Time for some cross training!

Winter has appeared at last! Not much snow, but a dusting and some consistent cold temperatures this last week mean that mixed climbing is very good at present. Loz had a free day, and Shaw couldn't resist coming up from the Lakes so we agreed to climb in the Northern Corries due to its easy access and the fact that we knew 'it would be in'.

gearing up at the lochan

Interestingly there was a lot of chatter from some folk that stuff wasn't in good condition. Sure there wasn't much snow in gully's, or much ice, but boy the rocks were heavily rimed, and turf well frozen so stuff is in early season 'nic' even though its nearly the end of January.

Belting conditions

I don't do that much winter climbing, so had hoped we could do a couple of steady routes at grade III or IV, but I sort of knew Loz wouldn't have any of this!

Hoarmaster is the deep square cut chimney

A 5.30am get up saw us pick up Shaw in Aviemore at 7am, and at the Cairngorm car park at 7.30am. We were clearly the late arrivals with at least 10 teams ahead of us. But this was our deliberate tactic (yeah right).

Loz checking out the start

We headed into Coire an Lochain. The crag looked fantastic with many teams in situ on various routes. We originally aimed for Deep throat, but with a team on it instead of waiting we went across and climbed Hoarmaster VI, 6.

me getting to the first belay

Pretty steep and challenging, but a great route! Loz led it, I consolidated my skills (or lack of). My first grade VI (not done any V's either!). A team on the nearby 'The Gathering - IX, 9' were impressive to watch from our route, talk about steep!

looking across to Katie and her pal on Deepthroat

We topped out at 1pm into the sun. We did have time for a second route, but the will wasn't there from the team, and we made the decision to head back to Aviemore for cups of tea! No cycling but good cross-training today.

2nd pitch of 'The Gathering'

Orrin Odyssey

The (bike) training is going well, but its early days to boast as consistency is the key! With the weather favouring sticking to lower altitudes we decided to bike from Aultgowrie to the Orrin Reservoir, which is pretty close to home.

morecambe or wise!

The initial 10km is gently uphill to the dam wall. It's nice because it's a good track and there's plenty to see enroute. Abi spotted a Sea Eagle, which was great to see so early in the year.

the bothy

I very much like the dam nestled into the landscape. It feels a bit soviet, or maybe a combination of industrial and nature combined and I always think of the film 'Where Eagles Dare' at places like this!

Soon enough you come to an old cement store which is now a bothy or shelter and we lunched here. Interestingly 2 other bikers had already signed the visitor book today - we didn't see a soul all day.

now ride that once more...

From here its 10 -12km of single track all the way back. This track is great, but obviously much slower than the approach. Today it seemed pretty fast flowing, and once Abi got her eye in she coped with it in good form.

Abi definitely has a strong puddle game... I suspect she could ride puddles at a county if not international level... she seeks them out, trying to slay them as I try and avoid them. Shallow or deep she takes no prisoners and I struggle to follow her through some monsters.

Abi didn't get a good vibe about this particular puddle

We set off quite late, but were surprised when we realised it was 3pm with 1 hr of light left and we had quite a way to go... time to hustle. We made it. 25km / 3 hour ride (approx).