4000's

Now, I'm not a big skier. I'm not a good skier. So with that, the 'three monkeys' set off for the four thousands.

As usual the lanky monkey (me) struggled up the first leg. I was trying my hardest to, kick, flick, slide, step...all the way up, technique is everything. Sure I was left in the wake off Neil and Mark (maybe I'll chatch up)with their powerful hill running legs cranking the skies up the hill. But I got there....eventually.

I'm more off a slower, easier pace skier/walker/runner...you get the picture?, I' m more of, check oot the view, get the good photo (well try) and get there when I can.

Soon enough we were having a wee snack and a drink before having a slide doon the other side of the first top.

Across and along tae Ben Macdui, with the view given you pure snow with the occasional turn cut doon the distance slopes from previous skiers bagging their ambitions in the back ground slopes. Most of the views far away didn't look real, sounds strange but they looked more like photo's.

From Ben Macdui the skiing was nothing more than brilliant. Like children in a candy shop, we look tae the slope that traversed and then dropping doon the untouched snow below and played as much as well could before the gradient slopes leveled.

At the bottom of the Ghru more snacks and drink before the slog of all slogs.

A well deserved rest at the top befor the next amazing slide doon, and then traverse to the homeward bound straight (straight-ish)

Homeward bound. The traverse to Brareich was awesome, the views again where beautiful. Not to sound too pathetic, but when I get a day like that, or a view so blue and intense with brilliant white on home land mountain's I ache. It's what, I think, all this is worth doing. Weather we die and we're dead, or there something else. I don't care. I've done what I need tae dae, I know that I'll keep doing this, and that's enough. So, then and now, and while I can still remember, I'll be happy, and intend tae keep keep it that way.

Fun raising

Sun 20th Feb:

Katie is running the marathon in London this April. She's running the marathon for the British Heart Foundation, and with that has to raise £3000. So Katie organised a day in Ski Hire at Caringorm Mountain, they were dressed up as the village people. So what could I dae? Dressing up as one of the village people on one of my days off after working 9 straight days? I don't think so, however my plan which involved Neil Foote ( a regular at longreachclimbing) wasn't exactly cool. Neil was in a two piece pink number (at least 4 sizes too small!) topped with an Afro and aviators! and I was in a red one piece with a rainbow stripped hat topped with a bobble.......what a bloody mess. However at the end on the day we raised over £700 and Neil and I skied doon the head wall (suppose tae be an end of season job).

I'll try and get some photo's for you guys a.s.a.p

What again?!

Wednesday 17th Feb

Angus: fancy another morning? There's some good snow up from the Ciste car park.

Me: Sounds like a plan! i think Neil is going tae come ( see previous Ben Wyis shanagins)

So I reverse Dora (my ex AA van) doon the drive way. Its -11.5 and its feels it. The van makes a funny noise as i loose sight on the road BRAKES. I stop but I'm not level. I try tae drive oot....nae chance. Shit. I get oot and Dora, some how, not my fault (maybe it was) got herself stuck on the banking.

Neil rocks up. Perfect, tie Dora tae Neils motor and we're free! Neil follows Dora and myself to the Ciste car park 20 min late tae find Angus still in his van with heaters on!

Me:'Sorry I'm late big yin' and we quickly get the gear taegether.

Me: ' SHITE!!' I've realised that I've left my liners warm next that the Aga in the kitchen.

So i had tae drive back doon tae the house, back up the drive carefully, and tan it back uptae the Ciste.

Me:'sorry lads' Its safe tae say that i got a bit of stick for that mistake.'

But then we were off, and the rewards were worth it, the morning was better than the day before!

I don't do morning!!!....or do I?

Angus: 'Lets go touring'
Me: 'After work? I'm up for that.' as I looked oot the window and see snow falling as it has done all day!

Tuesday 16th Feb. Snow was for casted for the Wednesday, but hey! its here now. Standing in the shop trying tae shoo the last of the customers oot so I can get me gear taegether for Angus' skin up the mountain.

Me: 'you coming Rob?'
Rob: 'Eh eh, aye, eh ok, aye. What now?'
Me: 'Yeah, its tipping it doon!'
Rob: 'Cool, lets do it'
Me: 'Right lets meet at the snow gates in 45min'

42min and 38 seconds late, phone rings

Me: 'Angus? whats up?'
Angus: It fucked! the gates are close, and i think that people are struggling tae get doon the mountain!'
Me: 'Shite.'

