Crew: El Pres, PTD, Eric, Stunt, Mr Incredible, Slim, Butty
Pub: Nic, Dunc, Mawds & El Pud
Route: BL, Chazza & Extension, Standing Stone, Nessit Hill, Kings Head
Conditions: Fresh snow up high, Wet lower down, mist & fog, Wet trails
Stats:
DNS TJ (brakes), off Stunt, Mechanical Slim (chain)
Notes:
A faffy night as those who are there are on time manage to have missed fairly important bits of kit (waterproof, light batteries, properly functioning light mountings). Borrowed & bodged whilst responding to a flurry of texts to inform of lateness, pub choice etc – the small crew promptly head off, with Slim & Butty following somewhat behind.
Hot climb in high humidity/fog as tales of après ski are recounted. The tarmac to Chazza is white with fresh powder, but wet underneath.
Refrigerated van, car and man running with massive hand torch come at us from all three directions whist we wait for the stragglers…we exchange “are they coming to bury the bodies?” glances.
Hot berry juice & brandy toddy keeps the spirits up (not bad for a last minute concoction!)
Thin layer of virgin snow up to the top of chazza gets a bit thicker, then descending into snow sided stream with broken ice – actually not that slippy (assuming you don’t try to change direction too quickly!)
Extension covered in more of a frozen frost (which is more slippy as stunt discovers!) but which suddenly stops after the last of the steps and is just wet.
Thick fog patches on and off up to nessit, group splits as Slims chain fails and then down the traditional way (interesting in a white surface with limited vis!) and straight down to the Kings Head for 8:45 to get food.
Real fire crackling in the grange we warm through with Landlord in hand, and food on order…
What pies!! Our very own Man v Food episode…for the record Men Stunt & Slim, Mice PTD & EL Pres.
Diesel the dog (our new best friend) delicately devours delectable delicacies J
B team arrive to stop drowsiness setting in (mostly!) more ski reminicences and delivery of items unsuitable for air travel!?
Fresh air welcome on the way home (as long as you weren’t near Butty) and the pies sat heavy!