Blue Bird Day at Glenshee
First trip away in the van for a while. In fact our first night since last September. The forecast for today was looking good so we set of towards the Lecht but we made good time as so carried on to Glenshee. It was much bigger than we expected and the sky was blue and the snow fantastic. We bought half day tickets and had a good ski over most of the hill. There is a small shop and the manager is in tomorrow so we will call in then with our samples. We bought hats though I got a pink one and roger a green one.
We had a lovely tea and a very windy night in the van.
Skiing on the Mountain
After three days of snow storms the snow on the mountain was beautiful powder snow. There was not a lot open as they were still digging and sorting it out. the White lady was the best I have ever known it. Other tows were the Ridge Poma, M1 Poma, Cas and Car Park T bars
Lurcher’s Gully
After a debate we parked at the top ski car park and traversed round to the bottom of Lurchers Gully. We set off with Skins on our skis but carrying them, after a while we put the on and started the traverse but it was awkward as the gradient dropped down so we took them off, however it wasn’t long before we had to put them back on again. We decided that faffing about putting them on and off was not fun! We Kept them on then all the way to nearly the top of Lurcher’s gully(870m), unfortunately the visibility fell somewhat. We had a sandwich and then whizzed down and traversed back to the Top of the Ridge poma. With only a little carrying.
We hoped to get a drink and cake in the new store house but big queues, so we headed up the ridge and M1 Poma’s and had cake and coffee at the Ptarmigan. I was freezing. Just shows how warm my skiing gear is!. We went down the M2 and the Day Lodge. The snow was fantastic and the light not too bad as we dropped down. Excellent day.
Walking towards Lurcher’s Gully
Looking towards the side of Creag an Leth-choin (Lurcher’s Crag)
The Beginning of the Gully
Looking up Lurcher’s Gully and towards Miadan Creag ab Leth-choin
Looking down Lurcher’s gully with Meall a’ Bhuachaille behind
Visibility going!
Traversing back
Ski Mountaineering on the Plateau
Cairngorm 1,244m Stob Coire an t-Sneachda 1,176m Cairn Lochan 1,215m Fiacaill a’Choire Chais 1,141m
What an amazing day. We parked at the top car park and caught the train up to the ptarmigan building. We then skinned up Cairngorm, a beautiful sunny day with only a little wind. My ski mountaineering bindings had been put on my old atomic skis which were a lot lighter. From Cairngorm we headed down towards point 1141 but in fact skirted round towards Stob Coire an t-Sneachda. It was just a bit too rock at first but then there was enough snow to whiss down. WE then carried on to Carn Lochan but as there was a bit of cloud coming in and we were not sure of the snow conditions we decided to head back the way we had come to Stob Coire an t-Sneachda and Fiacaill a Choire chais. From there we went down a very narrow and icy ridge to pick up the Fiacaill traverse and followed the ski runs back to the car park. I think it is fun but there was a lot of faffing about putting skins off and on. Today ( the day after) I ache a bit!
Cairngorm Summit 
Beinn Mheadhoin and Shelter Stone Crag
Cairngorm
Shelter Stone Crag
Skinning towards Stob Coire an t-Sneachda
On our way back to Cairngorm
At point 1141
Another Blue Bird Day
Our third day skiing this week and it was a truly wonderful day. A bit icy on the Cas side but the Ciste Fairway and the M2 and Day Lodge were fantastic. any my new boot inners and thermic insole have kept my feet toasty. I am even warming to the new cafe – The Store House.
Very Cold Fingers
Lammer Law 527m
D: 18.1km T: 2 hrs 43mins El: 455m Av Sp: 6.7 km/hr Max Sp: 36km/hr
https://www.strava.com/activities/247761757
It was a very cold day but the wind was not as bad as we were expecting. A lovely round tip but hard work! We even made it up to the top of Lammer Law with fantastic views to the North, We could see Berwick Law. On the way back down we tried to find a signed off road cycle route. Chris had failed to locate it and so did we. We think it doesn’t exist! Back at Sues and Chris’s we had a lovely casserole for tea – thanks sue x
Lammer Law Summit 
Selfie at Lammer Law Summit 
A reccy on Spartleton
Spartleton 468m Priestlaw Hill 422m
https://www.strava.com/activities/247336019
We were doing a reccy for chris as his is going to lead his walking group on this walk. It was pretty windy and there were blustery snow showers but an interesting walk and good to get out in the hills. We found a great sheltered spot for our coffee and roger and I even managed to get up Priestlaw Hill before heading back down to the car. Just in time.
Whiteadder reservoir
Spartleton hill 
Spartleton summit 
Gamelshiel Castle
Selfie on the top of Priestlaw Hill
Looking across to our route up
Pretty Muddy in Slingsby Woods
https://www.strava.com/activities/246456158
D: 24.3km T: 2hrs 48mins El: 181m Av Sp: 8.7km/hr Max Sp: 38.5 km/hr
Today we set out from slingsby and headed along the disused railway to having ham and on to were Jimmy and Lynne used to live. Then back to Hovingham and up to Slinsby woods. Got a bit lost but eventually made it to the Lane above Fryton. .Thena dash back to Hovingham to retreive Rogers bottle and back to Slingsby. Excellent day.
Very Icy in Dalby Forrest
https://www.strava.com/activities/246013218
D: 25.1km T: 3hrs 13mins El: 349m Av Sp: 7.8km/hrs Max Sp: 25.2km/hr
Having got our new bike rack successfully onto the van we headed up to Dalby Forrest to have a go on some of their trails. After getting a map and coffee we devised a contrived route that included some green, blue and red routes. It was very icy much more so than we expected. It was interesting we decided that the green routes were a bit not interesting but the blue and red were good. The red required getting of on one or two parts. It made us think we should have a go at the ones at Lagan and lGlenlivet when we have a thaw. Excellent day but the bike got very muddy.
Bit Claggy!
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 