Me: 'Rob? its fucked.'
Rob: 'Shite.'
Me:'Aye.'
Angus:' We could always go up tomorrow morning? Lets say, at the snow gates for 06:00?'
Me: 'Eh.....ok.....shite.'

But getting up in the mornings isn't that bad when your going tae be the first person tae slide doon a slope where no one has been since the fresh snow has fell. Morning aren't that bad.

So myself, Danny (www.mountainplan.com), Angus, and Rob (mountain spirit) met at the snow gates and skinned all the way tae the summit of Cairngorm. Blue bird morning with an awesome sunrise that turned the hill orange. The more the sun popped oot, the more the hills begged you tae get skinning over tae them tae go play.

Unfortunately work was at 09:00, so we hunkered doon the hill tae the top car park, traversed level tae the link boulder, and ski doon through the trees in the powder back tae the vans.

Not a bad way tae start the day!

Ben Wyvis Touring......ice?!

Preparation was done. It maybe took 12 years to make. Time and effort, with the skill of a train tongue to make the decision to pour clean brown intae the bottle. Cork. And Label.

I'll tell you this, it didn't take 12 years to enjoy it, not even 12 hours.

And with that we were set for the night and ready. Ready to take on Ben Wyvis in the morning. On skis. with dogs. And with the blue sky's and sun that the stunning weather lassy told us on the news that night.

The three monkeys (Neil, Mark and myself) set off. We parked up and unpack ski's, dog's and hip flask (remainder of the bottle), and started the walk-in.

The beautiful weather lassy was right. And the walk-in was good (apart from the blister developing on my heels. Shite).

We got tae the big boulder before setting up. When it came apparent that there was, despite the photo, an extreme lack of snow. Ice however, there was plenty of that!

So the three determined monkeys set off with stubborn determination to skin up this bitch....but...as usual...the bitch won. And it wasn't long before the ski's where in hand and all three of us were kicking steps with the same stubborn determination as before. It was funny how we didn't really think aboot how tae get doon! Tae the expert skier this wouldn't be a problem. But we're not experts. We're pish!

The traverse began intae the first main bowl. Icy at the start, with some ice at the middle and at the end of the traverse was snow! a whole inch of snow.....on ice.

We could see a gully at the bottom and it looked like it had some more snow, maybe 2 inches of the freshest power ever seen!

The start of the gully seemed tricky for Neil.

But soon enough the three monkeys were sliding doon the gully with grace and agility

After a day like that. The three monkeys were dog tired!

Neil was just shocked that it was over!

Danny, Andy, Hannah and Cassie heading back for a brew.

Down time with Cassie after a run (for her) doon Lerchers gully.

Andy coming doon the backof Cairngorm.

Climbing or Touring

So went to go climbing on Thursday. Yes roond 2 of the Chancer.....but......Andy's shoulder was giving him hassle, and had done for the past week.

Now a lot of people may be slightly miffed if they were in my predicament. But there is snow on the hill and we've got ski and skins. How could we complain? There was skiing tae be had!!

Failed on the 'Chancer'

The lads preparing for the skin up. But with our charm we blagged some tickets!

The Chancer. Hells Lum. 'V,6' ice climbing.

I woke up on Wed 6th already mentally preparing myself. What do I need? Got tools, screws, harness, ropes, food..........ski's?

'Aye, lets tour intae Hells Lums, do the climb, and ski oot!' I said to Mark Council and Andy Sutton (Andy drove up from Leeds the night before, got in at 02:00. Keen!)

So we sorted our gear, problem being was Andy didn't have any ski's. However I do have a pair of Rossignol blades with a tour binding on them.

'There you go Andy, sorted!' He didn't seem so keen.

We got up to the top car park, the sun was up, and the snow was definatley there. 4-5 inches of fresh snow fell last night.

I looked at the strong climbing team, Mark practicing his apline butterfly while doing one armers on the van door (strong door), Andy was sharpening his tools and racking the gear on his harness with OCD precision.

'Dae ye want tae f****this off and of skiing lads?' They both looked at each other.

'Aye!'