Editing Cairn Gorm (section)

===History===
The alpine ski area was developed on Cairn Gorm from 1960 onwards. A chairlift and chalet opened in December 1961.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b909AAAAIBAJ&sjid=LUgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6385%2C8259230 |title=End of the trudge up Cairngorm. Official Opening of Chair-lift |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=25 December 1961 |page=8 |accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref> In the summer of 1968 a new half mile of road was built that improved access for skiing in the Coire-na-Ciste area.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d39AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zqMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5024%2C387707 |title=Skiers flocking to Cairngorm slopes |work=The Glasgow Herald |page=16 |date=3 January 1969 |access-date=14 May 2022}}</ref> It is the second largest in Scotland (after [[Glenshee Ski Centre|Glenshee]]). By the 1980s, thousands of skiers were using the slopes on busy weekends, which could often become very crowded.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rMBAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2KUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2886%2C1528066 |title=Cairngorm ski expansion starts Battle of Lurcher's Gully |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=7 April 1980 |page=7 |accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref>

By the 2000s, the number of skiers at Cairngorm and Scotland's other ski areas had dropped, partly as a consequence of budget airline travel making access to the Alps more attractive.<ref name="Scotsman 12Dec2006">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/going-downhill-1-733970 |title=Going downhill |work=The Scotsman |date=12 December 2006 |accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref>

Snow conditions in the Scottish Highlands are unpredictable and [[Global warming|Global Warming]] has emerged as a potential threat to the viability of the Scottish ski industry. In 2004, [[Adam Watson (scientist)|Adam Watson]] predicted that there would be no more than twenty years left for the industry.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/feb/14/climatechange.scotland |title=Global warming forces sale of Scottish winter sports resorts |first=Gerard |last=Seenan |work=The Guardian |date=14 February 2004 |accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref> However recent winters have had excellent snow cover and ski conditions and winter sports usage has recovered significantly resulting in improved finances.<ref>[http://www.winterhighland.com/general/ Winterhighland] Winterhighland. Retrieved 25 March 2021.</ref> In 2011–12 the resort trialled a TechnoAlpin T40 snow cannon, and in 2012–13 three more were leased.<ref>[http://www.trakkemaskin.no/default.asp?cid=1&nid=1706&lang= "Technoalpin continue business in Scotland "] TechnoAlpin. Retrieved 1 December 2012.</ref> A larger TF10 cannon was added for the 2013–14 season<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/outdoors/key-facts-on-the-cairngorm-ski-resort-1-3215205 |title=Key facts on the Cairngorm ski resort |work= [[The Scotsman]] |date=1 December 2013 |accessdate=4 June 2017}}</ref>

In April 2014 Natural Retreats was chosen by HIE as the new operator of Cairngorm Mountain Ltd.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-26920865| title=CairnGorm Mountain's new operator confirmed as Natural Retreats UK |  publisher=[[BBC News]]| date=7 April 2014| accessdate=2014-04-24}}</ref>