Skiing Sunday 13 December report

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

So much for Christmas shopping. We had a great turnout today with between 100-120 people there to enjoy the first snow of the season. The day started very bright with sunshine and powder snow but very rapidly turned heavy and wet, eventually turning to a mixture of snow and mud but still very skiable until the end of the day. It was nice to see so many new members and also many children today enjoying themselves. Photos can be seen on the "unofficial" WSC facebook site - please note that this is not actively monitored and may not reflect WSC views. Tonight the snow has turned to rain so I suspect that we will have to wait for another dump of snow before we open again but keep an eye on the webcam.

Lost Property - there must be 2 people with cold right hands so if you have lost a black Hestra mitt or a black Isodry glove or a white pair of (?childrens) Nevica goggles, then please let me know.

Steve

Skiing Sunday 13 December

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

The good news is that we have had heavy snow all day in Weardale and at 3pm today had about 8" outside the lodge with snow still falling. We are therefore planning to open up tomorrow after 9:30am - Members only. The road was quite tricky tonight and we are not sure whether it will be ploughed tomorrow but either way snow tyres, 4WD or chains will be needed. If putting chains on, please do this at the lay-by before turning up towards the slopes. Please do not attempt to arrive before 9:30 which will give us chance to assess the road and get the route across sorted out.

The bad news is that Storm Desmond has left quite a bit of damage at Swinhope. A lot of fencing is down and the hut at the top of F2 has been completely destroyed and spread over the fells damaging some of the electrics which have been fixed today (thanks Kevin). However the main damage has been a massive landslide from below Black scar which has taken away several hundred metres of the hillside and completely covered Gilbert's bridge (the bridge immediately before you get to F1 tow lift) which means the usual route across is unpassable. To access the slopes please take the low level route which most of you won't know exists. Pass on the right hand side of the new garage and follow the tracks along that way which by 9:30 we should have managed to mark out.

Steve