To clear outstanding vacation days, I have every Friday off from now till the end of the year.
So today I had a go at a 14k hill route I planned over a year ago.
This route has defeated me before; like Caradhras - impenetrable snowdrifts and a fell voice on the air.
It did not defeat me this time, though it came close.
It was not really runnable in these conditions.
At least for the first few k up to about 500m elevation, the track was distinguishable - it was the continuous deep slush river interspersed with small snowdrifts. A few interesting stream crossings thrown in to keep me on my toes!
Beyond 500m things took a rather more serious turn, and I was in full-on Scottish Winter Mountain conditions. A full intense blizzard whipped up for several k up to the first summit and then across the plateau to the main top. Visibility was near zero. Navigation was tricky as the path was wholly infilled and could not be seen. I used the GPS for navigation, and it was flawless.
The descent path slowly appeared, but not really runnable as it was steep slush interspersed with knee-deep snowdrifts of heavy wet snow. Back below 500m, I came out from under the cloud and the glen below came into sight as a monochrome vista. The remainder of the path was back to deep slush puddles and shallow snowdrifts.
Type 2 fun, I think.
https://www.strava.com/activities/4429079399