Ski Scotland
My last day at work before I finished for Christmas was approaching so I started to wonder what I was going to do with my time off… The weather in Scotland looked awful so a last minute trip to Aviemore was perfect! Unfortunately the usual suspects couldn’t make it so just Tim and I packed our kit and off we went.. Six surprisingly short hours later we arrived at the hostel and wasted no time at all before storming the Winking Owl for a Saturday night pint!
The terrible visibility (and head ache) on Sunday made Tim’s first attempt on a snowboard almost futile but it didn’t stop him from trying! He seemed to be getting the hang of it but there’s only so much pounding his behind could take before he had to switch to skis. Once on two planks instead of one he was grinning like a Cheshire cat and didn’t stop for the rest of the day. You wouldn’t believe it had been nearly ten years since he’d last ski’d!!
Day two started with a beautiful calm red sky over the Cairngorm mountains, “Shepard’s warning” Ron pointed out as we left the hostel. The plan was for Tim to ski alone while Ron and I climbed Hidden Chimney in Coire an t-Sneachda. Sadly Ron (a mountain guide) was right about the weather forecast and the anticipated 80 mph winds forced the ski lifts to stay closed and Tim to enjoy a scenic ten (ish) mile walk back to the hostel.
Hidden Chimney was great and although I ”floundered” at the cornice it was the walk in that I really struggled with. It’s been more than three years since I was last in Scotland and sitting behind a desk for so long has really taken its toll. All I can say is I need to be much fitter next time!
Here’s a link to Ron’s blog for the day and a short video of me struggling through the cornice.
http://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/blog/2008_12_01_archive.html
Themocracy
Haven’t had such a good laugh for ages.
Lucas is doing very well with his climbing. Dead impressed