The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
Surprisingly the tows ran today and about 20 people enjoyed dubious conditions. I am told that F1 runs were very bare but F2 skiable. Skiing closed early as the snow softened and disappeared and skiing closed early about 2pm. Sadly for us the temperaure is set to rise to 10-12 degrees tomorrow which will wreck any chance of further skiing until the cold weather returns but 8 days in December is an excellent start to the season.
A member has lost a pair of skins from his skis recently. It was thought they were last seen hanging up in the lodge but they were not there at the weekend. If anyone hs taken them or knows where they are can you please contact me.
On behalf of Weardale Ski Club can I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope to see you on the slopes as soon as possible.
Steve
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Snow Update from Saturday 17th December
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
The skiing today was very enjoyable. The gullies were filled with powder snow making some excellent runs in great snow. The M1 was also very good with several good routes down from the top of F2. Some of the lower pisted runs had a thin covering but were perfectly skiable and nicely pisted. Later in the day the snow froze making these runs even better. The guys have done a great job pisting the slopes and all is looking good for tomorrow. The road is a bit icy in places with some snow so 4X4, snow tyres or chains will be necessary tomorrow and please pack a shovel. The forecast is for a thaw next week so make the most while it is here.
Tows will run from 10am tomorrrow (Sunday 18th)
Steve
The skiing today was very enjoyable. The gullies were filled with powder snow making some excellent runs in great snow. The M1 was also very good with several good routes down from the top of F2. Some of the lower pisted runs had a thin covering but were perfectly skiable and nicely pisted. Later in the day the snow froze making these runs even better. The guys have done a great job pisting the slopes and all is looking good for tomorrow. The road is a bit icy in places with some snow so 4X4, snow tyres or chains will be necessary tomorrow and please pack a shovel. The forecast is for a thaw next week so make the most while it is here.
Tows will run from 10am tomorrrow (Sunday 18th)
Steve
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Snow update Thursday 15th December
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
There was skiing today at Swinhope but conditions were not great. Apparently the tow lines have great compacted snow and the gullies are full of snow with some great skiing but the main runs have thin cover with bare patches. It was possible to ski from the top of F2 to the bottom of F1 but you had to chose your route well.
We are not planning to open on friday but hopefully will do so at the weekend if we get a top up of snow.
If anyone is after some cheap skis for use at Swinhope, Weardale House outdoor centre have about 60 sets of skis, boots etc for sale. See the message below. Please contact Simon directly and not me for further details.
Steve
There was skiing today at Swinhope but conditions were not great. Apparently the tow lines have great compacted snow and the gullies are full of snow with some great skiing but the main runs have thin cover with bare patches. It was possible to ski from the top of F2 to the bottom of F1 but you had to chose your route well.
We are not planning to open on friday but hopefully will do so at the weekend if we get a top up of snow.
If anyone is after some cheap skis for use at Swinhope, Weardale House outdoor centre have about 60 sets of skis, boots etc for sale. See the message below. Please contact Simon directly and not me for further details.
Steve
I have around 60 sets of older child to adult sizes. Many are unused, the remainder are barely used.
I also have a whole raft of well used children's equipment that I'm looking to sell.
To give you an idea, I'm looking for £75 for a set of skis, boots, bindings and poles. The majority are Rossignol. My thought was that your members might be interested in a cheap set of skis to use in more marginal conditions to preserve their best equipment, or that you may have some beginners looking to get started.
The equipment is all at Weardale House in Ireshopeburn.
P.S. The reason for the sale? We simply aren't using them and I urgently need to purchase other equipment such as wetsuits, ropes and so on.
Steve Pugh
Business and Marketing Manager
YMCA Weardale House
01388 537479
07802 236036
www.weardalehouse.co.ukWednesday, 14 December 2011
Skiing Thursday
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
There has been snow falling overnight and also today so we are planning to open for skiing tomorrow (Thursday). Nobody has been up the road to check conditions on the road or the slopes so I cannot give any idea of what it will be like. However there has been a reasonable cover, forecast is for it to remain cold and tomorrows weather looks promising.
We plan to open from about 10am tomorrow.
Day visitors will be welcome tomorrow but if possible please print off a day membership form from the website (www.skiweardale.com) and complete it before travelling and bring the correct money (it makes life easier for the tow operators). Because we don't know what the road is like please bring chains and remember to pack that shovel in your boot. Also please drive straight into the parking space at a 45 degree angle to the fence as close as possible. Do not attempt to reverse into the space.
There has been snow falling overnight and also today so we are planning to open for skiing tomorrow (Thursday). Nobody has been up the road to check conditions on the road or the slopes so I cannot give any idea of what it will be like. However there has been a reasonable cover, forecast is for it to remain cold and tomorrows weather looks promising.
We plan to open from about 10am tomorrow.
Day visitors will be welcome tomorrow but if possible please print off a day membership form from the website (www.skiweardale.com) and complete it before travelling and bring the correct money (it makes life easier for the tow operators). Because we don't know what the road is like please bring chains and remember to pack that shovel in your boot. Also please drive straight into the parking space at a 45 degree angle to the fence as close as possible. Do not attempt to reverse into the space.
