Monday, the sun is shining and temperature first thing was already in double figures. The top car park is nearly full with Bank Holiday visitors and there are around a couple of hundred skiers/boarders enjoying the last of the snow. We are no longer running the Cas tow . The weather over the week end was not as bad as had been forecast although it was very windy on Sunday morning. Most activities went to plan – but we cancelled the hog roast on the basis of Sunday’s original forecast and the snow hole and ice castle melted by Sunday!We plan to close for skiing for the rest of the week and taking into consideration the weather forecast we are not optimistic about the week end – lots of warm weather all week. We will have to make a call one way or the other, about Wednesday. …….. It may be time to dig out the golf clubs if you have not done this already.As we move towards the summer this is another busy time for all staff here at Cairn Gorm. We have already started our maintenance programme and have a lot of painting and sorting out to do following the long winter. A programme of summer walks and activities has already begun.
We are carrying out some restructuring with very much the medium/long term in mind as well as a strong commitment to the skiing side of the business. … Back to the desk… at least on a bank holiday the phone does not ring!
Bob 
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May 5th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hi Bob,
any idea of how many skiers and boarders you’ve had this season? And have you worked out a list of things to do with the extra money?
This winter’s been so good up in Cairngorm I can’t wait for the snow to come again!
Thanks to you and all of your team for making this season the best I can remember.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Sadly the bank will take nearly all the money - we lost over 200k last year - and owe the bank considerably more. Look on the bright side - All Scottish ski areas are still in business and lets hope we get another good winter next year. This year we have recorded over 61,000 skier days.
Bob
May 6th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Hi Bob
Just wanted to show my support - i came up this weekend (fifth time this season)and had an absolute ball:) Ptarmigan bowl was beeeeeautiful to ride today (and lovely to fall on…he he - soft snow = no pain!!) and seeing all the guys jumping on the terrain park was brilliant too. Even when winds and visibility were on the challenging side on Sunday, still had an amazing time. Staff were brill and everyone really enthusiastic….truly hope you guys can stay open for many future seasons cause you are a gem in the rough:). Can’t wait for next year!
May 6th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Bob, I just want to say thanks fior laying on a fantastic weekend of events and being the last ski area in Scotland to stay open - I even saw folk from Nevis up in the snowpark on Monday!
The staff were truly superb, especially the ski patrol who put up with my daughter pestering them to see Coire (the dog not the funicular) constantly. Everyone was full of smiles and really helpful apart from one person in the ticket office who seemed to have missed the happy mood on Saturday, but that was soon sorted by her manager who was lovely.
I see the Daily Record have a report on the events and the fact people were skiing and it’s been picked up by Snowheads, the largest UK skiing forum, all brilliant PR for Scottish skiing and as long as there’s snow we’ll keep plugging away on there and elsewhere. In fact I’m pleased to say that we’ve managed to encourage a few people to try Scotland for the first time as well as return after many years this season, a result I think!
I’ve been plugging away at people at Gloucester dry ski slope this season too, I do some part-time instruction there, and some have ventured north of the border this year I believe!
All grist to the mill and please pass on my family’s thanks to everyone (with the one exception, lol) for a superb weekend - I know my daughter wants to come back so that’s the next generation sorted!
BTW, I believe you took some photos of my little boy, Jamie, on the snow castle on Saturday - do you have any copies of these Bob?
May 6th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Bob
Thank you for taking the time to keep us informed through the blogs and the fantastic pics you posted through the season.
For those of us who cant get to Caingorm any more it is a wonderful reminder of many happy skiing experiences going back into the ’60’s
Please keep the blog going next season.
Thanks
Michael
May 9th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Hi Bob,
Just read about your agreement with the Highland Council. I really hope you can find ways to bring in more income. Charging a fee in the car-park seems a good idea - especially if the parking area and roads to the base are maintained by you. With the debt written off, how much does the funicular and infrastructure cost on a daily/ season basis? Can visitors cover costs?
I guess talking about it might be time-consuming and tricky but hopefully we can all put our ideas across - there may be an avenue not yet explored.
The thought of HIE running the facility is a little scary - sort of faceless.
You’ve made a lot of good friends this season, you should take advantage of them.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Sofia, the press has not quite got the full or accurate story, but negotiations are on going. If everything works it will mean that the company will be in a much stronger position to attract both public and private sector investment. I believe this is good news for staff, the local community, and the environment and provides the best chance of developing skiing. As soon as I can I will share the details on the Blog … exciting times… a lot of work behind the scenes
bob
May 9th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Bob.
Thanks for the efforts over this season.
Can I just add one point: the addition of a proper park and similar features like the skicross etc have been very welcome additions, although they have come late-ish in the season. There are people who have come and will come just for these, so I would really suggest for next season to try to get park features implemented as early as possible. The ptarmigan bowl, even with minimal snow, is ideally suited for this, and having park features out would add skier days even when skiing elsewhere on the mountain would be potentially marginal.
Thx
May 11th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Bob,
I would like to add my thanks for all your efforts this season.
My friends and I have regularly travelled through from Elgin and we have each managed somewhere around 15 days on the mountain this year (wish i’d purchased a season ticket). The addition of the boardercross run was brilliant and hopefully you can build another one earlier next season.
Thx