Based at Badaguish, staff began the week with an Avalanche Awareness CPD day and were joined on Wednesday by seven S2 and S3 students from Musselburgh Grammar. The unusual lack of snow cover in the area meant that skiing was off the cards, but students good-naturedly overcame their disappointment and took to hillwalking in difficult conditions with gust-o!
(photo to be inserted)
On Thursday they battled their way against the wind along the Sugarbowl path, climbed icy boulders through Chalamain Gap and summited Creag a’Chalamain. Having determinedly found one of the few areas of snow, they practiced creating snow steps with winter boots and ice-axes and of course some snow sliding! After stopping for refreshment Cairngorm-style, the girls breezed back to the bus with the wind behind them.
(photo to be inserted)
On Thursday evening, in the darkness of the forest at Badaguish, the students went hunting… for us! Practicing the use of transceivers (ordinarily used for avalanche rescue) and working in teams, they successfully tracked and found the unfortunate staff being hunted through the trees. Adrenaline was certainly flowing and great fun was had on both sides.
In contrast, Friday was a beautiful sunny day. A brief scramble up a steep slope was followed by leisurely walk among the ancient Caledonian pines, emerging at the magical Green Lake – An Lochan Uaine. From there we headed up to Ryvoan bothy for lunch, a fire and smores – hopefully worth carrying a share of firewood for!
After lunch four of the group with a taste for an amazing view climbed Meall a’ Buachaille. The other three students wound their way through the pine forest on the far side of the Lochan to try their hand at slacklining between the trees. Their advice: “Focus on the furry pompom of the hat ahead!”
Thanks to Mr Brown for all his work, for making this trip possible and for recruiting such a great group of winter walking women!
