Bansko New Year

I'd just like to wish everyone out there a belated Happy New Year, may all your doings in the outdoors exceed your own expectations.

I've just returned from a weeks snowboarding in Bansko, Bulgaria. Silly old fool I should know better at my age! Since I decided to try and learn snowboarding last February its been a steep learning curve, in more than one sense! After six days on somewhat limited slopes, due to a lack of new snow I can now confidently say I am an "Intermediate". I can also say with great confidence that the 50+ body does not take kindly to repeatably hitting hard frozen snow/ice.

The Bansko area, and the Pirin mountains would seem to offer excellent walking/backpacking in the summer months, the locals are very friendly and accommodation plentiful, the old town away from the modern ski developments particularly attractive.

I should point out that the chap in the photo is not me but another member of our party.

Snowboarding at Glenshee

I was fortunate to be able to take three days off at short notice, I travelled up to Glenshee on tuesday morning and was on the board by 12.30. the weather was fantastic really quite warm and barely a cloud in the sky. After an afternoon honing what little skills I have on the Board, I drove down to the hostel in Braemar and booked in. The next day more of the same, some improvement seemed to be made although the falls on the icy snow took its toll! Thursday morning dawned a little warmer and the snow a little softer, more falls and the knowledge that a long drive back home in the afternoon meant that I had enough by 12.30. A great trip which allowed me to make a great improvement to my boarding skills.

Harwood Again!

An awesome day weather perfect and I think I had a Eureka moment on the snowboard. It all seemed to click and it became a lot easier, more practice needed now. Short post but there you go!

Harwood Ski

The winter continues and the snow still lays deep on the northern Pennines. Having skied at Yad Moss on four occasions I felt a change was in order. The recent purchase of a snowboard meant a new sport to learn and Harwood seemed the ideal place. It is only about a mile and a half away from Yad and is at a similar altitude, the tow is rather more archaic though! I seemed to make good progress and I look forward to the next trip