By Tracy
For the second year running, the club Instruction Weekend actually happened very much as planned on Scottish snow. The only glitch this time was that there were no lessons on the Sunday because there was simply too much of the white stuff!
Saturday was spent on the piste at Cairngorm with all levels of skiers refining their skills gracefully. Some joined Telemark Ski Company formal lessons, while other benefited from Alan Gilchrist's generous top tips which had proved such a success in the Alps earlier in the season. Many thanks to Alan from all those of us who now have no excuses whatsoever.
There was low cloud on Saturday and few of us ventured out of Coire Cas. Happily there was fresh snow off the side of the Fiacall Ridge which was not skied out quickly. The lifts closed early with the ski patrol advising that the forecast storm was coming sooner than expected. The descent of the day for some was the drive down the ski road hill past at least one slippery accident. Apparently even police vehicles had struggled that afternoon.
Back at the hostel, the normal frenetic chopping and cooking created excellent starters from Jim, pasta from Lynn and fruit salad from Pam, while outside the snow fell unceasingly. Morning light revealed the extent of the snow cover, with the first task after breakfast being the digging out of the cars ceremony, so beloved by some members. A snow woman was then built, of generous proportions, with the intention of providing a female response to the nude male photo of the week which had graced the web site. There was great debate about where the bits of coal were to be placed and by whom.
The day's skiing was diverse. A team of Lynn, Jim and Annette elected to use skinnies and ski the Speyside Way to Aviemore via Boat of Garten. Pam and Bern skied virtually out the hostel door to Loch Garten and had the final part of their ski spoilt by a snow plough who had the cheek to actually plough the road. Alan, Tracy, James, Dave and Audrey opted for the forest at Glenmore where there were reputedly proper machine prepared cross country trails, and lots of soup and strudel. Nick, Alys and Brent drove to the snow gates where they were told in no uncertain terms that the road was closed and would not open. Skins were applied and used in the firm hope that the snow higher up would be soft and fluffy. Upward progress was swift up Meall a Buchaille, with Alys reminding Nick and Brent that they had to train for the Alps and that keeping up with her was a good way to do this. The sadly heavy snow and narrow forest track enlivened the descent back to the road where they spotted the classic skiers sporting very broad grins all round. Alys was then introduced to an important part of club culture. Unable to decide which post-ski cafe to visit, Brent and Nick opted to go to both. Back in Aviemore, at the second pit stop at the Cairngorm Mountain Sports cafe, Lynn explained that the deep snow meant that the Speyside Way team had bailed out at Boat of Garten after exhausting trail breaking in very deep snow.
What a weekend! Lessons cancelled, roads closed, valley trails impassable—all because of too much snow. Life is hard for the dedicated ski tourer.
Tracy