Time for Home..

I’d decided it was time for home, and so, up early in the morning, I was soon round at Kate’s for my bikes, and then headed back down the country en route for home

As predicted ! – the ‘heavy snow forecast’ was merely a little flurrie now and then, although some sections of the M74 did get a little tricky in the slushy/icy conditions, but I had a relatively easy drive down through Scotland, into England… and home for early evening

Another 1500 miles journey over the last few weeks, now time to plan my next trip..

Keep Smiling !

The Main Event

A bracing start to the day, as I walked down the road to St Sylvester’s Church, ready for the 11a.m. Baptism of little Chloe. Everyone was there, Grandparents all around, friends, relatives, Godparents…right.. we were ready.. or were we missing someone – yes, the star of the show, and her parents !

They did arrive soon after 11 though , parking right outside the doors of the church, and rushing inside, ready to go !

A nice Baptism by Deacon Vincent McQuaid, and we all managed to get some pictures in the Church – including the most ‘sought after’ one… Jotown and Chloe !

Then it was off to the Mansion House, for  buffet, including some of Kate and Wayne’s original wedding Cake, and festivities all round, before ending up back at Kate’s house, until I managed to get to bed later, worn out, and ready for home !

Happy Memories, and Happy Future’s…

Never an easy start to the day, as I remembered Susan’s death 4 years ago today..Time doesn’t make things any easier, although I’m sure she’s kept me on the ‘right track’ a few times over the last few weeks in the Mountains !

Then time to get moving , and across to  Elgin, where little Chloe  was already waiting for Granddad- ready for her big weekend, as she get’s Baptised tomorrow ..it’ll be a busy weekend, so I may not have chance to update you all !

What a thing to do…..

My visitors had left me….with a cold ! So I stayed in a warm bed, trying to get rid of my sniffles before the big weekend !

A large Scottish breakfast including Bacon,Haggis and eggs, set me on the road to recovery…and I continued reading, and then pottering around, packing all my stuff away, ready for tomorrows move…

By mid afternoon, I had done a good job of packing all the climbing gear in the boot, and putting my bikes on the rack, ready for the road… and so took it easy, with eating what food there was left (and drinking my remaining wine), before a nice hot bath, to try to force my sniffles through… the snow was once again coming down , and frosty conditions expected later…although I wasn’t bothered, ready to move to Elgin tomorrow.. Goodnight !

A Day at The Beach …with Snow !

My visitors had a late start, us all having been up late the night before…and soon we were all playing again, as we managed Breakfast ( I won’t tell you what it was…), and then wrapping up well we set off onto the snowy roads towards Aviemore again where we made our way to the Cafe’ in Glenmore Forest, for a real Hot Chocolate, dipping a large chunk of chocolate into our hot milk, and then wrapping up well, we went across the road, through the nearby campsite…and onto the Beach, of Loch Morlich , where as you can see the snow was quite heavy giving Chloe an experience she’d not had before—Great fun !

Then it was back to the car, and home, for sampling of my home made ‘Scotch Broth’,  a little more play, and then my visitors left me.. to take it easy for the rest of the day, and decide what to do tomorrow, my last free day in the Cairngorms !

Goodnight !

Visitors Arrive

I was up early, hoping to go and get a climb in, before I would have to be back home, to receive some guests..it was a very snowy start to the day, and ‘Wally’ needed digging out on the driveway, before with some trepidation I set off along the driveway, up to the nearby road, and then down the hill towards the main road, all the time the snow was coming down, so I didn’t hold up much prospects of being able to do what I wanted, still it was worth chancing it….I realised as I got to Aviemore, there would not be much prospects, and soon found that the ‘snow gates’ were closed on the ski road – so that was it – a cup of coffee in a cafe, and then back to the house…and cook the evening meal before my visitors arrived ! (if they were able to !)

By mid afternoon I was just waiting …to see Kate and Chloe, having driven from Elgin, on the snowy roads, and were soon ensconced in Grandads’ arms…just proving…that ‘you never lose it’ ! Although Mum ( Kate) was a bit more adventurous… So, we spent the rest of the day, listening to the gales outside,eating chatting…and having fun !

