Snow update

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Storm Doris has left us with a thin covering of new snow but insufficient for skiing and with rain and warmer temperatures predicted it is looking unlikely that we will be getting any skiing in this weekend sadly.

Steve

WSC write up in Northern Echo

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

A nice write up in the Northern Echo today on page 60 by Mike Amos about WSC for those interested. One or two facts wrong but never let that get in the way of a good story!

Steve

Ski update 14 Feb

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

About 30 romantic people attended Swinhope for today's Valentines Day skiing and enjoyed (I think) "spring like conditions". Both lifts are now working well but sadly the snow is melting fast and by the end of the day the runs were looked pretty bare so there will be no more skiing until we get further snow.

Steve

Skiing Tuesday 14 Feb

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Valentines Day - where better to spend it than at WSC? F1 electrical fault has been fixed today - a huge thanks to Steve Luard and Hugh Bence and all is set for skiing tomorrow. There seems to be plenty of snow still around but forecasts suggest it wont last more than another couple of days so make the most of it.

Plan is to open lifts from 10am - Day members welcome but please print off day membership from from the website and complete it before travelling http://www.skiweardale.com/#tickets

The road was a bit tricky this morning and may be icy tomorrow so take care. Chains may be needed especially early on.

Steve

Snow report Sun 12 Feb

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

A mixed day today - there was loads of fresh snow but also accompanied by varied weather with snow, wind and poor visibility (normal Weardale day perhaps?). This was also accompanied by ongoing problems with F1 electrics. It worked intermittently today for short periods.

We are hoping to get the electrics sorted out on Monday/Tuesday and if we are successful may open on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I believe there was a good turnout today and everyone seemed to enjoy it and I am told that the snow was excellent on F1 and huge drifts on F2 so there is hope for later in the week. We closed early today due to the weather and also the risk of the road filling in with drifting snow (which did actually occur later on in the day) so apologies to those who turned up late - it is always a risk turning up late especially when the weather is not good.

Steve

Skiing Sunday 12 Feb

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

A good day was had today with about 50 members including one family, the Ansells, who drove up from Essex just for  day skiing with us. There was a couple of inches of fresh snow when we arrived and it snowed most of the day and all the main runs were open and generally in good condition although the snow was softer and slower than Friday.

We are planning to open tomorrow from 10am but there are 2 potential problems. We had to close F1 at 3pm today due to an electrical fault which we have not managed to resolve. A couple of members are going up early to try and fix this in the morning but until it is sorted only F2 will be skiable and you may have to walk up to the lodge. Also the weather forecast is not as good for tomorrow with stronger winds and snowing on + off most of the day. Visibility was not great today and it was bitterly cold with the wind and I expect tomorrow to be similar but at least the lodge was nice and warm! We will send out a message via twitter as soon as we have any news but there is a risk that we will close early if conditions are not great.

There is snow on the access road from the farm upwards so snow tyres, 4wd or chains advisable. 

Steve

Skiing Saturday + Sunday 11/12 Feb

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

A couple of us went up to Swinhope today accompanied by Mike Amos (reporter from the Northern Echo) who wanted to do an article about WSC appearing this Thursday in the Echo if you are interested.

Snow cover looked thin but after he left we got our skis out and had some excellent runs on both F1 and F2 which were both much better than expected. Snow is forecast overnight and all day tomorrow and on Sunday, so it is looking promising.

We are planning to open for skiing on both Saturday and Sunday from 10am. It is likely to be goggle rather than sunglass weather. Sunday looks the better day but also slightly windier. Temperature never got above -2c today and is forecast very cold overnight so we should lose none of the snow we have and hopefully if forecasts are right gain as few cm.

Please remember that weekends are reserved for members only and we do not accept day members but there are still a few membership places available (http://www.skiweardale.com/index.html#tickets - click on the season ticket link).

Finally the road was clear tarmac at the end of today but with snow forecast overnight and very cold temperatures come prepared for tricky conditions as usual and take care on the road. Snow or winter tyres make a huge difference. Lidl are currently selling chains unbelievably cheap (no idea of the quality).

Steve

Snow update

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

There has been an inch or two of snow but sadly not good enough cover yet for skiing so we will not be opening on Wednesday but will see what happens over the coming days and at least the temperature seems to be keeping fairly low.

Steve

Increasing possibility of snow

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Following a very disappointing start to the season forecasts are looking a little better and if they are to be believed we are in for some snow over the coming week and more prolonged cold spells. Currently there is only a very thin covering but more is predicted overnight and tomorrow. It is unlikely we will ski on Tuesday but if the snow does come Wednesday may be a possibility so keep an eye on the webcams, emails and twitter. The longer term forecasts are also predicting more snow this weekend and early next week though they have a tendency to reduce the closer we get to the predicted day! 

If we do open for skiing please be very careful on the road. We try and give some idea of what the road conditions are like but often the first we know is when we arrive so it is best to always come prepared. Sometimes 4WD and chains/winter tyres are essential and sometimes 2WD with normal tyres can get up.In winter however we recommend a minimum of winter/snow tyres and suggest have chains handy as well as a snow shovel and a bit of old carpet. Also if putting on chains please do this before getting to the difficult section and make sure you pull off the road into a lay-by or a safe area to do this. Do not obstruct any traffic behind you as once stopped on a slippery road it is often difficult to get going again. Likewise if following someone up a slippery road always give them plenty of space and wait until they have got past the tricky section before following. 

Steve