UKH

Dear all
I have noticed whilst i have been shuffling about on my planks these past couple of winters that there a lot of other folk have also been out similarly shuffling and sliding about. With the advances in kit recently and the last couple of excellent snowy winters it is becoming more and more popular.
So, i wonder is there any scope for a dedicated forum on UKC to provide a home to these people. I think that there is a huge crossover with winter climbers, but admittedly less numbers.
On the plus side i'm sure that ukc would be able to sell specific advertising slots to shops like facewest, mountain spirit and braemar mountain sports.
So what do people think? Do we start a petition?
James e

In reply to James Edwards: Great Idea!

In reply to James Edwards:

Yes please!

In reply to James Edwards:

Aye that would be grand!

In reply to James Edwards:

It would make winter and alps forum less clutted with the newer ending questions and debates on "dynafiddle is not safe", "dynafiddle is the only real option" and "what skis yada yada yada".

So it might be a good idea.

In reply to James Edwards:

Gets my vote.

In reply to James Edwards:

I'm in...

S

In reply to James Edwards:
I do think that it would 'get everyone in one place' as well.
I have been slightly disappointed with the traffic on the trip reports on the winter highland site as they seem not to be doing the type of trips that i do and that lots of people i know who use ukc do.
I agree it would be really good to separate out the ski chat from the winter forum so there will be more space for ranting about poor quality / ethically dubious / turf not frozen chat!
James e

In reply to James Edwards:

A very good idea James.

In reply to James Edwards:

Yes please.

My (admittedly limited) experience with the trip reports on Winterhighland echoes yours. People's mentions of days on here tends to be of more relevance to me.

In reply to James Edwards: would be ace

In reply to James Edwards: Agreed, great idea.

In reply to James Edwards:
Yes, would be useful and interesting

In reply to James Edwards:

Sounds like a plan - people can then openly discuss skinning up. I mentioned it to John McCarthey when on Excess Baggage in April - bless - he nearly fell off his chair on live radio!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011290b

We definately need this!

It is bizzare that we have a biking forum but no ski M.

In reply to James Edwards:
I'm in.
Already thinking about a Norway outing in Feb.

In reply to James Edwards: Would make a good addition but there could be a fair amount of crossover with the alpine forum?

In reply to wi11: I don't think so as ski mountaineers are looking for very different conditions to alpinists and there is A LOT going on in Scotland now. On an average day on mac dui I see more folk on skis than walkers.
James e

In reply to James Edwards:
Whats up with the winterhighland trip reports? Always seems like a good mix of standard touring and scary gullies.

In reply to James Edwards: fair enough, I was thinking of stuff in the alps and the like for some reason, hadn't considered the stuff in the UK!

In reply to James Edwards: Agreed. I'm a big fan of skinning up.

In reply to James Edwards: Never understood why it wasn't added years ago. Far more related to mountaineering than some of the existing fora

In reply to James Edwards: Great idea, gets my vote.
Jerry

In reply to James Edwards:

great idea, gets my vote too.

maybe we can start our own ethics debates - is it really skiing when you're sliding on 2mm of wet snow over grass...

In reply to James Edwards:

should have happened years ago...

In reply to James Edwards: A forum here would be good, my brother and I posted up trip reports and an archive here www.skitourscotland.co.uk feel free to contribute!

In reply to James Edwards:

Do it.

In reply to macstinator:

Another in favour.

Y

In reply to Yanchik:
Timely prompting James. Alan - another in favour... If we can have a runners section (and as one, I'm all in favour!) then we really should also have a ski mountaineering section.

James - we must make it out this winter. We've moved (Strath to Marybank) and are now even closerm, so its about time we got a few turns in together.

Graham

In reply to Mike_Watson_99: The last couple of years probably because of the amazing conditions we've had, i found that anything useful on winterhighland was diluted by loads of reports of people skiing the 9th hole on their local golf course down south! or skinning up Pitlochry high street to access Ben y Vrackie (sorry that was me!) or such like.

