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Coire Cas from the lower 105.
Looking down on the Zig Zags from the M1. Top two legs in good nick, bottom two are thin and require caution, best to exit to Gunbarrel after top two.
Heading to the Daylodge via the Burnside option of the Carpark Run. No base, so care required but skiable to the Daylodge door, and a better bet than the Home Road.
The Northern Corries from the M1 SideTrack on route to the White Lady.
Skier exits the RaceTrack by the M1's Horizon Road link.
About to drop onto the 105 and into the Cas from the M1.
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After several stormy days the wind let up and the sun came out to play giving a great Friday on CairnGorm Mountain. Despite the wind and rain on Tuesday there's been an overall gain in the base since last weekend, with a lovely layer of fresh powdery snow on top which bashed out to give excellent machine packed powder on groomed areas.
There is now a range of terrain on offer for all abilities, the Top Basin has all runs complete and esp. the Ptarmigan Bowl is in fine shape for those learning, while the M1 RaceTrack was the run of the day on Friday; though only for good skiers / boarders.
The Cas and the Gunbarrel have much improved from last week and the Gunbarrel is in fairly decent nick to the M1 Poma, the Zig Zags are also complete, top two good but lower two a bit thin. The White Lady is unpisted but offering good sport for experts, access either directly off the M1 Poma via the M1 SideTrack, or off the Ciste Fairway via Lady Luck.
Skiable to the Mid-station via the White Lady (use the leg that takes you to the M1 but stay on the Lady side of the Funicular), the M1 or Traverse then 105/Gunbarrel or the Zig Zags for a easier route, but the Gunbarrel is the better option for those that are comfortable on blues. Further powdery snow drifting into the Gunbarrel on South winds from the Plateau.
If you are heading for a tour the Home Road has a covering, but quite a lot of rocks from the road lurking (not advisable to ski down it, the Carpark Run is a slightly better option), alternatively though for skinning up the Daylodge and M2 route can be got up, but some hefty drifting on the M2. Photos from Winterhighland.