Returned home from college of Thursday to manically start and shortly after finish packing for the next week. Had a shower, upon getting out I came downstair to find Dave Ridout in my kitchen... half an hour early! Left him supping tea with parents while I went to get myslef ready and then down to the Scout hut with himt o pick up the rest of the cohorts (Tom, Johnny, Caleb, Rob, Kappa, Joey & Emma). Then over in to Preston to pick Lucy up from work before finally getting Geoff from his place.

Hit the motorway 6-7ish getting to Hamilton for our stop towards 10. Went with Lucy and Emma over to KFC for some much needed chicken and were soon joined by Johnny and Tom who had abandonned there chances of getting something in Asda. Back in the Bus we continued to head north. Eventually got to Nethy Bridge around 1:30am... the latest I've ever arrived there! Found room and dumped stuff, then downstair to listen to the briefing and help punters fit crampons to boots and similar... so many straps and buckles! Eventually got to bed sometime after 3am.

Up at 7am for breakfast as normal and then away by 8.30am to Cairngorm. Area was considerably lacking in snow, we'd all read the reports of how bare it was but they didn't really prepare us for it, it was like May!

Had a crack squad for the first day, myself, Phil B and Emma led by Guru Geoff. Went up into Coire Cass first to play ont he side of the headwall. Did THE most scary ice axe arresting I've ever done, even Geoff was having trouble to stop himself before he hit the debris in the bottome of the corries. Scary stuff. Had play with crampons, got utterly confused with my Left and Right as Geoff tried to explain safe travel technique and tehn traversed the headwall. Had a bite to eat and then did some more arresting on a slope the sun had softened. Got bored of this sson enough, Emma benifitted loads as Geoff could give her loads of attention while me and phil looked for steeper runs to scare ourselves on! Bolted up to caringrom for superb views and lots of pictures then dropped down towards sneachda llooking down some of the lines and then descending the Goat Track. Looked at Goat Track Gully which was my ambition for day two but it was unfortunately not in condition. Played on the ice at the bottom of Scenahda for a while before walking out.

That evening we had teh avalanche lecture, it had changed but I still managed to fall asleep in it! Back to nethy house for a superb tea of roast chicken and tehn a reasonably early night as our room was doing breakfast the next morning!

.....Photos to come soon!