Self Isolation - well sort of!

Strange times... I met Des in the Aviemore area hoping to ski. The weather was meant to be okay, with a strengthening wind from lunch time onwards.

sailing in

Des holding onto his hat

Trying to get high quickly we met at the Cairngorm carpark. The winds in the carpark set the scene as I was buffeted around trying to find Des!

must isolate!

The lifts started to operate as we headed away from the ski centre. The initial walking was even tough  with ski's acting like sails on our packs.

When we hit the snow line skinning was a little easier, but pretty tough, but we kept going until we had to admit defeat. It simply wasn't viable with the 40-50mph wind and worsening visibility.

Des making it look great on the icy patch!

I nice boiler plate ski out made it sort of worthwhile. The photo's make it look much better than it actually was, probably Des's excellent ski technique!

abort!

Back at the ski centre it was basically shut due to the high winds, but we skinned half way up the hill to have a final run down, again on boiler plate snow (ice). It was eerie heading up a very bleak closed ski area until the wind meant it was impossible to stay upright.

I enjoyed the morning... not sure if Des felt the same!