The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
The snow has returned at long last and has fallen on top of a hard base. We have had several cms of fresh snow today and more is predicted overnight. We are planning to ski this weekend and tow(s) should open from 10am tomorrow (Saturday 8th Jan). Currently only F1 is working as we have an electrical fault on F2. We hope that this will be fixed tomorrow but there is no guarantee so come prepared to ski F1 only. We will update the answerphone on Saturday night reporting on conditions and whether F2 is operating. Please note that we are open STRICTLY TO MEMBERS ONLY at weekends.
The road is very icy with currently a thin covering of snow on and is likely to be very tricky tomorrow so 4WD or Chains will be ESSENTIAL. Please put chains on at the layby before turning up towards the slopes and don't obstruct the road either at the bottom or when parking in the car park.
"Sadly" I am being taken away to Les Arcs tomorrow so will miss all the fun and will be unable to send out further emails until I return.
Happy skiing.
Steve
Friday, 7 January 2011
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Snow report Tuesday 28th Jan
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
Sadly the predicted snow overnight turned out to be rain as it was milder than expected. This meant we were unable to open today and will not open until we get some fresh snowfall. An inspection of the fell yesterday showed a thin covering of snow over some icy patches and a few bare areas making it not suitable for skiing. F2 was rather more bare than F1.
There is no imminent snow forecast so I will update this email once the white stuff promises to return.
Happy New Year to everyone
Steve
Sadly the predicted snow overnight turned out to be rain as it was milder than expected. This meant we were unable to open today and will not open until we get some fresh snowfall. An inspection of the fell yesterday showed a thin covering of snow over some icy patches and a few bare areas making it not suitable for skiing. F2 was rather more bare than F1.
There is no imminent snow forecast so I will update this email once the white stuff promises to return.
Happy New Year to everyone
Steve
Monday, 27 December 2010
Possible skiing Tuesday 28th January
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
Hope you all had a lovely christmas and didn't overindulge too much!
There is a possibility of skiing tomorrow but it depends on whether or not we get the predicted overnight snow. We have had 1 or 2 cm this morning but the webcam picture still doesnt look great. The answerphone (01388 527527) will be updated in the morning to say whether we are opening. It is likely that only F1 will be running if we do open as F2 has an electrical fault which we will endeavour to repair but cannot guarantee. If we do open we will also be open to day members tomorrow - please download the application form from the website and take it with you.
Steve
Hope you all had a lovely christmas and didn't overindulge too much!
There is a possibility of skiing tomorrow but it depends on whether or not we get the predicted overnight snow. We have had 1 or 2 cm this morning but the webcam picture still doesnt look great. The answerphone (01388 527527) will be updated in the morning to say whether we are opening. It is likely that only F1 will be running if we do open as F2 has an electrical fault which we will endeavour to repair but cannot guarantee. If we do open we will also be open to day members tomorrow - please download the application form from the website and take it with you.
Steve
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Skiing is on for Thursday 23rd December
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
Once again I spoke too soon, I should really learn my lesson! We have had several cms of fresh snow in Weardale today and it is still falling so we are planning to open up tomorrow (Thursday 23rd December). We have not had a fell inspection but hopefully the fresh snow will have covered over any bare patches and there was already a good solid base down. We are planning to open the runs from 10:30am and we will welcome day members. Please can day members download the "day membership form" from the website and bring it along with the day fee. Please hand this to a tow operator BEFORE skiing. I am not sure what the road will be like tomorrow but suggest chains for non 4WD cars will be necessary.
Apologies for sending this out so late but I have just returned from a day away and was not expecting this snow. Happy skiing.
Steve
Once again I spoke too soon, I should really learn my lesson! We have had several cms of fresh snow in Weardale today and it is still falling so we are planning to open up tomorrow (Thursday 23rd December). We have not had a fell inspection but hopefully the fresh snow will have covered over any bare patches and there was already a good solid base down. We are planning to open the runs from 10:30am and we will welcome day members. Please can day members download the "day membership form" from the website and bring it along with the day fee. Please hand this to a tow operator BEFORE skiing. I am not sure what the road will be like tomorrow but suggest chains for non 4WD cars will be necessary.
Apologies for sending this out so late but I have just returned from a day away and was not expecting this snow. Happy skiing.
Steve
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
snow update
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
Sadly the snow keeps falling in all the wrong places. They have had it in Scotland, on the East Coast, in the Midlands, Ireland, Wales and for heavens sake even in London! Unfortunately the Pennines seems to have missed out. We still have snow on Swinhope but it is patchy with some ice and potentially dangerous skiing conditions so have been unable to open but we all have fiingers crossed for bit more fresh snow - it won't take a lot to make it skiable again. Still we have had the best skiing in the early season for many years. According to WSC life member John Stevenson it is the best snow we have had in November since 1964 which is the year they first skied at Swinhope and when the club was formed from its origins on Observatory Hill in Durham in 1957. Membership then was 30 shillings for an adult and 2 Guineas for a family and we had 45 members. We now have 780 members and I suspect the membership fee is now cheaper than in 1964 taking into account inflation.
