Well, it was about time Cairngorm Mountain joined the party – huh?
From their newsletter:
Future development plans are also in the pipeline. CML is looking at proposals that will improve the winter operation but allow us to get a year-round return on the investment that is made. With the success of the past winter we are a position to progress with a feasibility study on redevelopment of the lower Ciste area. The scope of the project would include: refurbishing and extending the lower Ciste chairlift, installation of a maintenance access track along the length of the lower Ciste chair and the installation of a novice mountain biking route and zip wire in this area, construct a mountain bike features park at the bottom of the lower Ciste and construct an energy efficient new reception building on the existing Ciste site to accommodate the proposed activities. The project is underway and we hope to have indicative project costs together with drawings and detailed trail design by the end of this year with a view to submitting a detailed planning application in the early part of 2011. The timescale on a project of this nature is a moveable feast and is indicative only.
As a winter sports enthusiast I'm certainly up for anything that will help preserve ski uplift in Coire na Ciste.
Oh and for all you Innerleithen chairlift petitioners – you might pick up some useful tips here:
http://savetheciste.com/campaign/