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Skiing Sunday 11th December
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
We had a good day skiing today though the snow did deteriorate as they day went on and by end of play there were quite a few bare patches but a good base and the towlines are now very well compacted. If we get the predicted snow overnight then conditions could be good but if we get no snow then it won't be worth opening on Sunday. Best advice is to look at the webcam at 830am or ring the answerphone in the morning for the latest advice. The road was ok today though some icy patches at the top which were a bit tricky. Having watched the following link about the value of winter tyres I suspect it would be a good investment for many of you who don't already have them - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259444/summer_continental_contisportcontact_3.html
Living North have written an article on skiing in Weardale in their January edition which is out now and has 5 pages about us and the other ski clubs in the North of England including some great photos from James Cummings and others. It will grace any coffee table and you can proudly show all your frends what Weardale Ski Club is like. Sadly today was a more typical Weardale skiing day but you don't have to tell them that!
The owner of the Guess watch has been found much to his relief as it was a pressie from his wife!! A pair of goggles was lost today by Lyn, so if anyone has found them please let me know.
Not sure why my writing went blue??
Steve
We had a good day skiing today though the snow did deteriorate as they day went on and by end of play there were quite a few bare patches but a good base and the towlines are now very well compacted. If we get the predicted snow overnight then conditions could be good but if we get no snow then it won't be worth opening on Sunday. Best advice is to look at the webcam at 830am or ring the answerphone in the morning for the latest advice. The road was ok today though some icy patches at the top which were a bit tricky. Having watched the following link about the value of winter tyres I suspect it would be a good investment for many of you who don't already have them - http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/total_tyre_guide/259444/summer_continental_contisportcontact_3.html
Living North have written an article on skiing in Weardale in their January edition which is out now and has 5 pages about us and the other ski clubs in the North of England including some great photos from James Cummings and others. It will grace any coffee table and you can proudly show all your frends what Weardale Ski Club is like. Sadly today was a more typical Weardale skiing day but you don't have to tell them that!
The owner of the Guess watch has been found much to his relief as it was a pressie from his wife!! A pair of goggles was lost today by Lyn, so if anyone has found them please let me know.
Not sure why my writing went blue??
Steve
Friday, 9 December 2011
Skiing Saturday 10th December
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
There has been a light fall if snow tonight which will hopefully freshen up the slopes so we plan to open tomorrow from 10am. I cannot guarantee the quality of the snow and will update tomorrow evening once we see what it is like. I am also unsure what the road is like as there may be significant ice so drive with care.
If you need new skis/snowboards/bindings etc Nevisport are offering 20% off hardware (not entirely sure what this covers) but if interested give them a call
Steve
There has been a light fall if snow tonight which will hopefully freshen up the slopes so we plan to open tomorrow from 10am. I cannot guarantee the quality of the snow and will update tomorrow evening once we see what it is like. I am also unsure what the road is like as there may be significant ice so drive with care.
If you need new skis/snowboards/bindings etc Nevisport are offering 20% off hardware (not entirely sure what this covers) but if interested give them a call
Steve
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Skiing update Wednesday 7th December
The Weardale Ski Club Ltd
Winter has certainly arrived and we have just enjoyed our 3rd day skiing of the season. Snow has also fallen in the Scottish resorts and at long last in Europe as well which hopefully means Christmas will be OK in the Alps for those travelling abroad. For those who plan to stay in this country we will see what we can do for you!
When it started to rain last night in Stanhope, combined with the winds and milder temperatures I was expecting much of the snow to have gone today so I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived this morning to find good snow cover. The winds were a bit strong so we could only run F1 but in total managed to stay open for about 4 hours and got some good skiing with about 10 or 11 people there. Some people were seen arriving at 2:15pm when we were shutting down and turned back when they saw the lifts had stopped. This time of year it gets dark so early that we have to start clearing the slopes at 3pm at the latest so please dont arrive late and expect us to remain open.
Sadly tomorrow is forecast very strong gale force winds and a brief thaw which means the tows will not be running. It is then predicted to get colder again with snow showers so the prospects are reasonable for the weekend but watch these emails or ring the answerphone before travelling.
Living North has written an article on WSC and the other Northern England ski clubs which is due to come out at the end of the week (January edition) - I havent seen a copy yet but hopefully it will give us some publicity and a good write up - why not go out and buy a copy.
Steve
Winter has certainly arrived and we have just enjoyed our 3rd day skiing of the season. Snow has also fallen in the Scottish resorts and at long last in Europe as well which hopefully means Christmas will be OK in the Alps for those travelling abroad. For those who plan to stay in this country we will see what we can do for you!
When it started to rain last night in Stanhope, combined with the winds and milder temperatures I was expecting much of the snow to have gone today so I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived this morning to find good snow cover. The winds were a bit strong so we could only run F1 but in total managed to stay open for about 4 hours and got some good skiing with about 10 or 11 people there. Some people were seen arriving at 2:15pm when we were shutting down and turned back when they saw the lifts had stopped. This time of year it gets dark so early that we have to start clearing the slopes at 3pm at the latest so please dont arrive late and expect us to remain open.
Sadly tomorrow is forecast very strong gale force winds and a brief thaw which means the tows will not be running. It is then predicted to get colder again with snow showers so the prospects are reasonable for the weekend but watch these emails or ring the answerphone before travelling.
Living North has written an article on WSC and the other Northern England ski clubs which is due to come out at the end of the week (January edition) - I havent seen a copy yet but hopefully it will give us some publicity and a good write up - why not go out and buy a copy.
Steve
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