27th snow report

[kateh]

The Weardale Ski Club Ltd

Another very good day on the slopes of Weardale today still with masses of snow up there. The pisted areas have improved though some of the off piste is a bit heavy. F1 tow line was tricky with the drifting snow but once the pistebasher had been up and flattened it out it made it a lot easier, especially for the snowboarders, some of whom found it difficult. The temperature hovered around zero all day and is predicted to fall to minus 4 or 5 tonight which should mean the pisted runs should be excellent tomorrow. We are planning to run tomorrow from about 10am. Both lifts have run well today with very few interuptions. One or two of the buttons have been slow to retract and can trip the emergency cord - can I ask you all to watch your button when you let go of it and if it trips the wire please reconnect it, make a note of the number of the button and report it to one of the club officials who will restart the lift. With the Skidoo being out of action it is a long walk up to the top to reconnect the cord!!

The road up to the slope is still a bit tricky in places. Snow chains are not essential but some may chose to use them for extra traction. There are however a couple of rutted areas on the road, the worst being at the top of the long slimb, shortly after it flattens out where a short section of deep ruts have developed which could damage exhausts if not taken carefully. This section is best taken very slowly and straddled. Hopefully we will improve this section tomorrow but it was too solid to move by shovel today and a pickaxe is being brought in tomorrow!!

Chains - I have had 2 reports of people buying cheap chains from Halfords that have snapped on their first outing. There may be many more who have bought these and think they are great but they havent informed me of that.In a recent report I had a link to some from Weissenfels Klack and Go have been recommended and I gather are very easy to fit - http://www.snowchains.co.uk/main/klack_and_go.htm - I am not on commission honest!

I have also had a message from Alan Mitcham who has some old chains free to a good home. He thinks they are Austrian/German, 15 years or so old but a good make and unused, not sure what size tyre they are for but he thinks a small car like a Nissan Micra. If you are interested they are free to collect from Ponteland - ring him on Phone 01661 823960

Steve