-Nice to have company, so I’ll wish you all a Goodnight !

An Easy Monday…

The winds had howled all night, and snow was lying around, with a bad days forecast…so I stayed in, did the Crosswords from the Sunday paper, and generally relaxed

I couldn’t sit in all day though, so eventually I set off for a walk in the snow and wind, up along the road, winding around the bottom of the Cromdale Hills. Snow showers kept coming and going as I wandered along, sometimes facing into the wind and snow, others with it at my back –pleasant enough though, and at least some fresh air !

I wandered back to the cottage, and spent the afternoon reading (and eating !), and as the skies cleared into the evening I was able to take advantage of the clear skies, for some star gazing..and pictures !

So, that was it, the clouds of snow rolled over, with a heavy snow forecast, and so to bed.. Goodnight !

Time to Do it All Again !

I’d decided that I should really do my climb up and over Cairn Gorm properly, so, now that I knew where my compass was – and I knew the route ! I was going back to do it again…before gales and snow arrived later in the day –good choice as it turned out !

I drove into Aviemore, and again up to the ski centre car park, things were a lot quieter today, poor forecast obviously putting people off !

I set off, quickly noticing how much colder it was today, but I was able to locate the path/track that I wanted, and managed to follow that up along the ridge of Sron Am Aoniach, very quiet ahead, not even able to se all the large ski area in front and above me !

As I got higher, the wind started picking up, and soon the mist also arrived, but confident of my route, I continued ahead, eventually passing the skiers restaurant, and ski tows, all of which were still closed , I presume because of the wind, which was becoming more ferocious as I rounded the restaurant, and started my last climb up to the top of Cairn Gorm… not an easy undertaking, as the mist had clouded the entire mountain in mist/fog, and hail was being blasted into my face, as I fought the winds, climbing up and into the face of it ! I had lost the track completely, and so just had to rely on a compass bearing, and my altimeter to tell me whether I was still climbing, and somewhere in the right location… with my entire face freezing, and the gales battering me… I saw the summit weather station faintly appearing in front of me, a far different day than yesterday . I tried to get out of the wind briefly, took a couple of pictures, and then turned to face into the battering snowstorm again, to make my way down the mountain, not completing the full circuit, happy to have made it to the top of Cairn Gorm at 1245 mts, and now ? A rush back down the mountain to the car park in double quick time…a stop off in Tesco’s Aviemore for the Sunday paper, and red hot bath to thaw me out…then surprise ,surprise..headline news  I’m not sure it was that bad, however, a safe and Happy ‘Jotown’ bids you a warm Goodnight !

Avalanches,Navigation, ’Jotown’ at the Centre of the Action-Again !

A really early start today, the weather forecast was good, and I had decided to climb up in the Cairngorm mountains. Firstly as I looked out I could see the peculiar  sky, and overnight snow lying everywhere.. I hoped I could get up the ski road, to Cairngorm in Aviemore..which would make my days climb a lot easier.. After a hearty breakfast, I set off on the snowy roads, to travel the 15 miles into Aviemore, then up the steep and winding road towards the ski centre.. a slightly hairy journey, as the only thing that wasn’t plastered in snow was the road…and lots of traffic on it, all heading for the same place no doubt !

I got to the huge car parks of the ski centre, already the main car park was full, and I had to park in the lower ‘overflow car park’, with a tricky snowy hill to negotiate..hope it’s better on my way out !

I had a look round before changing into my gear, trying to work out my route out of the car park, away from the ski machinery, and up a nearby mountain to climb the shoulder – unfortunately I couldn’t locate my compass, decided I’d left it at home, so had to rely on the electronic compass on my watch, and deciding that no one seemed to be going where I wanted to…meandered along behind lots of other people, hoping to spot a reasonable trail !

I didn’t manage that, but did link up with a nice lady, who I chatted to for an hour or so,who clued me in on the area, took me to the Coire an t’Sneachda climbing area, pointing out the various climbs on the nearby cliffs, and recommended some good climbing routes for me, well within my capabilities ! I had heard of this area, but hadn’t been here before, so well worth not having my compass !

