Whisper it quietly but it might just sn*w in the next couple of days. If it does and hasn't melted by saturday AND there is wind then I'm thinking of trying to snow kite here...

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=whitley+bay&sll=53.098145,-2.443696&sspn=7.974505,12.810059&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=55.030531,-1.458435&spn=0.014856,0.039096&om=1

It's the playing fields by the foxhunters pub, if the snow is decent then hopefully the football will be called off and the posts won't be up. Anyway, if this happens then I'll put a post up here.

The other possibility is heading to the pennines for some regular downhill sliding, either to Yad Moss or Swinhope. Yad Moss will be packed at the weekend so swinhope would be quieter. However it's less accessible and is rougher terrain so you need more snow to use it. Unless you have 4 wheel drive there can be a bit of a hike along the access road

Anyone up for either of these?


EDIT thursday 7pm
OK, another dream evaporates with the forecast...

optimism pays off...

The report from Yad Moss said new snow had fallen overnight so I packed the snowboard and my venom in the car and headed up to Alston. It was sleeting all the way there but once you climbed up out of the tyne valley the sleet started to turn to snow and it looked to be about 10-15cm lying on the moors.

The ski tow was running and there were a few folk braving the conditions which were best described as challenging - 15m vis at the top, a 25+mph wind blowing down the slope (no kiting today) and snow cover that ranged from mm to about half a metre deep in the gullies, if you could be bothered to search for some nice turns. The button tow has a legendary pop when it takes off, it lifts you off your feet and carries you a couple of metres before landing - be warned.

Anyway I spent about 3 hours there trying to recover my snow legs and had a decent time for the ?10 ticket fee. If the snow stays then the tow will probably run tomorrow but it could easily wash away if it rains overnight. The tows at Swinhope also ran today and their website claims someone was kiting there as well.

It is very, very basic and you're riding on grassy tussocks poking through the snow in most places but I've had some good days there in the past few years. Just a heads up really if anyone fancies it, if we get another good fall this winter I'll be going again.

hi, think I will have a dodge up in the mornin with ned if he doesnt get 2 pishd 2nite, there xpectin another 4 in 2nite and turnin fine tho warmer 2morro! any1 else?
da rev

I cant make it again tomorrow but hope the snow stays or gets better. The best runs were to the left of the tow facing downhill. If you head off right from the top then there are quite a few places where the snow has drifted into deeper sections, its just a bit flat in places and the grass is deeper. The best run though, is probably from the lodge down to the road, just a bugger walking back up.

JomoJ wrote:I cant make it again tomorrow but hope the snow stays or gets better. The best runs were to the left of the tow facing downhill. If you head off right from the top then there are quite a few places where the snow has drifted into deeper sections, its just a bit flat in places and the grass is deeper. The best run though, is probably from the lodge down to the road, just a bugger walking back up.

thats why u use a kite?!!
da rev

well if the wind stays easterly good luck riding upwind and uphill

Swinhope would probably be a better spot to try kiting, its flatter at the bottom and on top of the ridge. Yad Moss is pretty lumpy in most areas.

not sure how it was on sunday but this was the general scene on saturday afternoon

[quote="JomoJ"]not sure how it was on sunday but this was the general scene on saturday afternoon
hi it was pants seems it rained overnite! apparently paul myerscouse was goin well at swinhope sat!!
da rev