Retailing is one thing, but we place as much importance in putting something back into the sport as we do selling the product.
2004 saw us organise our very first Backcountry Ski Festival. Having been one of the original founder's of the infamous Telemark festival based at Glenshee, Angela and I decided that we would like to do something which was more off piste based and got back to the grass roots of Backcountry Skiing without the reliance of a lift served ski area. Our aim was to run a top quality event representing good value for money.
Taking place in the last week of February we experienced three days of some of the best conditions we had experienced all season. Based at Glenmore Lodge our National outdoor training Centre, we hired 14 UIGM Mountain guides from all over he U.K. and as far as the high Alps of Chamonix, to tour all over the Cairngorms sharing their knowledge on subjects such as navigation, rope work and the all important Avalanche awareness.
Not missing out the Social element we started the Friday night with a pasta feast and on the Saturday evening an excellent three course meal and the all important live band to complete the evening.
Snow on Friday night made for great early morning skiing on the Saturday although the visibility wasn't the best. However the blue sky's and no wind on the Sunday made for the best days skiing conditions of the season and a day that we will all remember for some time to come.
Due to the cost, time and energy of running such an event we have decided to maintain the quality that we will run it on a bi-annual basis so the next one will be in February 2006 so keep your eye on the site as we will give you more info as the time draws nearer.
In the meantime have a look through our gallery of pics from the 2004 event. Pictures are courtesy of Iain Sherrington, Mark Diggins, Dave Boffey, Rob Latimer and Mountain Spirit.
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Tel: 01479 811788 ~ Email: info@mountainspirit.co.uk
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