Any snowsports in Ireland?

sarsfield06

Poster King, if you up for a trip to the mountains this weekend I wouldn't mind joining up, my other half isn't that keen on long hikes but I have no problem hiking. I should be available Fri-Sun.

Fattes

Great conditions last night Snow was a little heavier and wetter than it has been but there was Moguls by the end of the night :eek:

The Volunteers that run the place have done a great job over the past week.

Outsidethebox

I wouldn't mind hitting the mountains either lads. If there's anyone going up saturday?

sarsfield06

Fattes fair play to the volunteers, they looked flat out at the weekend

Outsidethebox I should have the car Saturday so could give you a lift, thinking of heading for Luggala as suggested above, I'll confirm plans tomorrow, a boards Wicklow snow trip could be good!

Outsidethebox

Dead on Sarsfield. What time do people plan on heading up? I'll be coming from Tipperary so will have an early start.....

sarsfield06

Was up for a look today snow too wet to do anything it's waterlogged snow! and will be worse tomorrow as more rain tonight, will need colder weather again as this warm damp air is eating the snow, so will have to cancel tomorrow need to wait until snow gets drier

Outsidethebox

Sound, keep us updated.

Fattes

Guys was up there tonight and there is nothing left :mad: We can only hope it comes back soon.

opinion guy

30 years maybe ?

Calibos

Presumably Fattes is talking about the snow on Mount Kilternan and not Luggula

sarsfield06

Mount Kiltiernan is not exactly snowsure! Still lots of snow higher up but it's very wet, looking at weather forecast maybe a freeze up high overnight so could be better tomorrow but road floods are now also a problem. On Stocking Lane a drain full of melt water was blocked and flowing down the road making it a stream.

Fattes

Calibos Talking about all of wicklow the rain was everywhere last night including Lug and will make the snow very difficult and heavy to ski on.

Plus the rain will wash away allot of the snow.

sarsfield06

Went for a drive today to assess the situation, the Wicklow Gap was open so parked at carpark and hiked up tonelagee. There has been a lot of snow loss but still enough cover to ski, it was colder than last few days overnight so snow fairly firm although softer on return. Cover best on north faces and on the western side of Wicklow mtns. Looking north from tonelagee still good cover on most of these inner mtns.

A lovely bluebird day today, wonderful to be in the mountains.

sarsfield06

Some photos

On Tonelagee in the Wicklow Gap on Sunday, still very skiable


Friday, Military Road, Dublin Mountains

snowstreams

Theres still a decent amount there on sunday alright, but will it last till next weekend? At least its not +12C today.

snowstreams

Still deep snow in places. Saw some areas that would have been about 800m long near kippure mountain.

This is a drift on the military road in dublin mtns.

sarsfield06

Was in Tallaght for a meeting this morning and could see Kippure, surprisingly there appears to be decent cover still on the mountain, I am going to go up with skis either tomorrow or Saturday for a closer look as temps are below freezing at the moment at that altitude I reckon it's going to be hard snow but as long as there's enough cover I don't mind. Probably as much snow as there have Vancouver at the moment!

Anyone else see any decent snow patches in the Wicklow mountains?

BoardsRanger

sarsfield06 wrote: »

Was in Tallaght for a meeting this morning and could see Kippure, surprisingly there appears to be decent cover still on the mountain, I am going to go up with skis either tomorrow or Saturday for a closer look as temps are below freezing at the moment at that altitude I reckon it's going to be hard snow but as long as there's enough cover I don't mind. Probably as much snow as there have Vancouver at the moment!

Anyone else see any decent snow patches in the Wicklow mountains?

I was on tonelagee yesterday and had a good view of the surrounding mountains. I saw Kippure and you might be able to get a few short runs but to be honest it looks thin enough. The only mountain with good lying snow was Lugnaquilla - and thats a mighty walk with skis!

sarsfield06

If you were on Tonlagee you'd have seen the south face of Kippure, from Tallaght I can see the north face it looks better although won't really know about cover until I get closer. Was there any snow around Tonelagee and the Wicklow Gap? Is there much on Lughnaquilla?

