Saturday 28th

After a long drive up North on the 27th, the early arrivals - Tara, Tony, Mark W , Wendy, Lucy and Jim - woke up on Sunday morning to typical Scottish winter conditions: driving sleet and that famous Scottish mist.  While hardmen Tony and Mark elected to tramp up a munro, the awesome foursome abandoned their plan to walk up Creag Meagadh due to a high avalanche risk and walked around the village of Newtonmore instead. The four braved the blizzard conditions finally finishing their walk in a warm hostelry in nearby Kingussie. Honing their snowballing skills en route, the four later established base camp in Newtonmore in time to welcome the remaining arrivals who gradually turned up at various points during the evening.     

John Hilary, Sarah and Chuck ("the Dude") also arrived early and spent the day cross-country skiing.  John Hilary bought some brand new funky cross-country skis and was to be seen testing them out all week, whilst attempting to avoid the road where the snow had melted making the skiing conditions quite difficult.  Sarah duly treated everyone to a delicious Christmas Cake afterwards made by her Mum.  The cake had had been sent all the way from New Zealand, to arrive just in time on Christmas Eve!!  And very delicious it was too. snow had melted making the skiing conditions quite difficult.  Sarah duly treated everyone to a delicious Christmas Cake afterwards made by her Mum.  The cake had had been sent all the way from New Zealand, to arrive just in time on Christmas Eve!!  And very delicious it was too.

Sunday 29th

Perhaps they should have realised what we were in for - "there should be houses over there" and then "I think it's this way" said Wendy as she headed south east from the parking area.  Sadly, the intended objective, a rounded munro east of Creag Meagadh (sp ?) was in fact north west of our position.  Although Tony, Simon A and Mark W had said they would follow Wendy (and keep quiet) on her first attempt to navigate a winter munro, they felt it necessary to voice opinion - "oh no it's not", in true panto style.

Wendy reassessed the situation, and after more map faffing, crossed the road bridge heading west.  One further observation from the others, finally put Wendy on the correct path - they re-crossed the bridge and went through the large gate next to the car and up the forestry track.

Some time later, with only minor hints, the team emerged from the forestry area onto open ground.  With clear weather and a direct line of site to the adjacent hills, it should have been child's play to identify the correct summit.  "The compass won't point in the right direction", said Wendy looking puzzled (not for the first or last time that day).  You went up that one the other day' said Wendy, pointing to today's objective, "so it must be that one" she said, pointing to another as yet unidentified hill.

"You know best Wendy" said her followers, and so the merry group took off across stream and bog, not deviating from the course.  After 1/2 hour, another bearing check was taken by the befuddled leader, and a long map faff ensued.  Another opportunity for tea/food/gear faff, although the three followers were worried they had insufficient supplies to eat and drink at every prolonged map stop.  After some time and much muttering - "it's that one", said Wendy pointing at last to the correct hill.  Cheers and sighs of relief all round - but of course this meant retracing many steps, which unfortunately included a number of stream crossings. 

Unfazed by this, the team set off up the side of a fenced forestry area.  Contrary to the forecast it was unfortunately clear, which gave the group ample time to view the long and tedious slog up to an uninspiring summit.  Not surprising then that they unanimously agreed to continue navigation practice across the hillside.  It became clear that the aspiring leader had no problem with either the map or compass - only when attempting to use the two together was any confusion evident.  Working together then, the group took a circular route round the forest and returned without event to the car-park.  All in all, a good exercise, and highly entertaining for all concerned.

Monday 29th

A gorgeous day. Snow and sunshine. Everyone up early.

It seemed like more than half of the group decided to give cross country skiing a go and for many it was the first time. Cries of frustration and shouts of laughter to be heard all around Lake Morelich. So how did they all get on?

Hilary reckoned she was the best, but then there was also Tara, Jane and Mark in contention for this title. Chuck won the prize for knocking the most people over. Warren was stylish downhill except when he realised someone was watching and then wipeout! Sarah ended up face down in the snow.

AG deserved a special award for getting his legs into an almost physically impossible tangle (sorry I laughed so much!) and not being able to untangle them without assistance.

Cath was a blur as she flew past us carelessly spraying our faces with wet snow.

Tony to be heard muttering "a good skiing day is a good climbing day..."

Efforts were rewarded with cups of hot chocolate and brandy - till the brandy ran out that is. Did they drive Moira (the overworked lady in the café) to drink with their demands? Is that why the brandy ran out?

Meanwhile, higher up...
Paul, Delphine, Rob and Zoe tried out telemark skiing for the first time. It seems this sport involves a lot of squatting which the boys felt that they were better at than the girls. Indeed, so confident was Rob in his squatting ability, that he seemed to think he was an Olympian in the making when it came to telemarketing. But I did hear that there were a fair number of face plants going on throughout the day!

And Jim, Wendy and Lucy walked up to Coire an-t Sneachda and had a fine old time except for the argument they ended up having about which way to go, the steep slope or not, and there was a blizzard going on. The tale ends well though Apparently they had some kind of rational discussion (??) and reached a compromise!

John and Henry went off and climbed something that day, but we have no idea what or how they got on. They were seen later their matching outfits drinking Moira’s winter warmer.

The evening was spent happily relaxing, recounting tales and laughing (including some uncontrollable – and very inappropriate – giggling in the dining room at the Glen – you know who you are) and playing games (a mega game of jenga at the Braeriach proved Jane, Sarah, Hilary and Warren all have nerves of steel).

That’s it. No more information was received and frankly I did not have time to chase it up this month, so there you are - Ed.