Scrape the wax off!

Well bugger me! Let me just sort oot ma kit. Bike: put you back in the garage. Bouldering mat: Eh? yip, back in the garage too. Woolie beanie, gloves, snow shovel, boots, and skis: back in the van!

What the hell happen then? Spring? My arse! More like winter is back with anger, not just heavy snow fall again, but with a decent wind as well!

So I'm snowed in again. Twice this year and I'll try and drive oot tonight too see if this snow carry's on whether I'll be snowed in tomorrow as well!

I recently (two weeks ago) went to a local crag for some cleaning up, possibly some pre bouldering training could be had.

There as a slight problem with the landing of a couple of lines, so I sent tae the 'in the way rock' with the van jack and some rope. Two and a half hours later, Mark Council showed up (he was late because he was making bread. But after he took off his make-up and put doon his pinnie he came over with some more pulling power) Eventually we flipped the rock over and started to get rid of any crappy rock.

Done. A nice little clear up, felt good aboot helping oot the local crag and waited for it tae dry tae have a proper sesh.

But wait...

Well I think I will just have tae wait a little longer. At least Cassie was enjoying herself!

A Day Oot at the Wolf Tracks

So some time last week I got Namoi (mountain bike) oot for a spin tae work one morning. Shorts, sunglasses, yes this was going tae be cool. Apart from her 'lock-out' on the forks not working she never skipped a beat.

The following day I met up with big G (Graeme Morrison) and went tae Lagan for a ride. As usual the drizzle was only at the Wolf Tracks, but we saddled up anyway.

As the weather was not the best we vowed tae dae the red, in full, and then leg back tae the comfort of a brew and a sofa!

Spirits were high and the riding was better than we expected.

There are lots of great wee features at the Wolf Tracks, such as 'Chess Board' (a 40m long rock stair case), 'Aires Rock' (an entertaining rock slab), a North Shore section (a wooden ride-way),and loads more.

Spring was well in force, mountain biking had already kicked off, and soon tae be bouldering with amazing friction sunning skies. I've already put the ski's tae bed as I've had an awesome season on them, and it was time for catching up on my winter climbing for last bit of the season.

But there was something in the wind? A cold snap maybe? If so, it would be good for the friction of my bouldering/sport projects....but...wait....is that rain?

Climbing, and work.

Well the last few days has been filled with work. However I did manage tae relese myself from the clutches of the under paid dead end career grip of the shop by climbing at Extreme Dream. Although Extreme Dream has more than half in size, with a bit of imagination it can still be a great place tae train, meet up with friends, and throw chalk balls at the heids of the unexpected (Mark).

Climbing at the wall can be good training. They (whoever 'They' are?) say that 86% of climbers can improve their climbing by looking doon mare. Why? cause when you look doon, you see yer feet and what their not doing.

However climbing with no feet at all means that, yer feet aren't making mistakes cause they'er not in the equation!

The arms say 'trying hard', but Idon't know the face is saying!

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!