As the winter season draws to a close, staff at The Lecht 2090 are reflecting on a season that delivered far more positives than the previous couple of years.

One of the biggest boosts came from something that had been in short supply in recent winters - natural snowfall. Consistent snow cover during the early part of the season helped create excellent conditions on the slopes and generated strong demand for snowsports at the beginning of January.

OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE WINTER

The centre operated for a total of 58 days throughout the winter, although challenging road conditions forced closure for 12 days. Despite this setback, the season still represented a significant improvement compared to recent years.

Weather conditions, however, did present some difficulties. Persistent fog from the latter half of January and into February reduced visibility across the mountain, impacting visitor numbers during what is traditionally a busy period.

SNOWSPORTS NUMBERS RISE DESPITE STRONG COMPETITION

The Lecht recorded just under 18,000 skier days this season, an increase on the previous two winters. While encouraging, figures were slightly lower than anticipated given the amount of natural snow received. Competition from neighbouring resorts also played a part, with Glenshee Ski Centre benefiting from exceptional snow cover and Cairngorm Mountain seeing the return of its Funicular Railway, both of which helped attract skiers across the Highlands.

Looking ahead, The Lecht is preparing for further investment in its snowmaking capabilities. A new, larger Demaclenko snow factory is set to arrive ahead of next winter season. The upgraded system will feature newer technology capable of producing greater quantities of factory snow, helping to improve and expand lower slope conditions and increase reliability during marginal weather periods.

EXPANDING SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Beyond winter sports, developments are also continuing across the resort’s mountain biking facilities. Work is currently underway on new mountain bike trails, with hopes that they will officially open towards the end of June or early July, providing another attraction for visitors during the summer months.

Following several challenging winters, this season marked a welcome step forward for The Lecht, with natural snow, increased skier numbers and major future investments providing optimism for the years ahead.