Thinking of hiking up the road to Kippure, it'll be good exercise if nothing else!

BoardsRanger

Only alittle snow on Tonelagee - nothing you could ski/board on. Wicklow Gap and the surrounding hills is snow free now. Lug still has a good covering from approx 700m-summit.

You might aswell go up to Kippure- sure if there is not enough snow- there are great views! From the looks of it, you might get a short run in which is better than nothing!

sarsfield06

Kippure today, decent snow where there is cover, soft on top of a firm base, very slidable, approached from Military road, walked up north face up mountain

Miltary Road - promising


Pistes?


decent depth


so much white






Summit, cover not as good up here

Thegingerbear

Anybody up around the Wicklow Mts today? Would it be worth a visit with the skis?

sarsfield06

The northside of Kippure is definitely worth a visit as my photos above suggest, managed near top to bottom skiing today, a little fresh powder overnight also.

The other mountains around don't seen to have the same cover as Kippure where it is all in the gulleys formed by streams, depths up to 3 metres+ in places. I reckon you could have a skiercross track, a slopestyle comp or a slalom up there! Snow is hard packed but soft on top.

As it's Valentines Day may or may not get up tomorrow.

Could be more snow in the coming week which would help keep the snow base topped up.

sarsfield06

Up Kippure today, colder than last week and the snow was very firm although sunnny all day, looks like there is going to be a dump tonight as weather system moving in from the SW. The new fall will freshen things up and anyone thinkiing of a hike tomorrow should have a great time (assuming the roads are open).

opinion guy

hows it up there after the fresh snow last night ?

2lazytogetup

I was up at Cruagh Road/Stocking Lane this morning.


The was not great. There seemed to be no base. I couldn't get any speed or turn.

I was in the same area a month ago and it was great then.

Maybe in next few days with more snow it will be good.

sarsfield06

Opinion guy didn't ski today as my birthday and had a late one last night but went up to have a look, not too much new snow but enough to make everywhere lovely and white. Kippure looked super in a fresh blanket of snow, as there's a decent base there the new snow would have made for super conditions. I'll post a few photos soon.

A word of warning, Military Road is very slippy in places with packed snow, had to be pushed out of the ditch myself after going in trying to avoid a car sliding backwards at me! That was on the road from Glencree to Sally Gap on the steep section beside Lough Bray, probably better stay away from there unless you have chains, walking is much safer! Between Rathfarnham and Glencree the road was clear bar one short shaded stretch of pack snow. The Enniskerry to Glencree Road had some packed snow sections but should be passable with care.

sarsfield06

Kippure Saturday morning


Kippure Sunday afternoon


Saturday Kippure

sarsfield06

Couldn't see the mountains this morning but looks like rain rather than snow behind Rathfarnham, however according to the boards.ie weather forum there is a major dump potential for Saturday.

kermitdfrog

sarsfield06 wrote: »

Couldn't see the mountains this morning but looks like rain rather than snow behind Rathfarnham, howver according to the boards.ie weather forum there is a major dump potential for Saturday.

Sounds promising! Fingers crossed we get some sort of decent snowfall over the weekend - went up in January after the good dumps and it was good, surreal, fun.

sarsfield06

Of course it snowed overnight also, not much but probably more higher up, will freshen things up on Kippure

sarsfield06

On the top of kippure currently snowing lightly not much wind, great snow conditions it's going to be fun today!

sarsfield06

Photos from last Saturday on Kippure, best day since I have been up there, fresh snow and fresh tracks!:D If you haven't been out in the Wicklow mountains yet you're missnig out big time.

sarsfield06

Video from last Saturday

snowstreams

I'll have to give that a go tommorrow morning cause i'll be in dublin. Is it easy to find that run from the summit?
I reckon the military road up passed lough bray to the kippure gate should be ok by now?