A forum on here would be great. The ski touring scene in Scotland is buzzing and growing year on year. Bring it on UKC

In reply to James Edwards: Another vote from me.

In reply to James Edwards:

This has been a good idea every time it's been suggested.

In reply to meh:

And we've never had a convincing explanation as to why its a bad idea or not possible - Mick ? Alan ?

In reply to James Edwards:
great plan, it'd keep the winter forum free for us proper winter climbers who want to know just how gnarly Idwal stream is

In reply to James Edwards:
Great idea!

In reply to James Edwards:

Yup, excellent idea.

Dynafiddle is the only option

In reply to James Edwards:

Another +1 from me.

Well that seems like a healthy response.
I will email the powers that be this evening and see what they say.
James e
Ps I like Fritschi and dynafit. I am a fence sitter!

In reply to James Edwards:

I'm a telewanker, so I prolly should not even post here.

In reply to James Edwards: dear god, so now ski touring gets the UKC treatment, condition requests and honeypots creation. is nothing in the mountains sacred now?

In reply to Erik B:
'cause there's no websites already doing trip and conditions reports on t'interweb.

In reply to Erik B:

Dunno but Rakim is up for it.

In reply to James Edwards: great idea. i'm in! how do you go about starting one up? and how do you contact someone from ukc?

In reply to Drew52:
It needs the site owners to set it up. It isnt something we can do ourselves. I sent an email to Alan James but perhaps he is away on holiday at the moment. Perhaps I will email one of the other people on the list of ukc people this evening.
James e

In reply to James Edwards:

What is wrong with Winterhighland.com?

Davie

In reply to parafinn:

It uses software even more useless than the UKC forum, and has less users and , hence, less information.

In reply to macstinator:
Hi,
Winterhighland does it for me - I get the info I need to ski i.e Gear tips, conditions, weather etc. Can UKC provide more?

What am I missing software wise?

Cannot wait for the UKC forum (excuse me if its been said before)to start up with threads filled with acrimonious diatribe:

1. Reccomend me an easy blue run in South of England within 60 minutes drive of my house.
2. What skis do I need to ski parallel down a black run in two days of skiing
and my all time favourite
3. It was never in condition! Yes it was! No it wasn't! Bumbly! Elitist!

In reply to macstinator: I find it very good for ski touring conditions and also different off piste routes. A lot of the contributors tour, off piste and piste ski (like myself). Another forum on here would be additional info though. Can't have too many reports imo!.

In reply to James Edwards: Yes please! It's just as relevant to mountaineers and climbers as running or biking, maybe more so.

In reply to James Edwards: Another vote from me. Very good idea!

In reply to James Edwards:

A very good idea the last 3/4 winters I have posted comments and asked questions regarding ski mountaineering on UKC. But sometimes these posts are lost in the mid winter mayhem. I would love to see a separate forum. It’s not winter climbing and does not fit within the expedition and alpine section.

So UKC management etc, here is a fab opportunity!

In reply to parafinn: its functionally inferior to this for instance www.skitourscotland.co.uk which is effectively a wiki sort of thing so allowing people to put up as much information as they like about the tours just done.

we need to sort out how to embed video for next season...

In reply to parafinn: Hi mate, wee Jamesy Cotter has spotted a niche in the industry, fair dooze like, I admire entrepreneurial spirit. Must be be tough not being in the Lochaber mafia!

fooze neeps?

In reply to Erik B: Hi Erik, nae bad! Fas yer tatties lune?

Been up helping build England's second highest toilet this weekend - we'll be flushed with success when we get it finished.

I will PM you on here later.

take care

Davie

In reply to James Edwards: Great idea. There've been a few articles on skiing, and since there are running and biking forums, seems odd not to have as skiing one. so much more relevant to mountaineering in general.

In reply to James Edwards:

do it.

ahh, the great UKC conquest of all non-ball sports gets ever wider everyday...

In reply to James Edwards:

Was there any answer to this? I think people have been asking for one for literally years, now, and it should take literally seconds to create one, the longer steps being porting over existing threads and designing an icon.

