Sunday was Lara’s turn to go out and play while Dave played with Ellis for the day.

Richard was keen to put his new equipment to the test so he and I headed up to Glen Shee to meet up with Scott and Helen. Unfortunately Scott was tom dick but Richard and I headed up to the ski station in the hope of finding something to ski on.

Given the lack of snow and it being Richard’s first tour we decided to stick near to the resort in order to benefit from the easy bail out if necessary.

We climbed up the Cairnwell side towards Aosda where there were some good patches of snow. Unfortunately the shallow layer of powder was covered with a couple of centimeters of crust. It was quite amazing considering it didn’t drop below zero! Based upon this information we decided it was not worth skiing down on and opted for a pisted descent.

Upon reaching Aosda we took the obligatory ‘skiier atop a munroe’ pics before traversing towards the summit of Cairnwell. While we were ascending from the ski station the cloud had been rolling in resulting in a white out and accompanying flat light. We couldn’t see any contours which led to some amusing skiing.

By this point Richard’s feet were in agony from his new boots. We also couldn’t see more than 20 feet in front of us. We chose to head back down from the top of the Cairnwell teebar, starting down the Bunny run and finishing down a red towards the cairnwell café.

The piste was in great condition and we had a fun ski down! Next stop Braemar mountain sports for some boot enlargement for Rich!!

I have had a bit of a fixation with this gully ski wise for a few years.  I have been up to ski it 5 times and only succeeded once, and even then this was not a complete descent as the top rock step was not banked out.  With the massive snow fall of last week I thought it would be a good idea to try and put this one to rest.  Scott and Scott (Burnett and Muir) both had days off on Friday and the plan was hatched.

We all met up at Loch Muick Car park and set off, 150m from the car Scott’s ski boot binding snapped….  really desperate not to abandon this idea – we managed to bodge fix it with tying knots and gaffa taping the strap and prayed it would hold. 

We climbed up the shoudler of Cuidhe Crom instead of the normal walk in which is getting a little tedious now (especially as we did it two weeks ago).  The sun was shinning but the wind was pretty strong.  We knew it was going to be really strong up top, but we had a goal in our sights so just did things up tight and got on with it, the sun was out and all was a glorious day apart from the wind.

Scott and Scott on the way up in the picture above.  All the way up there was a uncertainty if we would be able to ski the Gully, there certainly was enough snow, but the fact that there was a strong Westerly wind blowing all the snow into the gully concerned us about how stable the snow pack would be.

When we got there we made an anchor and Scott got lowered into the gully to dig a pit to check out the snow and see if it was do able, it was safe…..  the excitement grew in everyone.  Scott has been here quite a few times but like me, has never skied the Gully full length,  we chopped away a bit of the cornice to make the entrance a little easier (still concentrating) and the lights turned to green!

One point to make is that I have just bought some new skis, and I had walked up to the top of the gully with them, as I was putting them on and peering over the edge into where I was going I realised that I had never skied them before and my first 10 metres ont he skis was going to be jumping off the cornice into a steep gully.  Nothing I could do but expect them to perform…. and they did!  they were fantastic.  We all skied down the gully and it was brilliant.

Above is Scott entering.  Scott Burnett decided to down climb the very top bit and put his skis on 3 m below the cornice, considering this is only his second season on skis I think he is a complete hero, he skied the rest of the gully brilliantly and should be really proud, will have to think of what next to take him down.

Scott above and me setting off down the gully.

Well a fantastic day – something more rewarding about skiing these types of things here in Scotland rather than the alps.  I suppose it is the effort you need to get to then, the weather and the conditions all have to fall into place.  When they do the sense of achievement is incredible.

Right – I am off to find the next gully to get obsessed with skiing!

All the photos can be seen by clicking here

A video by Scott Muir can be seen below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2e2aulmS0k

When i say family ski day it gives the impression that Ellis was skiing as well.  How ever much I wish, there is no chance of a 4 week old baby ripping up the pistes with killer snow plough.  Instead we took it in turns to go skiing.  We went up to Glenshee with Richard,NNancy and Katey (our neighbours) and I help to teach them to ski whilst Lara was in the cafe with Ellis.  After an hour and a half Nancy was tired and she looked after Ellis whilst Lara and I went skiing together.

