Given the great snowfall in Scotland this year I head to Newtonmore for the first time hoping to bag some Munro’s, but also have a go at another passion, skiing- the week was n’t to disappoint. On the first day I was able to take advantage of Chris Dean’s training day. Thanks to Chris for taking the time to provide five people with training and experience of winter mountaineering techniques. The training basically taught us to plan and think about the potential conditions and react to them both ahead and during the walk- vital in any weather conditions. We also gained valuable experience of using equipment such as ice axes and crampons and gave us the chance to slide down slopes in a controlled manner to practice ice axe arrests! Thanks to Chris to this valuable training which I was able to put into use on the two Munros I did later on in the week.
During the week I was able to take my Munro total to six!, climbing Carn Liath and A’Chailleach in fine sunny conditions. A’Chailleach was the first Munro of Carl and Stumpy and I was fortunate to share their first Munro with these two newer club members. During the week I also had skied at Cairngorm and the Nevis Range with the skiing and the views matching anything I had seen abroad. The week was a very friendly week with friendliness of the club members being added to by friendly hotel and local pub staff with myself, Carl and Stumpy even being given a free Whisky but a Scots barman! I was also fortunate to be in a WBMC team which came a respectable third in the local pub quiz with another WBMC team coming second.
Overall a great week, attracting a wide cross section of the club from families with young children to veterans with something for everyone from local walks such as the Wildcat Trail to Ice Climbing and distillery bagging! The hotel was fantastic value at only £26.50 for Half Board including a three course meal and coffee