Who is in charge here, and how do we get this done?

In reply to macstinator:

I'd like a skiing forum too. I did more skiing than climbing last winter... largely because the roads were too nasty to drive far enough to climb, but not so nasty that I couldn't get to the Sidlaws to ski. On two memorable occasions, I didn't even need to get in the car-- I just skied the hills right behind the house.

In reply to Tim Chappell:
No answer yet. Perhaps if a few people asked it might make some headway.
James e

In reply to James Edwards:

Should we start typing in caps?

In reply to James Edwards:

Another vote for a "yes please".

In reply to James Edwards:
I agree with plans for a dedicated ski mountaineering forum. Im also glad that others describe their ski-ing as 'shuffling about on my planks'. It has been said that I look like a climber on skis... I don't think that was a compliment...

Kenny

In reply to KennyWright:

Yup, not a compliment...

if we can have a running and biking forum, then it seems reasonable to have a ski or ski touring forum

In reply to KennyWright:

In Canadian skiing argot, "hey, Joe, ye're skiin' like an Englishman todee" is, erm, not a compliment.

In reply to Henry Iddon: I heard that interview at the time Henry, it was very good

Another vote for a dedicated section from me

Blurty (off line)

In reply to James Edwards:

+1 from me

Count me in for a ski mountaineering forum. I did my first ever (slightly icy) day skiing at Glenshee last year and want to drop some dough on a setup that I can teach myself to ski on this winter (possibly using Spantiks for boots as I have a pair already?), beta for routes, how do I untangle myself from this sticky skins that have wrapped themselves around me etc so will have lots of idiotic threads to post that would otherwise clog up the winter climbing forum.

In reply to James Edwards: Good idea....but this will probably ensure we get the mildest winter since records began.

In reply to James Edwards: Thumbs up here

In reply to James Edwards:

If it doesn't happen we should invade the Expedition and Alpine Forum over the winter. I don't see the mods having a problem with it being used for discussion of skiing in the Alps, and if we have the winter that is being forecast I reckon that they'll soon get sick of moving posts about skiing in Scotland and leave them be.

In reply to James Edwards:

+ 2 from me, not because I am big headed, but the other one would like it too.

In reply to James Edwards:

And me.

In reply to Removed User: Mon the winter and skiing, also a ski-mountaineering forum would be nice too.

In reply to James Edwards:
Good idea - another vote from me.

In reply to James Edwards:

Good idea, I'm in favour

Lex

In reply to saintla - plenty of beta for routes here

www.skitourscotland.co.uk

In reply to alasdair19: Is it possible that ukclimbing and winterhighland have a non aggression pact, eg you have winter climbing and leave us the skiing?

In reply to andymoin:
Should those who rattle around on Split-Boards also be allowed to use the aforementioned ski-mountaineering forum?

In reply to KennyWright: now you're talking.

In reply to KennyWright: they are allowed to use it but their profiles will have a little D for ******** next to it when they post.

In reply to KennyWright:

Only if they recognise that a split board is just a rubbish pair of skis which are required since the snowboard is probably the worst piece of equipment invented for mountain travel...

In reply to James Edwards: Great Idea.

don't think the great yaaawwwnnn ethic debate will trouble the skiing forum

In reply to littlebopeep:
Oops... I appear to have stumbled once again into the dangerous territory that exists between skiers and snowboarders... I think I should stop making daft comments about winter activities I don’t really understand!

In reply to KennyWright:

Of course...

Just remember that everyone is laughing behind yer back... But luckily a lot less than if you'd be using approach skis + snowboard (or snowshoes + snowboard).

In reply to James Edwards:

Hi James, I think there might be a problem with this proposal however. I'd like to see it but UKC is populated by people who aren't really practitioners of the subject matter and it's rare to get a thread that doesn't involve filtering a lot of guff. The good content is lost amongst the overwhelming crap and arguments. The other thing I have observed here is that it appears that hardly anyone, relatively, from Scotland uses this forum and that's where the UK ski touring action is.

