First trip in the Van
whay hey our first trip away in the van! We had our first picnic in the van on the shores of Loch Linnie, what a lovely sunny day. then went to Glencoe where we had booked a hook up. The next day was a bit drieck but it was a lovely nostalgic visit to the place we learned to ski in 2000.
First Picnic
First Supper
First go at Ski Mountaineering!
This will be one of many back dated posts as I begin to get my blog up to date. It was our first go on our ski touring skis with the skins on. Roger was at the hospital for a regular check in the morning but we came up the hill for the afternoon. I have written in my diary “ spring, soft snow, less wind.we skinned up Fiacaill a’ Chais 1,141m – Brilliant”” and it was!!!!!!!
A sugary soft gully
Helvellyn – Lower Man 925m Whiteside 863m Piketoe Knott 399m
Second day in a row on Helvellyn this time from the West. We walked up to Brown Cove crags and climbed up Central Gully Left Branch. The snow was pretty soft and as we got to the top it was pretty gusty.
Looking down Central Gully Left Branch
Looking back to Brown Cove Crag
Helvellyn – Lower Man
Whiteside Summit 
Piketoe Knott 399m
Red Tarn and Helvellyn
We set off to Red Tarn hoping to find some good snow in the gullies but found a load like loads of avalanche debris, although talking to locals the snow was probably more stable than we thought. Anyway as we go by ‘discretion being the better part of valour’ went up the side and picked up the scramble up swirral edge. Which f=got a bit steep to towards the end. Roger did send me a rope down but I decide that i was safer not stopping to try and attach myself! I was fine. We then scramble down striding edge. Great day
Avalanche debris 
Looking down Swirral edge to Catstye Cam
Looking towards Helvellyn 
This is where we came up from Swirral edge
Looking down towards striding edge and Red Tarn
Striding Edge
Skiing with Joe
Fantastic snow conditions, just the Cas, ridge, car park and Sheila Tows open. Great day and then in the evening we saw the Northern Lights
A little Walk
As Roger was working Joe and I went on a little walk to the Lilly Loch
Cairngorm Mountain Skiing
I have written in my diary “blue bird day, all open but the west wall poma” The West Wall poma didn’t open much in 2014 and to be honest it doesn’t look like a blue bird day from the photos but I guess I was telling the truth!
Joe arrived that evening for a stay.
Night Skiing
Strange…not sure if I would recommend it but interesting!
Nevis Range
Our first visit to Nevis range since we have been up here. just the Quad Chair and the Alpha Button open but the snow was amazing. Must go back
Skiing at Cairngorm Mountain
A beautiful blue bird day, very little wind but so much snow for the diggers and lifties to move so that only the cas, ridge, and car park open although the M1 and train came on later. It was a rare day for this year lets hope the wind and gales stop soon.
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 