Saturday was supposed to be another trip up to the 'Gorms - and actually get to do a really good qulaity ski tour, gain some endomorphins, lose some lard etc. However, I awoke (late) to the news that blizzards over the Highlands had blocked some of the access roads like the Blairgowrie/Braemar road, the A9 at Drummochter etc. I was tempted just to head to the pub and watch the bound to be thrilling afternoon that was England vs. Italy and Scotland/Wales - however just when I was thinking about rugby at Murrayfield, I had a sudden flashback to 2000 when just before my ML course, I'd decided to head down to the featureless Borders country to get some (well needed) mountain navigation practice... That was the day when England were already 5 nations champions and just had to give those hopeless wooden spooners, the Scots a good seeing-to at Murrayfield. I remember wandering around Windlestraw Law with the then GF, counting steps, losing the compass, thinking that the mighty Martin Johnson's boys would be finding it difficult if the same blizzard was down in the city (they did and Scotland won!)...

So at about 11am, I made the impulse decsion to stick the old Dynastar old style skinny skis and leather boots in the car and had SOUTH to the hilly country just 15 miles away, which judging by the forecasts must have enough white stuff to do a tour...

Driving there was exciting enough, the roads were all clear heading towards the Borders on the A7 road, the side road to Innerleithen was clear too, until...

I went round a bend and straight into a whiteout and unploughed road... This is the sort of thing which used to freak me out but living in Norway for a while at least gave me a bit of exerience of snow driving (and a few snowy ditch visits and off-road escapades) so I turned up Baccara Yessir I can Boogie and motored on...

Windlestraw Law is a flat topped bog of about 650m high and the highpoint of the road is about 400m most of the ascent is straight from the parking place. So I sorted out the skis in the shelter of the back seat then bravely strode out into the elements only to get 100%splattered with slush from a passing car out for another snowy drive. Ace! I put my skis on and fishbone style staggered up through the show covered heather, complete with mistery holes until the wind swept plateau where I gave up all pretentions of doing a real back country ski tour, sang a quick rendition of the Grand Old Duke of York to the camera (having forgot that there's no sound) and hightailed it down the most snow covered part of the hill, a land rover track... wiping out at all opportunities. Damm those leather boots and the ancient skis! (Bad workmen etc rule appiles to telemark skiers too)

Still - if the cold weather keeps up I might go back there after work sometime this week....