I don't want to be negative but I value my time and don't know if I could be arsed with arseholes. Maybe some kind of code of conduct in the new forum like "no crap"".

In reply to Coire Bog:
I think I know what you are trying to say and yes the dynafit v Fritschi debate is a perennial favourite of many. I think that certain threads attract the armchair surfers but I remember last winter, I think it was, that there was a very interesting and informative thread on what are the best grade vii routes were. This thread remained nicely idiot free as it's topic was elitist and if I remember it had masses of views and the noisy silly people were content to read rather than be a tiddler swimming with the big fish. Empty vessels make the most noise in sailing and in life.
I do know of quite a few folk in Scotland who practice this in eccose and the wider world and many have a popped up on this thread. I think that most ski mountaineers are generally more seasoned people but there will inevitably be the odd chalet boy or girl who insists on speaking in a stream of barely intelligible americanisms even though they come from Guildford. Those who cherish elitism as I do can either mock them with calculated aplom or knowingly shake our heads (is there a smiley for this?) and ignore them and be thankful that when some of us were going through emotional puberty the Internet wasn't around to record it for posterity.
Many thanks from a very autumnal glen coe this week,
James

In reply to James Edwards: Appologies, but this iPhone seems to not lime paragraphs at the moment.
James

In reply to Coire Bog:

I'm kind of an expert in another adventure sport (nothing to do with mountains). I don't post very much on the web forum for that sport, because people very rarely say anything that interests me. Occasionally somebody raises an interesting point, and if they do I get involved in the discussion.

I'm an intermediate skier, so I post much more on skiing forums. I find that I can learn a lot more by discussing things that I know less about. That's the way internet forums usually work. If you don't like it, you don't have to get involved.

In reply to James Edwards:


d00d, I aint from Guilford.


But a ski-phorum would be rAd... more so, if it was mostly about jibbin' and stuff. Like how to best do a truck driver kangoroo loop.

That would be awesome bro.

Oh, and dynafiddles all the way.








[threat]
Hey, UKC peeps, set up the darn forum... or I'll start spewin' shite like this all winter on both winter climbing and alpine forums.
[/threat]

In reply to Oceanic:
I find that I can learn a lot more by discussing things that I know less about.


This seems to be most UKCers' rule

In reply to James Edwards:
I'm up for that. I've seen a huge increase in Ski Touring in recent years and the gear is getting better. I'm sellinbg a lot of Fritschi and companies like G£ are making a dent. It's useful to know where the conditions are good etc.
Phil Tinning: Freetime Carlisle.

In reply to James Edwards:

Sounds like a nice idea.

I,m definitely up for that! I live in St Gervais near Chamonix for 7 months of the year & very active in the last 2 years & looking to ski some morethis season. Great 2 talk about kit, routes,conditions & maybe even hook up some ski buddies! I ski mainly around the Chamonix area great touring possible from Les COntamines, good early season when glaciers are more dangerous1 if anyone needs accom. equipment got useful contacts over here..i have a twitter account called ski vagabond idea is to share my adventures each winter & comment on conditions, snow quality etc routes being considered..My twitter name is SkiVagabond please follow & share ideas

In reply to Coire Bog: granted skis are far superior for transport generally but lets have a balanced view! Snowboards are incredible fun, have helped in the development of modern skis & in really tight spots can slip side more effectively than skis & don't come off which makes for better recovery when things go wrong.. Lets face it mountains are big enough to share the terrain so adopt a snow boarder & make friends..

In reply to Freetime: switched to dynafit last season for a super lightweight positive ski, more people are using them than ever. More beefy binding are available better for the freeride..

In reply to parafinn:
well said parafinn. As long as the 'if it isn't 7c it's not worth speaking about' brigade keep out it has a chance of becoming a valuable forum, till then i'm with winterhighland.

In reply to James Edwards:

I do a lot of snowboard touring/mountaineering (yes, with snowshoes), and I think this is a great idea (provided us boarders aren't excluded, of course).

