Click on Thumbnail to view larger images. Click on Title for Image Index.
 Tree Skiing on CairnGorm Mountain out to the Shuttle Bus stop at the Ciste!
|  Traverse banked out, but drifting in has reduced the width from the left a little.
|
 Chasing the pot of gold in the Ciste Carpark, 2000ft vert possible when shuttle bus runs (or lift available).
|  Bright Sunshine and convective snow showers were the order of the day, skier heads off from top of the M1 Poma.
|
 Skier on the M2, can get to Ciste Carpark via the Aonach Ridge - see obvious snowfield to skiers left of OverYonder.
|  Daylodge Poma run has full cover between the fences, but getting soft lower down in the afternoon Sun.
|
 Wide and deep Ciste Gully from the Boardwalks. Number 1 Gully good too.
|  Looking up the West Wall Poma, Aonach Bowl was reportedly great with very little use today.
|
 Number 1 Gully on the East Wall in good shape, possible now to get in higher from the Ptarmigan Tow.
|  Ptarmigan Ridge, keep close to the Tow from the top, then a gentle S bend line through the boulder field and it opens out.
|
 Obligatory top of the Ptarmigan Tow photo, this time with another snow shower moving in.
|  Ciste Fairway from the foot of the T-bar. Top Basin loaded, fences starting to disappear on the Fairway.
|
 Ciste Bowl lovely on Friday, the continuation into the Gully proper very inviting - but remember it gets much steeper!
|  Upper Ciste Fairway at the top of the West Wall Poma, fences vanishing.
|
 Schools Race on the fenced Fiacaill Run, this was excellent once the race was finished.
|  Heavy convective snow shower engulfs Coire Cas during Friday afternoon.
|
Click on Thumbnail to view larger images. Click on Title for Image Index.
Displayed: Images 1 to 16 of 16
|
A day of Sunny Spells at times almost bluebird, but interspersed with some fairly heavy convective snow showers on Friday. Fresh snow was good from the middle up, but a bit sticky on the lower slopes as the FL was sitting just above the Daylodge in the afternoon.
There is excellent cover on the runs, though drifting overnight has shifted some snow off windward slopes onto lee aspects and into the gullies and fences runs.
The Sheiling Shred has been rebuilt with a rail and 2 boxes and the Nessie Rollers are back in place on the Fiacaill Traverse (accessed by the Cas Tow). The Ptarmigan Terrain Park has much larger features and was being worked on during Friday afternoon.
The snow making earlier in the week means the Sheiling Area has fantastic cover and is a good alternative to the Top Basin for those starting out on the tows, and the wee park can be hit of the Sheiling Tow which is usually quiet.
There is good riding top to Daylodge and it's possible for more experienced riders to get to the Ciste Carpark via the Aonach Ridge from the cut off part way down OverYonder to the fences on the ridge. Some great snow here on Friday afternoon, but a bit of softening lower down so may have a crust on Sat morning.
For advanced riders the Ciste Gully and No 1 Gully on the East Wall and White Lady all in great shape, M1 RaceTrack was a bit more variable in the afternoon but the drifted snow will groom out sweetly for the morning.
It's possible to do the top of the Ptarmigan to the Cas Carpark all on green terrain that has good cover throughout. The Zig Zags are absolutely loaded, even more so now some of the drifted snow between them has been pushed out.
From the Top Station to the Ciste Carpark via the M2 and Aonach Ridge is a run of 2.2 miles / 3.5km, and this can be extended by starting from the top of the Ptarmigan. Remember beyond OverYonder this route is beyond the patrolled area though takes you back out to the Shuttle Bus stop (make sure it's running).
|