A new six-part TV documentary following a winter at the Cairngorm ski centre will start on Monday 12 January.
Colin Matthew
The observational documentary series, The Mountain, to be shown on BBC1 Scotland at 7.30pm, will focus on the lives of those that struggle to keep the ski centre open through gales and snowstorms, and the people of Aviemore, whose livelihoods partly depend on a great winter season.
As the first storms of the winter blow in, the Ski Patrol are shown in the first episode of the series working hard to get the resort open as early as possible.
Working out of the mountain’s base station, Colin Matthew is responsible for a team of 40 workers. He says: “Skiers, they’ve got the bug now, it’s winter, they want to get skiing and boarding so we’ll do what we can. I think if you’re from this area the snow is just part of your life, and the mountain’s part of your life really.”
Among the preparations is a newly introduced system of ‘banking’ snow to help build lasting depth on the ski runs.
The series will also take a look at the lives of some of those providing for the winter tourism economy including accommodation providers, restuarant and cafe owners and Callum Fraser more commonly known to most as Spud the Piper.
The Mountain will be shown on BBC1 Scotland 7:30 – 8pm Monday 12 January and available on iPlayer shortly afterwards.