Thegingerbear

Sarsfield, where abouts is Kippure, whats the best way to get to it coming from the m50 direction? Do you know if its possible to hire skis in Kilternan and bring them out for a few hours or do they only hire out the skis for use on the artificial slope?

snowstreams

The best way from the m50, i think is stocking lane, near rathfarnham, you turn off at firhouse from the m50, then go in the direction of glencree.
Though if ur going to rent skis at kiltiernan you would be best heading past enniskerry then up to glencree and then on to the kippure gate.
i dont know if kiltiernan will rent out ski,s its worth a try tho.

Thegingerbear

Thanks snowstream, I might haed up that way early next week. If you any of you guys make it up over the weekend let us know what the conditions are like.

snowstreams

Thanks for the directions Sarsfield.
I went up there this morning. The snow was firm at first but became to soft for speed as the day went on.
here is a pic from today on Kippure.



It was still good snow today, but i dont see any more snow in the forecast for the next week. It could be getting a bit old by next week, but another 4-5 inches would prob top it up nicely and keep the snow there good for another month maybe?
Heres a link to a few more pics from today, i have to put some vids up too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowstreams/sets/72157623442629735/
Great fun, a bit of a hike to get there, but defo worth it

sarsfield06

Great effort snowstreams! I was up there on Saturday morning at about 11.30am, never saw you! I only did a few runs as the snow was a little soft by the time I got to the summit as the previous night was fairly warm. At this time of year the key is to be up early to get firmer conditions as the snow softens rapidly as the temperature rises, as sunrise is sometime around 7am that might be a good time to be up there!

snowstreams

I came up the summit way. I thought i saw a skier ahead of me alright, must have been you. I didnt get to the slope till 12 id say, i found some ski tracks and followed them to find it. It found it firm enough to snowboard when i got there at 1st. but by 2pm it was very slow and soft.
I found the gullies that go parallel to the path to be great fun on a snowboard. They very very narrow but a unique experience, maybe one to try on skis
i'll be up in dublin again in 2wks time, if there is still snow i'll try to make it up extra early so.

sarsfield06

I assume these are the gullies you are talking about



Yes they are fun as you don't know where you'll end up! Expecially fun in a white out, I've lost my bearings a few times up there taking the wrong gully from the very top. The snow was slightly firmer at the very top also making for better riding conditions.

If you saw skiers it must have been me and my wife, the only other people I came across were walkers, pity I missed you.

snowstreams

Yeah I saw skiers up ahead alright. It was about 11am when i parked my car, so it probably was you up there.
yeah the gullys were like that alright. I was in ones that were prob only 4-5ft across in places, they were very tricky when they got that narrow!

I hope we get snow like this every year now, it was great to do something like that so close to home

opinion guy

snowstreams wrote: »

I hope we get snow like this every year now, it was great to do something like that so close to home

+1

snowstreams

Has anyone seen that patch of snow on Kippure recently? If its still deep enough we should have some good conditions on it again next week (6inches of new snow), in time for easter!

sarsfield06

Only very small patches left on kippure but snow potential this week, will have to wait to see how it plays out as the week progresses. Just got new full tilt boots and would love to try them out so fingers crossed.

snowstreams

Cool, looks like a foot of snow could fall on Kippure this week. Hopefully it will fill those gaps in the cover back in.

sarsfield06

The Dublin mountains are looking white this evening, rainfall hasn't been too intense today but looks like some more overnight. Northern Ireland seems to have got more snow than us so far.

snowstreams

I heard that over a foot fell higher up the mountains, but of course the roads are closed again. I'll be away in the sun for the weekend but should try kippure the following weekend if there is any left! Sarsfield, Let us know how you get on up there with your new boots.

sarsfield06

I'm going up after work, there long evenings are great!

I'd say a week might be a long time to wait this time of year as the ground and air temps are fairly high, but you never know.