Weather window

Yet more Atlantic storms roll in... this seems to be the norm this winter, maybe it will be the new Scottish winter sadly, but I hope not. So with a brief weather window (one day) after storm Ciara and before storm Dennis I hatched a plan to ski with (storm) Des. 

leaving the carpark checking the map

that way!

There had been days of snow in the mountains, definitely more in the West, but the East also looked possible and easier for Des to get to on the train. We knew that even though there had been loads of snow it was delivered on strong winds so there would be large scoured areas and accumulations in natural features and on lee slopes.

flat light

but great skin track 

This problem solving is at times entertaining, often frustrating but does pass lots of time! Plan A was Cairngorm, ride some piste then head over into the slack country off the back and plateau, but on arriving at the ski centre carpark we noticed that the top of Cairngorm was covered in cloud, and this often persists all day on Cairngorm Mountain.... Whereas it looked sunny over near Newtonmore and the Monadhliath Mountains.

30 second conversation and car turned around we headed to Newtonmore. Half way between the two venues the van engine warning light went on and I lost power... Wouldn't this be ironic if we were half way between the two places and couldn't ski due to breakdown after Des had travelled from Edinburgh!?

fine firm snow

Luckily parking outside the GP surgery in Newtonmore and turning it off and on again seemed to reset it and we trundled up a snowy road to the starting carpark. 

views from the top

There was snow even in Newtonmore which is a good sign, but as all of the snow was pretty new there wouldn't be a base as it's not had time to thaw a little and refreeze so I started to think that skiing would be challenging. We knew that there would be compacted skiable snow in natural features and the lee slopes but weren't sure about the rest. 

time for the down

Seeing that a local guide parked up just after us and set off with 2 x clients I knew we had made the right choice as he would know the conditions, mountain and terrain better than us. 

looks quite bare, but great skiing 

They put in a great skin track as well and we followed their trail initially. As we got nearer to Creag na h-lolaire (a Corbet I think) they carried on up its shoulder on steeper ground and we struck off contouring round to the bothy near the burn. 

first tracks

The weather was good, snow as expected, no base but improving with height and compacted stuff in depressions and gully lines. We saw a few more skiers around and headed up. Initially we had planned to go to the top of one of the munro's, but this looked more scoured so we diverted to Creag na h-lolaire as we could see it had more skiable snow and the guided group had popped up on the ridge and were also heading that way. 

sastrugi gully

We had a nice lunch break on top before shredding the first downhill section. There was perfect firm snow... Okay so this section was quite short allowing 6 - 7 turns but it was great. So great in fact that we skinned back up 2 more times. All that way for 6 - 7 turns! 

other skiers skinning for more

On the final time at the top we could see that it was possible to link patches further down back to the bothy so we did! Even after the fantastic upper snow it was great skiing all the way! We were pretty happy after the run down for sure. 

Back at the carpark

Fair to say we both though that from here it may be quite arduous to get out because the gradient was small and the snow soft baseless. I presumed that would mean lots of hitting rocks, struggling to turn and maybe we would end up just putting on the skins to make it easier!

Soup at Ralia

It wasn't to be, we just rolled and glided the whole skin track back and I didn't hit a single rock. The perfect day, skiing van - mountain - van. Fantastic.

See you on the flip side Des

Before the storm

Today is the first weekend day for ages that it's sunny, and actually even warm... but there is a problem... Storm Ciara is due later today!

The met office have a 4 day weather warning in place for high winds, rain, snow and tidal surges! Great! If I had emoji's on here it would be a despairing one, will the cottage get taken by the sea, wind or rain. Well we will have to wait and see!

But at the moment before the storm whilst bathed in sunlight and after a brilliant ride in the forest I don't care :-).

The brooklyn bridge.. back to the bronx

Squalls on the West

Shaw headed up to Scotland for the weekend and Loz entertained our VIP on Saturday going climbing in the Cairngorms whilst I was in charge of Sunday's entertainment.

Sunrise at the commando memorial

Basket case

With more snow on the West I railroaded Shaw slightly into skiing! Options were limited and he agreed to meet at Nevis range. The forecast was pretty good but with a strong wind strengthening through the day.

relative calm

I think skiing is the only activity I do that when you first strap on the ski's I have to think really hard 'what do I do again'! But by a miracle the concept, or vague ability to ski does come back to me.

sorting skins in a hole behind a shed!

It was a great day! Unfortunately some of the lifts that they hoped to open (the Goose) didn't due to the wind but we went back down the gondola to get our skins so that we could get to some of the runs that weren't accessible with the lifts.

The good times

Admittedly it was fairly breezy and occasionally you had to stop whether going up or down hill and await the gusts to clear but we found some lovely snow to ski (just couldn't always see it!).

Where are we going (on the button lift)

the breezy times

They shut down the whole mountain early (maybe 3.30pm) as the weather deteriorated, but I think its fair to say that we both enjoyed the very 'Scottish' days skiing. I'm hoping the snow stick around!

Sunset at the Commando memorial on the way home

Shedtastic

An email from Kev asked if I would be out and about this weekend on any adventures and I explained that it could go either way, a biking trip or planting a holly bush... He then hinted that the holly should make the blog (well that's my reading of it!)..

You can't even see the building.. it's behind the shed

the lean to kitchen side

the shed is here somewhere

inside before we got it (they did empty it)

fireplace

So we went with the holly plan, clearing further border space and planting a holly bush! I was going to just post a picture of this but I have been meaning to document some stuff around the garden building so here goes.

we found this behind the building

In our garden is an old homestead. It has one brick gable end with chimney and hearth, the rest of it is wood construction with a combination of sheet metal and wood cladding. We have been told that it was built after WW1 to house returning servicemen or the expanding need for housing after the great war. They were kit houses and are in a lot of peoples gardens here in North Kessock - all different in design.

sink!

where does this go!? lead water supply, cast iron drain

Electric!

We have spent lots of time clearing around the building as when we first moved in it was very difficult to get round it at either side. It also had a large sycamore growing near the door. Unfortunately we had to have this taken out as it is lifting this corner of the building up quite considerably!

Abi at work

He have unearthed endless treasure whilst clearing around the area, everything from broken glass, a buried kayak, metal, an iron, a gas lamp, plates, plastic (everywhere), a toilet seat, and on the left of the shed we even found an old belfast sink still connected to a drain.

sycamore seasoning for next winter. Nice patina shed side

This area is particularly interesting because I found an old concrete slab under all of the rubbish. This area was a lean to kitchen complete with sink etc. There is a door through into the main space and also an electric meter on this side of the building from when it had it's own power supply. When I cleared this area it was almost as though the whole lean-to had been abandoned and then collapsed at some point. I even found a squashed washing up bowl full of dirty pots - unfortunately all broken!

Now space to service my ski's!

The holly!