I was great to be able to go out and do something together like we used to,  Lara loved it and was able to ski no problems, she had the biggest grin on her face again.  Was great to see.

It is dumping it down with snow again up here so the winter is a long way away from being finish yet!   We should have a long while yet to go off skiing at the weekends!  who knows, Ellis may even have a chance to get skiing this season!!!!!  (yeah I know, I know!)

Ellis seemed to not mind the cold and was more than happy outside in her fluffy bear suit as can be seen above.  She is being pretty kind to us so far!

With the forecast to be clear and a full moon, I thought a good way to spend winter solstice is to go skiing.  I have only been skiing a few times at night, but know that when it is clear and a full moon it is really bright and sometimes head torches are not needed.

I rang around a few fellow skiing idiots who would think it is a good idea to go skiing at night as well, and ended up with the two Scott’s (Muir and Burnett), and one of Scott’s mates called Donald

We met up at the bottom of Morvern and started to ski up, we thought we would be all alone but about a dozen head torches came over the crest and down the hill, they were not moving fast enough to be skiers, when they neared it was the local hill running club.  Think I prefer to have been on skis!  Anyway, the climb was great, no head torches needed, could see more than enough with just the moon light, the moon was even casting our shadows on the floor it was that bright.

When we got to the top we sat around and admired the view, could see all the way over to Ben Macdui and in the other direction Lochnagar, was a great view and it was at night!  Mr Burnett whipped out his hip flask and some left over liquor chocolates and we all warmed ourselves up with them. 

after 10 or so minutes on top it was starting to get cold (it was a balmy -4 up there, and down the bottom it was a temperature inversion being -16)  we got all our stuff sorted and headed down.  We found some great patches of snow and was a really pleasant descent.

Once again we got back to the cars just before midnight and had a smug feeling.  I think I could really get into this night skiing stuff, I think everyone else enjoyed it and I think there could be some more happening this winter.  Thank you Mr Muir for letting me steal the pictures from your website as I forgot my camera…..

Once again Doug and I went out for a ski, there has been a massive thaw going on up here unfortunately and a lot of the snow has gone.  There is still more than enough to ski on, but not as much as last weekend!

We skied up Carin an Tuirc and along to Cairn of Claise, both Munros.  The snow is quite patchy below 750m but once above that there is plenty to go at

Doug on his way up the first Munro (they are both munros). At the top we sat and ate our sandwiches and chatted to a couple of other people who had skied up.

The obligatory cheese photo fest at the top,  I think I might start taking flags with me as well soon for the ultimate cheese, and one of those oxygen masks for true hero points!

from here we dropped down a little then along to Cairn of Claise,  and when down the the big valley back to the car. 

 A great little ski and hope the forecasted refreeze and more snow for the end of the week happens!

rest of the pics are here

The forecast was fora clear night, a few phone calls to other idiots and the three of us were driving out west to go skiing after work on Monday night.

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The ski up was clear but the moon was virtually non existent and it was not a very bright night, never mind we have head torches.  It took us an hour and a bit to get to and find the top where decided it was too cold to hang around and quickly got ready to go back down again.  Andy and I had both brought our big lights with us, and when we turned them on Miles shouts of “what the f*ck are they” made us laugh as he looked rather disappointed at his rather lacking light source in comparison to ours!  We did not stand around for long on the top as it was freezing and we were fast getting cold standing around.  Miles whipped out his hip flask full of whisky for the courage needed for the ski down, we each had a few gulps and we set off

The ski down was fun, really changeable snow with the odd rock showing, Andy was skiing on his new skis for the first time and seem to find all the rocks!  A small yelp and whimper every time he went over one.  I still don’t think he has plucked up the courage to look at his bases yet!  We got back down and home by midnight and straight to bed with smug smiles on our faces.  A great night.  Rest of pics can be seen by clicking here

I am sure that everyone reading this will have been subjected to the recent snow falls that have dominated the UK news and talk for the last 2 weeks,  some of us like it more than others.  I am one of them that loves the stuff!  With the Cairngorms receiving it’s first coating of the year it was time to rummage around in the attic and hunt out all the ski gear.  Got in touch with Doug and made plans of where to go.  With a lot of the mountain roads shut, access to the bigger hills in the north cairngorms was not an option, Deeside it was.