Plus one for a ski forum

In reply to James Edwards: I'm for it,great idea

In reply to HangonSimon: here's a wee taster!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6newwOKniA&feature=channel_video_title

In reply to Rory Shaw:

vimeo.com/21354369

In reply to niallk: youtube.com/watch?v=Bqk1mizUt4E&

In reply to andymoin:

yes to the forum

In reply to James Edwards:

yes from me too (only just noticed this thread about a month late!) and I am based near Inverness. There will be loads of Scottish skiers on UKC.

brian

In reply to James Edwards: Another vote for this forum, long time overdue.

In reply to Simon05: So - clearly tons of folk up for it, as well as the peppering of those who would oppose fresh air, were it new, so what can be done about it?

In reply to James Edwards:
Yes, a good idea.

In reply to meh:

WinterHighlands been doing that since the 1990's!

Cheers Ron

In reply to James Edwards:
Yes please!

I guess it might be important to clarify boundaries with Winter/ Exped and Alpine - how people would know where to post. e.g. if you're writing about skiing to a climb, where do you write?

In reply to James Edwards: Charlie don't surf and Mods don't ski !

In reply to James Edwards: 111 replies and not a single one from the site owner... I guess he's not interested?

In reply to James Edwards: There are already biking and running forums so why not skiing? Dont know how hard it would be to add but seems like a lot of people would use it, i would. So another vote for one.

In reply to Ron Walker:

Holy necro-reply!

That's was my point in reply to Erik B's post literally just above the one you replied too.

In reply to meh: but a bit of a moot point, as if people wanted to draw upon the wisdom of winterhighland, then they wouldn't be asking for a dedicated forum here!

How does one contact an admin?

In reply to macstinator: isn't Winterhighland mostly about Scotland? many of us ski elsewhere

In reply to macstinator: Alan is the general site manager being the ultimate owner of UKC if I understand correctly. You can contact him, unsurprisingly, through the contact page! http://www.ukclimbing.com/general/email.html?d=1

In reply to TobyA:
I'm sure it's been said earlier but surely skiing or at least ski mountaineering / touring has more to do with 'climbing' than biking? How come we've a biking forum but no skiing forum ......


(bump)

In reply to Fish: I know - say if I biked into a route, and did a winter route - which forum would I put that in?

In reply to macstinator: expedition and alpine,surely?

In reply to James Edwards:
Another one keen on a ski forum

I have some questions to ask about ski mountaineering

In reply to Chris the Tall:

It's snowing in the Alps

In reply to Erstwhile: The local radio is saying the snowline will be down to 500m overnight

In reply to stevev: Österreich

Heute Abend, heute Nacht

Eine Kaltfront zieht durch, in manchen Regionen steht ein Wintereinbruch bevor! Regen und Schneefall breiten sich von Westen nach und nach auf ganz Österreich aus. Es kühlt deutlich ab, sodass die Schneefallgrenze auf 1000 bis etwa 500m sinkt. Stellenweise kann es aber noch weiter herunter schneien. So dürfte es z.B. in Kärnten, im oberen Murtal und in der Weststeiermark in den frühen Morgenstunden sogar bis in die Niederungen winterlich sein! Außerdem bläst zum Teil kräftiger Nordwestwind. Tiefstwerte: minus 1 bis plus 5 Grad.

In reply to stevev:

Looking out my window I would say about 1200 m (in the Dolomites). Not a huge amount but if it lasts then a minimum base for when it snows properly. Forecast cold.

In reply to Chris the Tall: It does seem a bit odd that there has not been a peep from the forum admins on this one. Despite a consistent and sizeable request for a separate board for ski / ski mountaineering issues there has been no response, not even in the negative. There must be some other agenda going on here ( no wishing to tread on toes etc) as less climbing related boards have been created without too much pressure (cycling, running etc).

A simple 'no' might help to clarify or maybe it wouldn't

In reply to David Peters:

Well overdue for sure.

In reply to James Edwards: I just sent a message to "Alan" the site god to ask for one.

I will post his response.

