Holiday Rentals News - Scottish ski resort experiences record snow in the face of global warming

Scottish ski resort experiences record snow in the face of global warming

Fears of global warming may be abounding but one ski resort in Scotland is proving an exception to the rule. According to The Times, Cairngorm Mountain resort near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands is experiencing its best snow in a decade. A year after having its worst ever season, Cairngorm is defying the doom and gloom of climate change and enjoying something of a revival.

Snow has been falling for the last few weeks and has led to what locals are calling the best spring skiing conditions in living memory. The car parks are full to bursting and the slopes are awash with keen skiers making the most of this unexpected extended season. The rush has taken the resort by surprise; there is not an up-to-date piste map to be seen and, as many of its seasonal workers have already packed their bags and left, it has even had to advertise for last minute staff. Bob Kinnair, chief executive of Cairngorm and a former head of the British Association of Ski Instructors, cannot believe what he is seeing: "I've been skiing here for 30 years but these are the best spring conditions I can remember. It's an extraordinary position for Scottish skiing to be in heading for the end of April in this century." Kinnair went on to say that they expect to still be open for business in May, which after welcoming its first visitors on December 1st last year, will take the resort into its sixth month in a row.

Another local skier backed up Kinnair's claims: "These are the best conditions I can remember for ten years. The cover is incredible. It's opened up the whole moutain." The resort has already exceeded its target of 51,000 skiers enjoying a day on its white stuff and expects to comfortably break the 60,000 barrier. It is not just locals who are strapping on their skis, as keen visitors are even travelling up from England. Back in its heyday, 30 years ago, Cairngorm could boast 150,000 - 200,000 skier days, against which this year's figures admittedly pale in comparison. Nevertheless, they are still a significant improvement on last year's dismal season, which only reached 38,000.

Thanks to this last minute godsend, Cairngorm is hoping to make a small profit this year and will plough most of that money straight back into the resort. Last year the resort made a loss of £200,000, which led to serious doubts over the future of Scottish skiing.

However, it is not just Cairngorm that is benefitting; Scotland's four other ski resorts have also reported improved conditions this year and at least two are planning to extend the season into May.

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