Weardale 8 Feb info for Monday

[phil]

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Latest News -Local planners have approved plans to build a 100 bed hotel and health spa on Swinhope Moor with the intention of making Weardale one of the Premier Skiing and Snowboarding resorts in Europe. Dream on, but at times this weekend you could have been fooled into thinking you were in the Alps and today we even had blue skies to complement the extensive snow cover. There were not quite as many skiers + boarders today as yesterday but still around 200-250 at least enjoyed some fantastic snow. All the little streams and ditches were filled in opening the whole area for use and people certainly made great use of it. The temperature never got above freezing so the snow is lasting well and no warm weather forecast this week so we are hoping to open all this week. Certainly we will run tomorrow and tuesday from 10:30am and almost certainly wednesday but I will update on tuesday night.
Good news for Ali Coombes whose snowboard has turned up - thanks Sarah, and we also found the owner of the yellow rucksac who is soon to be reunited with it.
If anyone wants to see photos from this weekend there are links on the website. Below are also links from 2 members to their own Flickr site
Kevins at http://flickr.com/photos/k2moore/sets/7 ... 061268202/
and
James at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamescummi ... 476796559/

Have a look there are some great shots. Please keep sending the links and please let me know if we can use them for publicity - we are always being asked for photos from journalists etc.

On the downside we had a few more problems parking today. I would suggest avoiding parking on the left after the gate beyond the carpark. A landrover got stuck there today and sustained some superficial damage and had to be towed out. There were also a few cars parked lower down but not "dug in" and this can cause mayhem on the road. If you cannot get into the carpark you must dig in so that you are completely off the road, hence the requirement to bring a shovel. The road has improved a little but is still tricky so I would still say chains or 4WD essential.
We have had complaints from residents of Westgate about people parking inconsiderately on the road from Daddry Shield to the Swinhope turn off and also blocking the road when putting on chains - please use the layby for this (I know it was blocked today by a trailer), but if you cannot get in the layby then please do not block the road.
Finally please take home your rubbish. We don't have rubbish bins because that means we have to carry out all your rubbish. If you bring food and drinks onto the slopes please take the empties with you.

Steve

[phil]

Just come back from the an most excellent days skiing at Weardale. Its almost unbelievable the quality of skiing on our doorstep , with fresh powder, plenty of sun, good off piste and to top it off no lift queue! To quote the sign on the first tow 'Welcome to Global Cooling'