearly 30 yrs.

I know there isn't much recent data to go on, but does Nevis have bigger queues?

How are they both for sleeping in the van at the car park?

Any advice other than wait and see what the weather does?

What do you want to know? Glencoe was ace to sleep at pre fire, not sure what it's like now. Nevis way, I've always kipped in the van at Torlundy (North Face Car Park).

If "in", the back corries at Nevis are the best lift accessible off piste in Scotland i think. Bit of a schlep back round on a board though, depending on snow cover.

I've only skied Glencoe in lean conditions but it was fun walking down the ridge westwards from Meall A'Bhuridh, up and over Mam Coire Easain and onto Clach Leathad. North Facing, normally a way in past the cornice and steep at the start, mellowing into a lovely run.

I have the guides if you want any pages copying and sending to you? You are welcome to borrow them but I'm in Manchester so probably no ideal.

SA Chris · January 31, 2020, 10:46:58 am

Not looking affa bonnie the noo lagers.

Johnny Brown · January 31, 2020, 11:28:10 am

I'd look at trying both and using Glencoe to break the journey. We had a recent night in the car park at Inveruglas on Loch Lomond, 5+ hrs from Sheff, from where Glencoe is another 50 mins/ Nevis range 1hr 45.

Or push on to the Fort, kip in Torlundy have a day on Nevis, chips/curry in town, park up in Glen Etive or near the Kingshouse, ride Glencoe then drive home from there.

The only time I've ridden the back corries on Nevis you could get back to the middle station with little walking, just a long calf-burning heelside traverse. Fun drop in, does the lift out ever run?

SA Chris · January 31, 2020, 11:51:22 am

Braveheart Lift? Yes, any time there is good cover in the back they run it.

lagerstarfish · January 31, 2020, 03:37:12 pm

Quote from: SA Chris on January 31, 2020, 10:46:58 am

Not looking affa bonnie the noo lagers.

other duties are getting in my way - I probably won't end up being able to go anyway

SA Chris · January 31, 2020, 03:43:22 pm

TBH, I think you aren't missing much.

SA Chris · February 04, 2020, 01:37:07 pm

Looks like it might be improving a wee bit over the next couple of weeks though. Depends on freezing level....

rich d · February 06, 2020, 03:03:27 pm

After skiing (I know it's not snowboarding) in the pitch black at Christmas and having signed up to do a night ski in the 3 valleys at feb half term - does anyone have any recommendations for a head torch? My cheapy camping one is ok for skinning and resort, but could do with something better for turns and offpiste stuff.
Cheers Rich

SA Chris · February 06, 2020, 03:22:05 pm

Do you wear a helmet? If you want proper light, you can hook up a couple of CREE bike lights to your lid for some lumens. I've done this and a bit of a fiddle but it works OK, worth figuring out and testing beforehand for best angle though.

rich d · February 06, 2020, 03:25:10 pm

Yep I always wear a helmet nowadays, that's a good call.

SA Chris · February 06, 2020, 04:42:15 pm

if you have the ones with the fat elastic bands that go on handlebars you could jury rig them through the vent holes, that's what I manged to do with my R.E.D lid.

SA Chris · February 12, 2020, 11:59:18 am

Quote from: SA Chris on February 04, 2020, 01:37:07 pm

Looks like it might be improving a wee bit over the next couple of weeks though. Depends on freezing level....

Getting even better now. Centres will be hoaching with half term for the next couple of weeks, but non-lift accessed stuff will be good once avi risk subsides.

lagerstarfish · February 25, 2020, 10:39:18 pm

I'm off to Jasna tomorrow

proper butterflies excited to be going boarding again

there's been snow this week and forecast for more

screen grab from today's web cam

SamT · February 28, 2020, 09:42:27 am

Anyone know what Mam Tor gully conditions have been like this week. I just keep thinking it'll be horrible slush give the state in sheffield, but saw mention of a 'cornice' somewhere on line.

nik at work · February 28, 2020, 10:49:58 am

Very wet slushy snow in Hathersage right now, mostly turning to water when it hits the ground. There was some nice snow up there on Wednesday but not enough coverage. I’d think it would have deteriorated since then (this is at best slightly informed speculation though).

SamT · February 28, 2020, 11:10:29 am

Cheers for the beta.

If its ever looking like its in nick (for boarding the gully) I'd really appreciate a heads up.

Its a bucket list thing for me.

lagerstarfish · March 09, 2020, 10:48:42 pm

I've had another fantastic week in Jasna.
I'll write more when I get some time.
In the meantime, it looks like the Freeride event is going ahead later this week. This should give people a good idea of what is on offer there. The event takes place on the most accessible face - there are plenty of other slopes available.

https://www.jasnaadrenalin.sk/en/