Row as skiers lose passes

A row has erupted after skiers and boarders who strayed too close to an avalanche-prone slope had their passes confiscated on Cairn Gorm.

Around eight people lost their £21 day tickets after ski patrol staff saw them in off-piste areas which were closed because of avalanche risk.

Now Cairngorm Mountain Ltd’s social networking page has been inundated with more than 100 comments about the decision to remove the tickets.

Last night, the company defended the move taken on the grounds of safety.

Nearly 1,300 people took to the slopes at the weekend, but avalanche warnings were issued for two areas – the Coronation Wall and Head Wall. Yellow flags were put up telling people to

“It is expected they would obey all signs and markings”

stay away but later there was an avalanche.

The area was then closedandpasses confiscated from people seen ski-ing in the closed areas, but it has proved a controversial and divisive decision among the skiers and boarders who posted their feelings online.

Andy Thomson, who saw three of his colleagues lose their passes, said: “The folk that were stripped were in possess i on of sufficient avalanche kit.”

But Phillip Marsay said: “I don't understand howpeople can be surprised at losing a lift pass after using it to gain access to an area that has been closed off.”

Yesterday CairnGorm’s marketing manager Colin Kirkwood said: “Part of the conditions of sale of tickets is skiers abide by a code of conduct. It is expected theywouldobey all signs and markings there for their safety. Some skiers and boarders chose to ignore that and had their passes removed.”