Enough of the history. It doesnt look like we will be skiing before the 25th so I will take this opportunity on behalf of WSC to wish you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year. Lets hope for a prosperous and snowy New Year.
I hope many of you made use of the 20% discount weekends at Nevisport, Take a Hike and LD Mountain centre. I certainly did and saved myself a fortune (how many times have you men heard that excuse in the sales?). Don't forget that they all offer 10% discount all year round on production of that valuable WSC card.
Finally a brief mention of the other ski clubs in the North. In Teesdale we have Yad Moss and Harwood both of whom take day members when open. We have a reciprocal arrangement with Yad Moss whereby our members can ski there and their members can ski with us at a reduced rate on production of a valid card. Our weekend restrictions on not accepting day members does not affect this agreement and neither does Yad Moss's new day membership system affect WSC members wishing to ski there. Sadly neither of them at the moment have enough snow to ski on like us and neither does Allenheads Ski Club. Over in the Lake District there is a ski club on Raise which sometimes can hold the snow longer but currently is closed as well. LD Ski club does not accept day members but you can join on the slope once you have got your breath back from the long walk up! It is my ambition this season to ski all 5 of the "Northern Resorts" and I will report back on my success (or lack of) at the end of the season.
Steve
Sadly the snow keeps falling in all the wrong places. They have had it in Scotland, on the East Coast, in the Midlands, Ireland, Wales and for heavens sake even in London! Unfortunately the Pennines seems to have missed out. We still have snow on Swinhope but it is patchy with some ice and potentially dangerous skiing conditions so have been unable to open but we all have fiingers crossed for bit more fresh snow - it won't take a lot to make it skiable again. Still we have had the best skiing in the early season for many years. According to WSC life member John Stevenson it is the best snow we have had in November since 1964 which is the year they first skied at Swinhope and when the club was formed from its origins on Observatory Hill in Durham in 1957. Membership then was 30 shillings for an adult and 2 Guineas for a family and we had 45 members. We now have 780 members and I suspect the membership fee is now cheaper than in 1964 taking into account inflation.
Enough of the history. It doesnt look like we will be skiing before the 25th so I will take this opportunity on behalf of WSC to wish you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year. Lets hope for a prosperous and snowy New Year.
I hope many of you made use of the 20% discount weekends at Nevisport, Take a Hike and LD Mountain centre. I certainly did and saved myself a fortune (how many times have you men heard that excuse in the sales?). Don't forget that they all offer 10% discount all year round on production of that valuable WSC card.
Finally a brief mention of the other ski clubs in the North. In Teesdale we have Yad Moss and Harwood both of whom take day members when open. We have a reciprocal arrangement with Yad Moss whereby our members can ski there and their members can ski with us at a reduced rate on production of a valid card. Our weekend restrictions on not accepting day members does not affect this agreement and neither does Yad Moss's new day membership system affect WSC members wishing to ski there. Sadly neither of them at the moment have enough snow to ski on like us and neither does Allenheads Ski Club. Over in the Lake District there is a ski club on Raise which sometimes can hold the snow longer but currently is closed as well. LD Ski club does not accept day members but you can join on the slope once you have got your breath back from the long walk up! It is my ambition this season to ski all 5 of the "Northern Resorts" and I will report back on my success (or lack of) at the end of the season.
Steve
Friday, 10 December 2010
LD Mountain centre discount weekend (11th + 12th December)
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
As you won't be skiing this weekend why not call in at LD Mountain centre in Newcastle who are offering WSC members 20% discount all weekend upon production of a valid WSC membership card. You can pretend you are accompanying your wife/husband doing the christmas shopping and spend it all on ski equipment + clothing thereby getting brownie points and some discounted kit!!
Steve
As you won't be skiing this weekend why not call in at LD Mountain centre in Newcastle who are offering WSC members 20% discount all weekend upon production of a valid WSC membership card. You can pretend you are accompanying your wife/husband doing the christmas shopping and spend it all on ski equipment + clothing thereby getting brownie points and some discounted kit!!
Steve
snow go
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
Spoke too soon didn't I? The strong winds, warmer weather and rain has dealt a blow to any hopes of skiing tomorrow. An inspection of the slopes today showed slush and bare patches which unfortunately means that skiing is off for Saturday. It is forecast to get colder on Saturday night and if it freezes then skiing may be possible on Sunday but there will not be full cover. The long range forecast is for it to get much colder next week with snow showers starting midweek.
Yad Moss is also closed this weekend.
Steve
Spoke too soon didn't I? The strong winds, warmer weather and rain has dealt a blow to any hopes of skiing tomorrow. An inspection of the slopes today showed slush and bare patches which unfortunately means that skiing is off for Saturday. It is forecast to get colder on Saturday night and if it freezes then skiing may be possible on Sunday but there will not be full cover. The long range forecast is for it to get much colder next week with snow showers starting midweek.
Yad Moss is also closed this weekend.
Steve
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