how many layers?

Bottom: thermal long johns soft shell trousers and a pair of primaloft overtrousers.

Top: thermal layer, mid fleece, toasty warm fleece, down gillet, soft shell jacket and down jacket.

Hands: toasty warm gloves with hand warmers and primaloft over mitts.

Now, I have without doubt the best clothes on the market but today I was cold.

In short, between us we were wearing enough clothes to open a shop.

so fat it is obese

A ridiculously busy self inflicted week :)

Skimo Scotland on Saturday at Glenshee and then out to Rjukan on Sunday.

The ice?  It is so fat, it is just obese.

searching out the sun

It was rather chilly in the corrie today with the cheery chaps on the Jonathan Conville course.

And instead of spending all day in the shade, we opted for the sun.  Not that there was any heat in the sun but psychologically if feels nice.

back to basics

The Jonathan Conville Memorial Trusts aim is simple:

"to encourage and assist young people to train for and pursue their love of the outdoors in the spirit of adventure ...  As long as there are mountains ... there will be a place for the Trust"

Perhaps more known for the providing subsidised training in Alpine mountaineering courses in Chamonix and Alpine preparation weekend courses at Plas y Brennin.  But, did you know that they also provide subsided training in Scottish winter mountaineering courses?

Want to know more? Click on Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust.

dribbles of snow & dribbles of snot

Melissa done her best today to give me her cold - even walked upwind of me on the walk out so that I was in the line of fire for constant snot dribble.

The biggest hazard today was falling rocks and other people - enough said.

east ridge of beinn a chaorainn

Strangely enough we had the ridge to ourselves today.

Never quite took the ice axe and crampons for a walk - there was some very slippy snow and at least 4 ice dribbles.

Can't change the weather ...

Ski mountaineering racing finally comes to Scotland

I've organised lots of things in my life, but I have never organised a Ski Mountaineering race before.

However, yesterday, Skimo Scotland held the first ever Ski Mountaineering race in Scotland.

From a 26 strong starting list, 18 racers lined up to complete as many laps as possible in 90 minutes.

Thankfully the weather Gods, had left us some snow, dropped the wind speed but increased the temperature.

Trust me, climbing any winter route that I have done, is a damn site easier than organising these races!

Next race is at Glenshee on the 19th January.