Alex McIntyre Hut - Ballachulish
8-9 April 2006
The omens were not good, a forecast of biting blizzards, high gusting winds and post holiday fatigue meant that only 5 people made it onto the club meet at the BMC hut at Ballachulish this last weekend. We woke to a wet windy and dreich, Saturday morning. Lynn and I headed up to Glencoe ski centre but not before arranging to meet the others in the Ice factory in Kinlochleven for an early lunch…………..certain that the ski centre was unlikely to be open or if so, that we’d not last longer than an hour or so.
Well would you know it!,…………… Scottish skiing is such that every season you gear up in anticipation and trudge out every available (yes mostly it feels like it’s trudge, the skiing is often a spare and heather hopping extra) weekend……….and we do it because? …………because on one day in every season it all comes together, sun, snow and serendipity!
Two years ago it was a perfect ski tour of Craig Megaidh, last year the zany trip up Arthurs seat, though that was moon snow and serendipity! , (see report on this website). This year it was Glencoe. Before the chairlift had reached the top, the sun was out, the clouds dissolved, the wind abated and there was fresh powder snow as far as the eye could see ………YES! …………….YES! …………….YES! ………..this was scotland and the best scottish piste skiing I’d had in 15 years,I guess.
We skied our wee hearts out and on Sunday, holding our breath and not daring to hope, we went back for more………….and we got it!………MORE!………..MORE!……….MORE!……….. of the same………with the added bonus of a brief squall bringing a sudden shower of powder to freshen up the afternoons efforts…………..I can say no more, the pictures tell it all!
Meanwhile on Saturday James, David and Ross set off to climb a Munro above Kinloch leven and had a fine day out, somewhat enlivened by Ross disappearing into a bog, cunningly disguised by three foot of snow. By all accounts he would have been in great difficulties if the other two hadn’t been there to help him out. Sunday was equally successful, and they knocked off most of the Ballachulish horseshoe.
Thanks to David for organising a, long to be remembered, weekend which was transformed from a truly miserable prospect to a crisp, sunny, alpine, winter romp in the powder……….But that’s Scotland for you and that’s why,………. whatever the forecast………..you gotta go!
Clare Campbell