Did the Secret Clash Tour with Colin Miller today – More of that later. Here’s the snow state:

The road from Rhynie to the Clash was clear as far as the forest, although it is marked as closed on signs going out of Rhynie. Aberdeenshire council have obviously done a great job clearing the snow, they seem to have employed a snow blower to bash through the worst. Care is still required because of narrowed sight lines and generally narrowed road, plus there are icy strips along the sides of the road in places. Traction was no problem with 90% tarmac along the route. Continue reading →

Report from Claire Newman
I have just done a quick recce up to the carpark at the Clash. There are road closed signs in Rhynie but they do say Cabrach on them as well. The roads are clear but there is still limited car parking space. It was also snowing/sleeting when I was there at 10.30. I am afraid I did not venture into the forest as I just did not have quite enough time.

Finally made it up to the Clash, I’ve been stuck at home looking longingly at the snow in the back garden for the last week.

The road up from Rhynie was snowy but easily passable in a front wheel drive car equipped with snow tyres. Care shold be excercised on the sharp bends because the road is narrower than usual. About half of the car park has been ploughed out by the council, but I found a place easily at 1pm.

The temperature in the car park was -6 Centrigrade with blue skies and very little wind.

I skied up the main drag up to the turn off up short cut, turned left at the top and down Leid’s Leap, then up Deer Track down Biatlon start and along Rollercoaster.  Then up then up the main drag to Highland Fling and then back down again.

Throughout the conditions were near perfect. Peter Thorn’s pisteing work had prepared most of the tracks (with classic loipe) I went down with the exception of Rollercoaster. There was plenty of snow on all routes it was in such good condition that it flattered your skiing skill.

Thanks to Colin Miller for cutting the fallen trees on Rollercoaster and elsewhere.