“All the gear and no idea”!
After learning to ski earlier this winter, I decided that it was about time I tried out ski touring. After all, I could ski a pisted blue run now – how hard could it be? Mike (a far more experienced skier than I am) was also keen, so we took the plunge, invested in the kit, and headed up to Scotland at the first sign of a decent forecast while there was still enough snow on the ground. So that was how I found myself nervously setting off from the Drumochter Pass with Mike, with skis and boots tied to our rucksacks...
We walked easily uphill until we hit the snow, at which point it was time to try out our brand new kit and attempt to make some progress on ski - it was definitely a case of “all the gear and no idea”! However, quick progress uphill soon followed - it was a nice change not to be plunging knee deep into the snow at every step, and the skis made easy work of the ascent of the ridge towards the summit of Sgairneach Mhor.
From the summit, we decided to ski over to an outlying top, and then test out our skis on a downhill. The outlying top was reached quickly, but the real test came when we took the skins off our skis and prepared to go downhill properly. To say that I was terrified would be an understatement!
Mike zoomed down the slope like a pro, while I gibbered slowly behind him. Having only skied on pistes, and on beginner skis in stiff downhill boots, the touring skis felt insanely light and the snow was definitely not the smooth, evenly textured powder that I was used to. However, I managed to descend the slope (probably a blue run equivalent) with only one fall.
We then went back up to the main summit (another nice easy ascent) and prepared for another descent before heading off the hill. This one was longer, a bit steeper and covered in lumpy & icy snow formations – definitely at the top end of my ability.
Again, Mike whizzed down quickly ahead of me. My descent went well initially, but I soon got tired and managed to fall over several times in quick succession. No major injuries were incurred though, and we got down to the snowline a lot quicker than we would have on foot! All in all, it was great fun, and hopefully the first of many more adventures on skis.
Back in familiar territory - An Teallach
The next day we decided to do something a bit more straightforward. Although the snow was fast disappearing from the hills, easy gullies were still in sufficiently good condition to offer some fun. We decided on Hayfork Gully on An Teallach, followed by a traverse of the Corrag Bhuidhe pinnacles.
After a steady walk-in, Mike, Rob and I reached the the bottom of Hayfork Gully. A peer upwards confirmed that it was complete, so we cramponed up and set off. The gully is pretty long, with spectacular rock scenery throughout – definitely a worthwhile outing. The climbing was straightforward so there was no need use the rope.
The main ridge was in summer condition, so axes and crampons were put away once we left the gully, and we set off for an enjoyable scramble along the pinnacles. Great fun, and a great day out, with fantastic views over to the Fisherfield hills, although the tussocky, bouldery descent from Sail Liath at the end of the day felt like hard work!
More skiing – Ben Lawers
Mike and I decided that it would be good get a second day’s ski touring in while there was snow around, and headed to the Ben Lawers range. We were able to put skis on after about half an hours walk from the car, and headed uphill with the aim of getting to the summit of Meall Corranaich and continuing along the ridge towards Meall a' Choire Leith if conditions allowed.
The conditions weren’t as good today – wet slushy snow soaked our skins and seemed to make them less grippy, while a strong sidewind threatened to blow us over. The route was also a fair bit steeper than our previous ski outing. As the ground steepened towards the summit, the wind picked up and my skins became less effective in the slush, I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and took the skis off, continuing on foot. Mike managed a bit further on skis, but also had to admit defeat before the summit when the snow ran out.
After summiting, and confirming that the ridge wasn’t skiable, we headed back down to our skis. At this point I thought that I had definitely bitten off more than I could chew. The descent looked steep and scary, particularly with a sidewind and a heavy rucksack.
I was tempted to chicken out and walk, but I gritted my teeth and started skiing down. Somehow I managed to stay upright and in control on the steep bits, while Mike skied behind me offering encouragement. As the angle slackened off, I even started to pick up speed and enjoy it. Far too soon, we were back at the snowline, and I hadn’t fallen over once! A big achievement, and a good end to what will probably be our only ski touring days this winter. I can’t wait to try it again next winter….
