No skiing today on Cairngorm Mountain. Photo: Roy and Susan ![[CC-2.0]](/lib/img/layout/cc-attr.gif)
One of Scotland’s busiest ski centres has had to close – because there is too much snow.
The Cairngorm Mountain centre announced today’s closure after two days of blizzards blocked the access road. The access road to the centre, near Coylumbridge, is also used by winter mountaineers heading for Cairn Gorm’s northern corries, but has seen drifts up to 5m deep.
No staff are at the site, but assessors from the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service have been out on the mountain to gather snowpack information.
A statement from Cairngorm Mountain said: “The mountain and all facilities, access roads and car parks will be closed today, Friday, to allow digging out after major drifting during the storm.
“We have come in this morning and it feels like Groundhog Day – all our work yesterday has been filled in again. We’re at it again with two 23-tonne Caterpillar diggers, our own ploughs and the piste machines which are also moving snow down banks so the diggers have somewhere to put the dug-out snow.”
The resort’s controversial funicular railway is also blocked and many of the ski-tow towers are covered in snow.
Avalanche risk on the northern aspects of the mountain’s slopes remains high today above 500m, with natural and human-induced snowslides likely.
Dave Paterson
15 January 2010Typical! Theres either not enough snow or too much snow....sometimes there is snow and its actually open but then its too busy to actually get a decent days skiing/boarding in! Im glad I didnt book a weeks hol in Aviemore this week!
Andrew Turner
15 January 2010It is hard to comment when the ever-changing weather is involved but it does appear the weekend is when the resort makes its money and that is always the priority.
Weekdays they close the slopes at the drop of a hat and this is detremental to the future of Aviemore as a Ski centre. Roads should be cleared and kept clear 24/7 to attract the numbers to make Cairngorm a European Ski destination rather than a place in Scotland that sometimes gets a bit snow.
Gary
15 January 2010Why not get some ski touring ski's and skin up?
The best form of skiing, its also cheap and you'll see no one! Enjoy !!
Gary