Training Log Archive: SarahD

Another couple of laps of the Dess løype. Snow starting to compact and tracks the fastest they’ve been. Disappeared in the fields a bit, but more left than previously. Wind blown debris off the trees messing things up a bit though. Not expecting to get too many more runs round here now.

A run! Across the road to Drumnagesk then back by the DW and an extra wee loop round the woods. Mostly compacted apart from 250m of track past Drumnagesk, which was a right pain to wade through. Felt good to run - looks like there’s going to be more of that going on in the coming week.
Back complaining afterwards - probably a good thing I've not been trying to run during the last week!

Couple of loops round the Dess løype. Had gone out to Glendye earlier in the day with a view to Mt Shade, but wind was already crazy down the bottom. J’s tracks in the fields from lunchtime had all but disappeared again. Feeling tired, but wanting to make the most of conditions whilst we have them.
Back still intermittently burning from last Sat’s crash, but trying to ignore it. Calf niggle still there too.

Tweaky bit in the left calf - need to keep an eye on it.

Hill of Duchery (CP87 #29) and Carnferg with SS. Up the Fungle to the Guard then out by high route along the line of tops. Heavy going in the deep snow. Got a bit firmer on the tops but then there were lots of snow ridges between the scattered trees to negotiate. Bitter wind up top too. V poor visibility by the time we dropped towards the HoD main climb and pleased to find a handrail fence to follow to the top. Decided on the easiest angle descent to the shooting bothy as wind was so strong, poor vis and loads of sastrugi- kept the skins on all the way down in the end. Nice stop at the hut before heading straight up Carnferg. Bitter on top again, but got an awesome powder descent off the NW side. Fun descent back down the Fungle dodging obstacles. Another great day out with a bit of everything and the full Scottish ski experience. Lovely company too.

E desperate to get out somewhere so squeezed a couple of runs on Benaquhallie into a busy day. Snow lovely but light getting a bit flat for the descent by the time we were out.

Morven and Crannach Hill from Tullich with KH. Just awesome. Snow conditions unbelievable, blue sky and a fab guide to give me the confidence to do this. Ascent up Morven was straight forward enough. So much snow that all the obstacles are just smoothed out now and we were able to climb the south face without any difficulty. Headed west off the top as the snow was going to be softer there, and the angle is much more forgiving also. Turned out to be soft powder turns all the way down. Then climbed up onto Crannach (CP66 #28) - looking quite weird with the young pines sticking up but obscured by snow. I knew the descent off Crannach was likely to be interesting and I was undoubtedly out of my comfort zone for this, but after an initial traverse along a steep section below the ridge we dropped into soft deep powder down through the trees and it was fine to ski once I got the feel for it.
Totally memorable day. Have wanted to ski Morven for many years and to do so in these conditions was just amazing.

Bit of downhill practice on the Dess ski run, 5 x reps, skinning back up between. Beautiful pow. Gradually building a bit of confidence and getting the feel of the skis run by run. Kudos to E for the number of reps of this he’s done in the last few days... good workout!

Lap of the fields. V slow and heavy going- J’s tracks had all but disappeared and got the wax quite wrong (must have warmed up when the snow came in). Bugger all glide with snow sticking to the base. Tired!

Back and neck still sore but loosening off, so decided it was worth a test on the x-cs. Yet more pow and conditions too nice not to. Down towards the village and back then a loop out into the fields. Slow going but wonderful. Shame a meeting called me back.

Escaped again as soon as it was possible. Couple of laps round the fields, second one in the dark. Going much better once the tracks were reinstated (disappeared since lunchtime) except for where a walker had already trashed it. Just lovely.
Back doesn’t seem any the worse for this and maybe it will even help get things mobilised. Movement just a bit restricted in one or two ways.