Words by Dunc, Photos by Butty & Dunc
Crew: Butty, Doog, PTD, Dunky
Route: Bottom Zag, Teggs lower descent to the Reser, White Rabbit ascent, Nessit, across the downhill & Ridgegate to the Smithy.
Stats: Two offs, one blown off, one showing off. Double Buff night.
Notes:
With the country on it’s knees due to some snow in the south-west, and being confined to WFH, the anticipation was high for a snowy TNR this week. With nothing but damp flakes landing on damp ground all day, Altitude was key to seek out the good stuff, but 45mph forecast winds put pay to that.
With a more modest plan in mind, it was soon clear that the snow line was as low as Oakenbank with Butty making early reports or a hard time making the start point and blizzard conditions on Back Eddisbury road meaning that the muster point had been moved further down for shelter.
No time for chit-chat (wind, two head layers and tinnitus made it difficult anyway) a prompt start and we were soon pushing through knee deep snow drifts on the way to Teggs.
Teggs descent was interesting in the wind, with Dunky paying the price after being blown off course and rolling through the gorse – no harm done.
With food order placed in the Smithy, incredulous looks from the staff and remaining customers that we were out tonight, we were off into the winter wonderland of the forest. The climb was slow but sheltered and with a brief interlude while someone attempted drawing large body parts in the snow, regroupled at Nessit for a sketchy descent through Narnia-esque snow tunnel back to Bob’s bench, for the second uncontrolled dismount of the evening, when it went wrong for PTD while channeling Danny MacAskill.
Two varieties of single malt (Doog) and “Old lady’s under starirs cupboard” cocktail (PTD), calmed the nerves before an early arrival at the Smithy.
Greeted by the Chef while we locked the bikes (stood in the blizzard in short sleeves – made of tough stuff these chefs) in awe at our commitment to the TNR, we settled in with the remains of the fire and a modest 1.5 to 3 pints, while the beginners section of the local folk group practiced in the other room. No idea what a ‘Cundy’ is, but they were keen to sing about being in one.
With El Pres away in the alps, it was down to Dunc to model the team fishnet vest.
Safety first, the low pint count helped on the descent which by now was a couple of inches deep, and with three rings from all but Doog, we assumed all were home safe.