In reply to David Peters:

Sorry, A bit short staffed at the moment. I hadn't noticed this thread.

It takes a bit to set up a new forum but I will look into it.

Alan

In reply to James Edwards: Another +1 in favour!

In reply to Alan James - UKC:

Can'r ask for more than that! Thanks!

In reply to Alan James - UKC:

I can post info on conditions in the Dolomites/Eastearn Italian Alps (hopefully with help from Kean, the Powderbeast of Montebelluno)

In reply to top cat:



Totally agree

In reply to kean:Anybody fancy grappling with the Italian, this is the main forum for current routes and conditions (plus links to numerous weather sites and the like in eastern Alps and Dollies.
http://www.thetop.it/
Just click on "contributi disponibili" for full list of routes.

(wait a minute, should have posted this on the ski mountaineering forum...)

In reply to James Edwards: great idea, definitely be very useful

In reply to James Edwards:

Posted on Winterhighland today

"Skinned from the zig zags. Skied from Marquis Wells to the top station on firm packed good quality snow. During a late lunch the temperature rose and the snow turned much softer. Skied down the Fairway and M2 which had good cover high up and with a bit of route picking managed to get to top of the Daylodge poma. Much than yesterday as you could see the surface."

In reply to James Edwards:


Hi Ross

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Skiing Forum should be going live next week.

Cheers

Alan

In reply to macstinator:
Well done that man.
All we need now is some snow...
James e

In reply to James Edwards:



We have a wee bit of snow already in the Eastern Alps, with more forecast next weekend, so looking promising. In the meantime we have another week of perfect sunny rock climbing weather to endure.

In reply to James Edwards: lots of snow around the austrian glaciers. From pitzal i notic ed tracksheading out to the wildsp last weekite

Was about to add my weight to this thread but i see that a forum is in the works. Looking forward to the ski season, i'll be skiing in NE America (Adirondacks, Vermont), Eastern Ontario and Southern Quebec (Canada)

In reply to Phatman:

Oh come on... bunch of cheap flights to say SLC from the ice coast...

In reply to James Edwards: Can I add a Yes please vote!

In reply to HeMa:

Huh?

Sure you can get cheap flights to plenty of places but there's plenty of options within driving distance too. Plenty of weekends away.

In reply to Phatman:

While the Ice Coast might have reasonable skiing... it's a far cry from UT blower.

In reply to James Edwards:

Welcome to the new Skiing Forum

Alan

In reply to Alan James - UKC:


Yay!!

Power to the people ;0)

In reply to Alan James - UKC:

Hoorah!

In reply to James Edwards: My god! It worked! Edwards, you are an evil genius!

In reply to James Edwards: youtube.com/watch?v=jOEO_fgG3-I&

In reply to Alan James - UKC:
Excellant

How long before the boarders are demanding independence.....

In reply to Alan James - UKC:

Alright! Nice one

And the Iran pics are great (I would say that)

But seriously the skiing over there is incredible. If anyone wants any beta then send me a mail...

In reply to Alan James - UKC:

Excellent!

In reply to John Roberts (JR):hey john, where can i find more info on Iranian skiing. pics look great, and am always up for cultural challenges!

In reply to Adventure Medical Kits:

email me any Qs - john@jr-climbing.co.uk

there's not much info out there as very few westerners have skied there

happy to give you the beta

In reply to James Edwards: This site just keeps getting better and better! Congrats to all the team.

In reply to James Edwards:


aboot time we have our own forum, woop woop.

In reply to sneaks: nice one.reckon this will be a sweet addition.good effort ukc.

Yay! Powder to the people!

Is Glen Clova in yet, anyone?

Nice one Guys. UKClimbing is an amazing site, and I love skiing/snowboarding too. Check out my blog too if you're bored shitless : http://andylagan.wordpress.com backcountry snowboarding/splitboarding/skiing mainly around Chamonix.

In reply to andy.lagan: Another reason why ukc's brilliant, will look forward to using this a lot over the winter.

In reply to James Edwards: It will never happen.