| Gondola Queues |
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Author : Matthew (---.as13285.net)
posts : 99
Date : 01-24-12 21:05
Hello, myself and a few friends are going to Bansko on the 4th of February this year. Someone mentioned earlier today that they read gondola queues were very bad. We are booked with the ski school, if that makes a difference? Could someone please reply letting us know what the queues are like that time of year? Thank you in advance!  |
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Author : Niki (---.range86-154.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 208
Date : 01-24-12 21:18
I read earlier that 'Steve C' wrote it's pretty long at Xmas, New Year and half term holidays, fingers crossed there isn't much on the week of 4th, it hasn't looked busy on the live web cam on Bansko Blog. |
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Author : Matthew (---.as13285.net)
posts : 99
Date : 01-24-12 21:34
Also, on the Bansko Ski website it is showing that all the lifts leading to the peak are closed. Now when I first noticed this there were very high winds on the peak, but that has since subsided supposedly; yet the lifts are still closed. Could anyone enlighten me about this?
Thank you Niki, hopefully the queues won't be bad! |
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Author : pointanual (---.range86-153.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 81
Date : 01-24-12 21:36
roll on the 4th!!!! sum pals and me also out to bansko, hotel strazhite, flying from bristol
gonna get smashed on the first night!!!! an easy day sunday to gently find our ski legs
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Author : Matthew (---.as13285.net)
posts : 99
Date : 01-24-12 23:00
Ah, I'm in the Lion and flying from Manchester! Does anyone know about the lifts? |
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Author : davekl (213.226.63.---)
posts : 71
Date : 01-27-12 07:47
everything was working yesterday afternoon, they were late getting started though, because of clearing the snow |
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| re: Gondola Queues |
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Author : Steve Gee (---.range86-134.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 80
Date : 01-27-12 19:01
They only shut once this week as far as I could tell due to the winds. There was white out the last two days at the top but it was still open. It wasn't pleasant without visibility. From the Tomba down to the Gondola was great fun and lots of powder on piste, waist high off the edges.
Monday 25min Queue at 10, Tuesday same, Wednesday 45min queue at 10.30am and Thursday 5 min queue at 11am. If you want a full day arrive at 8/8.15 for minimal queues (so I was told by a resident South African/Londoner) He had apparantly stayed in the bar on the ski road all night, ski'd to the gondola in the morning and got back on it, the beer that is.
Finally, the hotel 100 yards behind Blah Blahs was half the price of the Ulen mountain restaurants, give it a go !
Steve |
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Author : Marc (---.static.as29550.net)
posts : 13
Date : 01-27-12 19:48
Steve,
We drove up today, Gondola queue was about almost back to Bus area (didnt see any buses though) so I reckon that was at least an hour, not good.
The hotel you mention behind blah blah's do you walk along the road behind to get to it? Can you ski there or from there down to the 4 man? |
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Author : Steve C (85.118.193.---)
posts : 2390
Date : 01-27-12 20:23
The queue at its peak was about 35 mins this morning, not that bad, when the queue extends out to the road and on up towards the Kempinski you might have problems, 2 - 3 hours...
I drove up to Challin Valog at 10 o'clock, parked right beside the ski road, nipped through Challin and up the 4 man to midstation..
It is possible to ski down from the Shilligarnika hotel, through the trees, to red 12... off-piste... but to get to it you must walk between the Bla Bla and the old Friends restaurant and up to the junction of the forest track, turn right, and its about 100m, the last bit can be skied... worth it, nice restaurant... |
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| re: Gondola Queues |
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Author : Dean (---.18-1.cable.virginmedia.com)
posts : 181
Date : 01-27-12 21:13
so going this/next week (presumeably a normal week) getting to the gondola for about 8.15... wouldn't expect to see much in the way of queues at the gondola? |
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Author : Steve C (85.118.193.---)
posts : 2390
Date : 01-27-12 22:19
You ain't going to be alone Dean, but no, you should get on fairly quickly... gondola runs normally from 08.30.. |
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Author : Steve Gee (---.range86-133.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 80
Date : 01-28-12 12:26
Marc,
Wouldn't suggest skiing to the 4man from the restaurant, the snow will be so deep you may regret it, especially after a few bottles of zagorka !
Steve |
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Author : dazzler1 (---.range109-150.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 3
Date : 01-29-12 12:45
Getting to the Gondola by 8.15am is the single best piece of advice anybody could give you regarding your trip to Bansko. I think if there are reports of 30+ minute queues even in 'quiet' weeks you need to plan to avoid that.
Once you are on the mountain you will hardly queue at all. And you will have all day to enjoy it. And then maybe a few beers on the ski road on the way home.
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Author : Shaun Black (---.bb.sky.com)
posts : 9
Date : 01-29-12 12:53
Hi
Whats the worst I can expect at half term in February ? -
How early do I need to get up to be at the front of the que ? |
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Author : dazzler1 (---.range109-150.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 3
Date : 01-29-12 13:12
Get there for 8.15 at the latest Shaun. In a busy week even then you might get a 30 minute queue but it's better than the 2-3 hours that have been reported in other busy weeks this season. |
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Author : Steve Gee (---.range86-137.btcentralplus.com)
posts : 80
Date : 01-29-12 15:17
Hi Shaun,
depnding on the queues at half term I would certainly consider getting a taxi either to the half way station (Chalin Valog) or all the way up to base camp. There are supposed to be Ulen mini buses that will take people up if the gondola is too busy but I get the feeling these aren't too well organised. If you have a family with you and can group with others you could possibly organise a lift up each day at a set time and fixed rate. I am sure there are firms available as I have used one in the past.
Good luck mate
Steve |
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Author : Shaun Black (---.bb.sky.com)
posts : 9
Date : 01-29-12 16:42
Thanks Steve - useful info |
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Author : Mr M (---.rdns.blackberry.net)
posts : 41
Date : 01-31-12 01:03
A lot of rock bottom offers for all inclusive (food lift pass etc) for the hotels at the minute all around the Bulgarian media so expect filling on the slopes , hotels and around from this weekend onwards and the result bigger fater queues in peak times. you have to make general plan and stick to it when you ski Bulgaria if you want not to get dissapointed. |
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