We drove to Invercauld and skinned up through the Ballochbuie Forest and out onto the Druim Adhar.  The snow was pretty wind scoured up higher in the open, with snow in the trees being a lot deeper.

It was a glorious day with virtually no wind and was pretty warm.  The poor old legs were not quite used to dragging skis up hill so were complaining a bit,  they better strengthen fast!

Yours truly at the lunch stop just below the top of the Stuic which was the aim of the day, this is a hill just to the west of Lochnagar.  As we went up the snow changed in patches, from wind effected snow, to powdery slab to nice spring type snow.

Doug with the top in site.  Once on the top we sat and had a look around us for future skiing plans and then changed the skis ready for the downhill, we decided to go follow a small gully down that looked like it had caught a lot of the snow being blown around.  It had, the skiing down on the most was great.  There were the few patches of snow that caught you out and threw your weight all over the place.

The ski down through the forest is a nice way to finish of the day, an easy gentle track that gives you enough time to admire the current states of the hills as you go down through it,

A great first day out for this season.  Hopefully it will be another snowy winter, Poor Lara was a bit green with envy at me going out skiing, but she is being very kind and understanding and saying that I should go and enjoy it and there is no point in me missing out just because she has too.  What a lovely wife I have!  When the baby comes I have promised her lots of baby sitting duties so she can go out and ski.

Rest of the the pictures can be seen by clicking here

For over three years I have been trying to ski this line, had a couple of failed attempts due to conditions and was super keen to get it done.  This weekend the weather forecast looked good and it was time for another attempt.  Partners in crime where Lara, Scott and Alan.

Once we got near the col, we decided that a ski down Red Spout gully was a good idea, a warm up and a line that Scott had never skied as well (Scott has skied most things!) so we walked up the ridge.  The wind was pretty strong blowing us off our skis now and again, some times having to resort to walking with them.  When we got to the top of the gully we had a look in to it, every time we stuck our heads over the edge we got a face full of icy snow being blown painfully in it.  Once a thorough exfoliating had finished, we all chose our entry points and off we went.  This is by far the steepest thing Lara has skied and she made it look easy once she plucked the courage up and went for it.

Above is Alan with his chosen entry.  The gully was pretty icy in places but not too much so to make it unskiable.  From the bottom we skied across the Corrie to the bottom and up to the bottom of the climb up Black Spout gully.  Poor Scott climbed a certain section a couple of times due to him getting near the top and his skins failing him and sliding back down.  Very funny to watch, but lots of internal swearing on Scott’s behalf.

From just below the gully, we took our skis off and put them on our rucksacks and got ready to go climb up black spout.  It is always a good idea to climb these things first so that you know what to expect on the way down.

The climb was fine on good solid snow (Lara above nearing the top of the gully).  The gully itself was a beautiful place to be, it sheltered us from the exfoliating winds, and was just magnificent due to all the rock walls being covered in hoar.  The very top section of the gully was unskiable due to exposed rocks so we stopped 10m short of the top and dug little platforms to put our skis on.

Time to realise a goal that had been in my head for three years.  The ski down was concentrating, the snow was of the kind that if you fell you would be lucky to stop until you hit less steap ground at the bottom of the gully, which would be very annoying and probably rather painful.  One by one we skied down.

Was brilliant, the snow was a little hard, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I came out through the bottom of the gully whooping and had a huge smile on my face to finally having managed to ski it.  Lara (above) skied it like a hero, a little tentative at first, but once she got going and got a few turns in she was fine and skied it with no worries at all.  Her first graded gully!  Go wife!  Alan unfortunately had a nasty head plant just as he exited the gully and slid quite a long way down the slope before he managed to stop himself by using his pole to arrest himself.

He had a glasses nose interface and cut his nose and broke his glasses, all I could hear him muttering was ” think I might go buy a helmet”.  He was fine, dusted himself off and carried on skiing.

A small skin up the col was helped by an incredibly strong tail wind, at points it actually pushed us up the hill, then a long ski down through some great spring snow back to the cars.

I got there happy as a pig in excrement and very pleased to have got this line skied.  The big question is….. what line can I start obsessing over next?

The rest of the pics can been seen by clicking here