Unbeknown to me then, but I later realised was that around about when these pictures were being taken, just to the right of where I was to climb some climbers were being Avalanched (none injured) on the buttress nearby, and later as I got nearer 3 other climbers were Avalanched, and swept down the rock face..however I’ll tell more later !

I had my last guidance directions from Jo ( thanks Jo), who turned out to be ex-RAF ! as she set off back to the car parks and I set off into the Coire, with the climb of The ‘Goat Track’ ahead of me ! I couldn’t believe how many people were on the cliffs above, everywhere seemed to be various groups of climbers, in the gulley's, on the rocks, all shouting instructions to each other…apparently the Coire is used by many outdoor groups, teaching mountaineering and ice climbing skills… there didn’t seem much ice, just lots of deep  powdery snow, the floor of the Coire being deep snow, although the path/track was quite stable.. I looked ahead, to see my route becoming clearer as I got closer –the snow gully just to the right of the cliffs in the picture… As I got nearer I could hear a lot of shouting coming from further up the Coire, and heard something about ‘We Need HELP’ and ‘Mountain Rescue’ – what was happening ? A young couple were stood at the side of the track looking ahead, and told me that they believed there to have been an Avalanche, sweeping some climbers down the face… Uh Oh ! I could see a small group of people (dots on the wide snowfield ), seemingly lying on the ground, and others had already rushed to their assistance- I could see the Avalanche debris above them, but couldn’t quite work out where they had been climbing, nor how they had come to be swept to where they were (and still can’t ) Enough assistance had been forthcoming, including some instructors, so I continued surveying the scene, as most people just carried on up and over the cliffs ! – I did the same, climbing up my intended gully, checking the snow was stable enough ! All the time I was climbing I could see various things happening with the casualties below , and just as got to the top of the cliffs I heard the ‘whoomf whoomf’ of a Sea King helicopter flying in over the Coire, and hovering above the group below. I did see the medic being lowered up and down from the helicopter, which wasn’t able to land , and for the next half hour or so watched the helicopter flying in and out several times, presumably with differing casualties  - I didn’t stand watching, just kept climbing, and taking note at differing times, as firstly I was on the top of Coire an t’Sneacda 1176 mts, then I walked round the top of the Coire, to a col at the head of Coire Cas, and then climbed up to the top of Cairn Gorm, 1245 mts – made slightly more difficult by no compass, and mist, along with following my intended route in Reverse, so having to swop all my compass bearings round !  You’'ll all be pleased to know, I made it safely to the top of Cairngorm, as the summit weather station appeared out of the mist, along with several other people, who had  climbed up from differing directions ! I continued my ‘reverse route’ and climbed down into the ski area, and passing the skiers restaurant found my way back to the car park – that was different, especially as when I turned the radio on and the headline news was the Avalanche and rescue – none of the climbers being seriously injured,thankfully..it was headline news on the television later… even Jo my guide had texted me making sure I was OK..phew so much bother, and all I did was ‘go for a wander’,oh, and my compass ? It was in my butty bag after all…stupid !!

So, I got home, nice hot bath, and relaxed after a good day done…although I did go to Saturday evening mass in Grantown on Spey, so I could climb again the following day, before bad weather comes in..Goodnight !

Farewell to Torridon

I was up early, to finish my clearing up, and vacating Cairn Shiel, on a sunny morning, and once packed I was away, for a pitstop in Inverness , for foodstuffs, then onto Osprey Cottage at Cromdale, a small bungalow on the edge of a very small village, next to farmland, and for all you ‘history buffs’ next to the site of the Battle of Cromdale…the Hagues ! – although i couldn’t see much evidence of it

I was treated to a pleasant sunset ,initially hoping for a clear night sky, only to find a band of snow sweeping in, which showered and stopped all night, preventing any night sky views from the excellently placed patio garden… and so…to bed, ready for an early start the next day, to tackle some of the big mountains of the Cairngorms !