Skiing Report 4th Jan

[kateh]

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Another great day today with superb conditions. The forecast is good for this week and hopefully lasting well beyond the weekend. We will try and run the lifts whenever possible and weather and tow operators allow. Please use the answerphone (01388 527527) to find out if we will be opening rather than emailing me as I am currently getting too many emails to reply to individually - I have a full-time job (as do most of the committee) and a family I occasionally see! Tomorrow we plan to open at 10:30am. A few comments below please note.

The road - this has improved and the ruts are not as bad as they were but more snow is forecast tomorrow so 4WD or chains will be essential

Parking - this is very limited and we need to utilise space as much as possible - especially when busy. Please park on the left at a 45 degree angle as close to the fence as possible. If all spaces are full there are a few more higher up or you may have to dig in off the side of the road further down but ensuring well off the road (hence the need to pack a shovel). Several cars have parked parallel to the fence taking up 2 or 3 car spaces. Please do not block the access gate near the parking - this is required to be accessible at all times as it is the only access onto the fell for emergencies - this has been blocked a few times by thoughtless people. Also do not block any gates and in particular do not block the farm gate at Glenwhelt. The farmer here farms the fell and is very supportive towards us but his patience is tested at times. Without his support the club would not function. People often stop near his farm to put chains on + off and recently his access was blocked (not for the first time) and he was not best pleased and I gather had the equipment necessary to move the vehicle! I assure you that if you end up in a ditch, as several cars have this year you will be very grateful for his help!

Members Only Skiing at Weekends - Because of the pressure of numbers turning up we are planning to revert to the previous system of members only skiing at weekends but allowing day members to ski when we open through the week. This to reward longterm members who have been supportive to the club over recent years when the snow has not been so good. We have been taking membership applications on the fell in recent days but this is very time consuming, difficult to regulate and also means members are not getting any skiing so from after this coming weekend we will only accept membership applications via the post - please see the website www.skiweardale.com <http://www.skiweardale.com> for details and a downloadable form.

Snowboarders -We welcome snowboarders as well as skiers but please not that the Poma tows are not easy for beginner snowboarders and we would only recommend snowboarders who are competent in their usage to come. There is a potential risk of pulling the rope off the pylon by people falling off or trying to hang on when drifting off to the side. We try to encourage skiers and snowboarders to try and keep in the towline as much as possible but realise that at times this is hard due to blown snow drifts etc.

Trip Wire - Both tow lifts have a trip wire at the top which is broken if a Poma tow does not retract fully and stops the lifts. Please look at your poma when you let go of it and if it doesnt retract fully and trips the wire please reconnect it. You will then need to use the telephone  (in the grey boxes nearby) to contact someone at the bottom to restart the engine. This is a safety mechanism to prevent inury to skiers and also prevent damage to equipment.

Have a good day - I was always told to finish on a happy note. I do hope you all have a great time skiing + boarding and please dont take offence at anything I have said - these "rules" are to try and ensure that as many people get as much safe skiing + boarding as possible. The comments are not aimed at any particular individual and hopefully will ensure safe skiing for all.

Steve