Glencoe, Tuesday 29th December 2009

My first day of the season. Its been cold and snowy everywhere since before Christmas and I thought I'd try to get up before the year was out. An icy drive up through frozen scenery got me there eventually. £30 for not quite the full area, but since they have changed ownership yet again its hard to begrudge them. The plateau poma was for access only as the base was thin. The top did have nice soft snow, but alot of rocks were pocking through. Still need more to fall to get a good base. The main basin is not full and mugs alley is very thin. Still, a good start.

 

Wish I was there

Missing what looks like a glorious start to the season at Coe. Hopefully sniffles will clear up and I can get up there in the next few days.

Glencoe Start to Season?

Considering Glencoe tomorrow. Will my knee hold up?

Christmas Morning

The view from Mum & Dad's in Cardross.

From Christmas 2009

Western Isles Trip

Visit my Picasa site to view some of the pictures taken on my Western Isles cycle trip. Once I get my act together I'll put up a document of the trip here.

From Western Isles Trip

If you are at all interested in reading about my 2009 trip to the Western Isles you can download it here: http://db.tt/WMJ9qtT

Protect Our Winters

Protect Our Winters (POW) is a tax exempt, non-profit organization dedicated to reversing the global warming crisis by uniting the winter sports community and focusing our collective efforts towards a common goal. Climate change is a serious issue for all of us who are passionate about our winter sports and in some cases, it's how we make our living. If we harness our collective energy and put forth a focused effort, we can have a direct influence on reversing the damage that's been done and ensure that winters are here for generations behind us.

www.protectourwinters.org

Protect Our Winters

Inaction

Thinking it's about time I gave the website an overhaul. This is one reason why not alot has been happening with it. Well I suppose it's also because, well not alot has been happening.I'm planning a solo cycle trip around the Western Isles. Barra and Uists and Harris, maybe Lewis. I hope to fill this blog and the site with the story and some pictures. Maybe even do a book if I get images I'm happy with.
So, remember to check back. Hopefully the trip will be completed by end of July and I'll have plenty of content.

Nevis Range 18 April 2009

From Nevis Range 18 April 2009

A gorgeous sunny day. Just managed to get up there for half day. Only the top was available but so were the back corries. It's been a while since I last visited Nevis and I've never been over the back. So after a few warm up runs at the top I headed across to the entrance at 'Back Track'. I'd previously spotted a large crack in the snow pack in the next corrie and since temperatures were getting higher I was nervous. I was on my own and there was no sign of anyone else over the back. After 15 minutes of deliberating I strapped on my board and went to the edge of the cornice. Then I chickened out. Visions of picking up too much speed and impacting the rock band was at the forefront of my mind. A long hike back to the summit ensued. Another time perhaps.

Snow was scalloped when not ridden and slushy on-piste but a great afternoon's riding. I suspect this was my last day this season.

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Ttypo bby tthe BBBC

This made me smirk watching BBC weather in the morning. Even great institutions fall foul of the dreaded typo.

Glencoe 11 April 2009

The dying days of 2008/09 Snowboarding season at Glencoe. Snowboarding only on the main basin with lumpy frozen snow at the start of the day. Softening up later with intermittent snow showers and occasional sunny spells. Quite busy for what there was but it was a day for the die-hards. Not much to shout about but it had to be done.

From Glencoe 11 April 2009

Glencoe for Easter?

Looks like I could have a final flourish at Coe for the season. Snow has graced the slopes once again, and although mainly cosmetic I believe, it does mean I can add to my rather poltry 2 viits this season to Coe. Gome on then, more snow please it's never too late.

Veyzonnaz 2009

A short movie shot on the last day of my holiday to Switzerland.

Tuesday 17th March

From Veysonnaz 2009

Veysonnaz, Switzerland and day 3 of the shred. Temperatures are high but the snow is holding out. As I type this I'm sunning myself in a will-fi enabled bar. A vast area to be had as we are in the 4 Valleys. Went to Verbier yesterday. Seems a nice town but vast. A full day to get there and back involved some very nasty drag lifts. But all in all looks very promising so long as the persistant sun doesn't see off the snow.

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Saturday 28th February

From Aviemore Trip 2009

Drove to Aviemore for the weekend. Not expecting much weather-wise Saturday dawned brightly. On approach to Cairngorm, the hill looked very brown. However once we got up the funicular we crossed the ice-clad Corrie Casand took the tow to the top. We made the most of what was there and as the day went on the narrow patches softened. The day was bright and cold and apart from stopping for lunch we kept going all day. The hills really need another dump of snow though. Cold bright icy then softer.
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Goldeneye Goggle

I don't normally discuss work, however here is one of my recent design project I quite like.
Above is my limited edition Goldeneye White Goggle. The black version will go in to production, however the white is just a development sample.

Wednesday 11th February

From Glencoe 11 February 2009

Took a day off work, and what a day! I'd been watching the weather and although Glencoe had not received the amount of snow the rest of the country had recently been dealt with, I'd been watching the forecast and it was set to be bluebird. The carpark was busy but I was soon up there with my pre-paid ticket.
The snow was quite crispy and a few patches off ice were there to keep you on your toes.
There was not a cloud in the sky and temperatures were low, about -4.
I was on my own so got the whole area covered apart from the flypaper which was closed. So that left me shattered and managed to head down, belly full just before 3.00 and before it got dark.

Queens Park Glasgow February 2nd 2009

From Glasgow Snow

Jon and myself had a little after work session making the most of conditions at Queens Park in Glasgow's South side. Avoiding tots on sledges, neds and the like we managed top shred the rad just a stone's throw from our flats and even got chips afterward. How cool is that?

Grim up North

Is The truth out there?

No snow for me this weekend. Not that I didn't try. Came down to
Cardross on the previous night to get a head start. Forecasts had been
promising more settled conditions and even sun. I awoke to a grey
morning with the trees swaying in the garden.
Straight on to the webcams to see what state the mountain was in.
Grey, with no sign of movement. Winterhighland was saying all lifts
were open. Skiscotland had one closed. However on the web cams I could
clearly see the two top lifts were not running. At some points they
even turned the webcam away from the lift. None of the websites
updated conditions either obviously making sure they didn't put anyone
off.
Maybe I'm a synic but something funny was going on. I ended up not
going.

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Glencoe Saturday 24th January

From Glencoe 24th January 2009

The day started with a very snowy drive from Cardross. The worst stretch being between Tyndrum and Rannoch Moor.

By the time I got there it was 10.40 and the carpark was full. luckily I had mum's Ka and managed too squeeze it in a small gap (at an angle).
It was a bit blustery but a lot of snow had fallen. The week before the mountain was bare. Snow continued to fall through the day and some of my best runs were under the Cliffy. The Main Basin was great too.
Not as much snow as this time last year but it was soft and spreadable.Spring Run was in good condition too it must be said, however since the top T-bar was dismounting early there was a wee walk up and across.
Apart from queues and the new £30 lift ticket conditions were good. Plenty of soft stuff.
The drive back was through blizzards yet again. Much worse in the dark. It was reported on the news the following day that 9 climbers were caught in an avalanche on Buchaille Etive Mor that day. 3 were sadly killed. This was only 1 kilometer away, the next mountain along from the ski area.

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