Then everyone would want to come. 
Thatās the spirit! Iāll keep you posted.
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My excuse for missing the winter date isnāt the weather (Although Aberdeenshire does seem to be stuck in a snow loop - in the Pennines it more of a wet gloopy slush loop) its that this was the only weekend when the stars alligned and we had a dog and teenager sitterā¦. - so we decided tp go somewhere possibly colderā¦ Stockholmā¦.
Did someone say spirits? See you Friday 
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6am Wednesday
Glenshee snow gates open.
Lecht snow gates closed.
Cairn oāMount snow gates closed.
Glenshee weather Friday
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7am snow gates open to Glenshee!
Iāll be arriving in area of Glenshee lunchtime tomorrow. 1st question for me is whether Iāll be able to get to the base of GM/ES-058 (road to north of hill) to activate it. Then will I get over the pass to Braemar I need to get to my hotel in daylight ideally. A few uncertainties, but optimism still prevails
Letās avoid all the uncertainty.
Event āOficiallyā rescheduled - Friday 6th March.
I suspect two or three will still try for activations on Friday. Tim has cancelled his flights and itās not fair on others travelling some distance.
I look forward to hearing you if youāre up a hill on Friday.
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Still keen to meet you Andy, but fine if you want to and can reschedule. I will be around Braemar tomorrow and Friday.
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Thatās one less uncertainty! 
. Iāll be in NI for take 2 (might be able to chase from a hill there).
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I think youāll be fine by the time you get there. A fall back is doing Mount Blair as that road is slightly bigger, and will get a bit more traffic. Plus not a detour.
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Thereās good and easy parking a few hundred metres from the main path up Mount Blair. The path can be a bit soft at the bottom but itās a good track all the way to the towers at the top. No interference on HF or 2m when I was there. Though I only used VX-170 handy on 2m. Iād expect no issues for 817/857 type radios or IC-705. Thereās a good wind shelter as top is exposed.
I was thinking of doing it again for this time as I know path/route and times from here and to Braemar etc. but Ben Gulabin won as itās a long time since I did it.
Meall Mor road is a little lower down than Mount Blair but thereās much less traffic than Mount Blair road.
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Glenshee snow gates lotteryā¦.GATES CLOSED and then reopened an hour later.
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Hi Fraser,
Noted that the GM/ES WAD2006 is rescheduled for March. 
Update: the XYL and myself are planning to drive up to Braemar for Thu afternoon and stay for two nights travelling back on Saturday (7th Feb).
I have removed my ALERT for activating GM/ES-036 
but will be chasing on 145-fm from Braemar. 
This along with pottering about Braemar, some low level walking and no doubt plenty of teas, coffees and buns ! 
All this of course dependent upon the snow gates lottery. 
I guess it could be a busy time for COTAG. 
Hopefully see you in Braemar.
73 Peter
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Sounds like there might be a few SOATists wandering around Braemar on Friday afternoon (or parked in a snowdrift at Glenshee 
). I wonder if we could meet unofficially for coffee and cake?
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Update
Now, I know we are all experienced hill folks, so Iāll just leave some notes on what I encountered on one of ESās easiest summits this morning.
- Trail breaking & post holing all the way
- 6-12ā of unconsolidated snow
- No sign of the track
- I wandered 100m off course
- Stinging spindrift on top
- No wind scouring of snow
- 50m visibility
- Walked back using garmin until I found the trees
- Outward prints snowed over in 20 mins
- 25 minute outward walk took more than twice the time
GM/ES-068 is just 476m with a 300m starting point.
I just managed 4 2m FM contacts, with the slim-g up the tree, because I didnāt carry my mast.
A hard point.
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A useful update thanks Fraser. The main road seems to be being kept clear according to the webcams, but Iām definitely going to have to keep an eye on the time tomorrow to avoid travelling in the dark. Iād say the chances for me activating tomorrow are no more than 50/50
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Craigendarroch GM/ES-078 is a nice wee summit. It is actually in Ballater. It has a path and a bench and trees at the top. A 30 minute walk from the village centre. Lots of cafes!
Maybe an alternative for anyone on Thursday or Friday. Itās 17 miles along the main road from Braemar.
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One of the above was taken on ES-053 and the other on ES-068. Are you sure you didnāt just cut and paste your selfie onto different backgrounds?
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Standard ES winter grimace.
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Just noticed the header ( I have to look closely at documents at work), is it Friday the 6th of March or Sunday the 8th of March ?
Andy
MM7MOX