Training Log Archive: SarahD

Chill lap of LK. Feeling pretty wiped from Fri still, so scaled back from original plan.

Christmas Mortlich with J, E, SR, ME & SP. Touch of snow on the ground and lovely light. Fab start to the day.
Legs shot.

Solo end to end from Crossroads over Craiglich, Pressendye and Morven to finish on the Little Lecht. A bit dreich early doors with a couple of snow / rain showers, but the going is easy enough and I made decent time to the end of the Pressendye ridge at Tillypronie. Was starting to clear out as I climbed towards Morven and it was looking very splendid with its snow cover. However the snow was hard going with 6” or so of powder which felt like running in sand, except without the grip. Pleased to reach the top of Morven, but knew it was still a good hike from there and was going to be above the snow line throughout. And it was. The snow seemed to get even harder over the back as it was underlain by soft wet bog and I was having flashbacks to a tour de Morven from a couple of years back when we were grovelling up the hill. Except this time I was grovelling down as well as up. Despite this I did manage to reach the road bang on my guesstimated time (thanks to J for the pick up), albeit feeling well and truly broken.
Only decided to do this yesterday afternoon and it was a cracking route for sure :-)

Dreich day with freezing rain falling and icy underfoot. Down to the river bank then 10 x 2'+1' west towards Aboyne then back through Drumnagesk. Jog from the road back down to river bank and return via outward route. 4/5 for effort - legs a bit heavy and not pushing 100%, but better thn a plod.

Pannanich and Heartbreak ridge with EnM. Really cold morning but was hopeful that it would warm as we climbed and that we'd get above the inversion. Taking it steady but not feeling too desperate after an easy Morven last night. Bits of blue sky appearing by the top, but we didn't quite escape from the cloud and it didn't seem to warm up either! Cleared out a bit more in places as we dropped along the ridge to give some atmospheric views across to Morven and into the valley.

Morven winter solstice run with DR. -7 or so at the bottom but dry and still. Headed off promptly to avoid any necessity to flog it up the hill. Joined for the climb by IH and nice to have a good natter with him. There was a fab moon and initially it was really clear with a stream of torches heading up behind us. Somewhere around the second plateau I turned back to see the inversion had started to settle and by the time we reached the top the view was stunning. It was perfectly still and not cold at all and I must have stood around for 20’ or so without putting any extra kit on. Grand turnout of 30 or so DR on top. Took it steady on the way back down, choosing the heather over the skitey path. All round a rather fab evening :-)