Skiing on the Nevis Range slopes
A Scottish ski resort is opening earlier than in any season in the last 13 years.
The Nevis Range facility on Aonach Mòr will operate this weekend, two weeks earlier than planned, as heavy early snow has covered the runs on the Lochaber mountain.
Annual maintenance on the resort’s gondola, ski lifts and tows is in progress at the moment, but engineers are working round the clock to have the machinery ready for the weekend.
But because of work on a new restaurant at the bottom gondola station, equipment hire at Nevis Range will not be possible, so skiers and boarders are warned either to bring their own gear or hire elsewhere before arriving at the resort.
Nevis Range managing director Marian Austin said: “We hadn’t planned to open until Saturday 18 December, but with the recent snowfall the conditions have been improving steadily, so decided to open early this weekend.
“Thanks must go to our engineering team who have been working tirelessly so that we can open early. This will be the earliest date we have opened since 1996 when we opened for one day in November.”
“So far our roads have been clear,” she added. “We’re lucky, our car park is just above sea level and once people arrive, the gondola takes them quickly up the mountain to the ski area. However customers are advised to keep watching the websites for the latest snow and weather conditions.”
Meanwhile, the Cairngorm Mountain ski area is already operating, with 20 runs reported to be open today, Wednesday, though the road from Aviemore to the resort’s car park has suffered from periodic closures as heavy snowfall has blocked the route.
Cairngorm Mountain’s operators hope to have the funicular, Coire Cas tow and the M1 Poma open tomorrow. However, as reported previously, some of the northern corries have high avalanche risk.
The Glencoe Mountain ski area is not yet open, as the resort has not had enough snowfall to make the pistes. Glenshee has a good covering of snow and some lifts and Pomas are expected to open this week.
