Any snowsports in Ireland?

sarsfield06 · 12-02-2010 9:59pm

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 · 13-02-2010 10:37pm

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

sarsfield06 · 13-02-2010 11:39pm

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 · 20-02-2010 8:42pm

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 · 21-02-2010 2:51pm

hows it up there after the fresh snow last night ?

2lazytogetup · 21-02-2010 5:06pm

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 · 21-02-2010 6:33pm

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 · 21-02-2010 7:23pm

Kippure Saturday morning

Kippure Sunday afternoon

Saturday Kippure

sarsfield06 · 24-02-2010 2:35pm

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 · 25-02-2010 5:58pm

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 · 25-02-2010 6:35pm

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

sarsfield06 · 27-02-2010 12:34pm

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

sarsfield06 · 03-03-2010 10:26pm

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 · 05-03-2010 3:32pm

Video from last Saturday

snowstreams · 05-03-2010 6:01pm

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 · 05-03-2010 8:11pm

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 · 06-03-2010 1:37am

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 · 06-03-2010 12:02pm

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 · 06-03-2010 10:07pm

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 · 08-03-2010 12:13pm

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 · 08-03-2010 2:12pm

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 · 08-03-2010 6:30pm

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 · 08-03-2010 6:41pm

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 · 08-03-2010 7:42pm

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 · 25-03-2010 2:15pm

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 · 28-03-2010 8:47pm

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 · 29-03-2010 10:10am

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 · 30-03-2010 11:32pm

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 · 31-03-2010 4:05pm

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 · 31-03-2010 4:23pm

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.

Any snowsports in Ireland?

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