Category Archives: winter stuff

A wintery Weekend – what a surprise!

So up early on Saturday and drove to the bridge of Invercauld where we met Scott, Helen, Alan and Pete. The aim of the Day was Culardoch.  A hill north of braemar, one we had not been to before.

It was a long gradual ski up through the forest on gradual paths that finally threw us out onto the big open area from where we could at least see what we where aiming for

 

The sun came out and it turned into a lovely climb to the top. 

Once at the top we sat and admired the view, it was up there with some of the best I have had of this bonnie place. From here on the left Beinn A’Bhuird can be seen and the start of Garbh Choire

 We all threw some food down out necks, changed our skis into the downhill modes and went for it.

It was brilliant fun, the snow was in great condition, it had consolidated enough for us not to break through to the heather and all sorts of woops and shouts were heard going on as we skied down the hill. 

From the bottom we had a short skin up to the start of the forest and a great gentle ski down through it to the cars.  A fairly long day for this time of year and the sun was setting just as we got drove off.  Lara did her normal trick after skiing all day in the car – fell asleep.  So I amused my self singing loudly all the way home.

Sunday a different approach was to be taken.  We decided to go climb on Clach Na Bienn and due to Matt and Emma not having skis we decided we will walk up.  What a mistakea to makea!

The small crag can be seen in the back ground, 2 hours of thigh deep snow trudging up to the small rocky outcrop on the top.  We were all fairly buggered by the time we got there, the wind had picked up and spindrift was everywhere!  spirits were not high to go climbing.  We found a small sheltered hollow in the crag and got changed into some dry clothes and had some food.  I also would like to thank my wife for one of my xmas presents.  A thermos flask.  Hot ribena is the bollocks when you can’t feel your hands and it warms you up beautifully.  shall take that everywhere with me this winter.

So with spirits and warm restored we decided to climb Southeast Gully.  A very easy short gully.  It was our first winter route of the season.

What ensued was all four of us swimming in soft snow and not quite frozen turf  up it with varying degrees of foul language being used from each of us.  The one you would least expect it from was the worst!  Potty mouth Lara!!!!!

A great weekend playing in the Scottish winter hills.  There are great conditions out there for skiing at the moment, and long may it last.  I love living here, can you tell!

Click here to see all the rest of the pictures from the weekend.

First Winter Outing 09/10 season

With it being December and all, it was about time it snowed and we got out in the mountains to start off this winters activities. We decided that a walk would be better than anything more strenuous as the forecast for the day was not great. So we went off to walk up a couple of Munros that we had not done before.
Drove to Glenshee, met Matt and Emma in the car park and set off.

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There was not quite as much snow as I had expected, but enough to make it a bit more interesting than just a walk.
Started off quite nice, but soon the weather closed in and navigation was required rather than looking at your goal.

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We managed to ge to the top of two Munros Carn nan Sac and Carn a Gheoidh (give you a quid if you can pronounce them!)

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The four of us at the top, didn’t sit around for long as it was cold

A lovely day and a good start to winter for us, not a single blister! Finished off with a bit of shop browsing in Braemar browsing fat skis for our up and coming trip back to India……..

All the photos are in the gallery.

Move up higher.

So having been based in Guillestre it was time to move to La Grave to get a bit of altitude in us In preparation for India.

Whilst in the Alps best way to get up high is to take the lift! So early start to get the first lift, (almost got it , but someone who will remain unnamed forgot there socks and had to run back to the campsite to get them) . Our goal for the day was to be the ‘Pic De la Grave’ DNW_2787
Lara setting off up the glacier. We went as two parties, me and wife roped together, and Scott Emma and Matt roped together. The first part of the walk was fairly flat on the glacier, a certain huffing and puffing coming from behind us as certain people had not been at altitude and poor Matt was a little worn from his run to the campsite (whoops did that slip! 🙂 sorry Matt). IMG_1171

Lara crossing over the bergshrund on the Glacier De La Girose, a definite don’t look down and run moment.DNW_2781
Scott contemplating his turn to cross it as well. didn’t know he could move so fast.DNW_2792
Matt and Emma safely over the big hole and on way up the snow slope. From here it was fairly straight forward for a while
Looking back down to M,E & S on there way up. We had a little bit of difficulty getting up a icy pitch as a french guy on the way down had lost his crampon and was making all sorts of issues and blocking the way, so having to climb around him was “interesting”DSC00638
Once we got to the Col it was just a little rock step to get to the top. Above is Lara moving up to be the hero she is by reaching the top.DSC00640
Lara standing on the Summit of the Pic De La Grave at 3672m high. We were greeted with some incredible views of the Ecrin, over to Italy, Mont Blanc Massive and all of the Vallouise regionDL top pano
The obligatory cheesy photo of us!FULL VIEW
Scott and Lara Walking off from the small rock step from the top.DNW_2843
Matt and Emma did a brilliant job getting up, especially as it was Emma’s first alpine route. She was rightly happy with herself, and soon got over her initial fear and ‘female emotional outlet’ of earlier on.

We decided that the icy pitch at the top was too steep to down climb, so abseiled down it, and then had a walk back downIMG_1201

Then the last difficulty was to just get back over the bergschrund and back onto the glacier DNW_2867
where it was a simple walk back down to the telepherique and back down for a beer.DNW_2864
A great day with the only issues being we all ended up with burnt noses even with lots of factor 30 being applied. I think i might invest in some of the Ozzy cricketers zinc nose paint!

We are now back in Gap to sort some bits and pieces out before we go to India. Only ten days to go now until we are off, getting very excited and worried for my poor bowels!!!!!