Snowboarding, Scotch Eggs and Pork Pie: Turning 50 at Glencoe Mountain Resort. Lockdown Mission No. 12.

It’s the last slide of my 40s, almost my 50th birthday. It was a fair day with patchy sunshine. There is less snow for sure, but I’m still putting on my snowshoes at the corner of Mugs Alley.

It’s a bit rocky, but I left my heel elevators engaged for the steeper section of ski-tow gully. When I remove my snowshoes I posthole straight away into the slushy snow at the summit.

I chat to some skiers at the summit and explain to them that it’s my birthday slide. The last shred of my 40s. I stand on the summit, looking down the mountain that has kept me coming back, year after year, kept me sane during lockdown, and comforted me in the grief of losing dad. I don’t stop to think, I just have to keep snowboarding. And I do it, with a grin on my face.

I enjoy my turns through spring snow and traverse before the haggis trap, into ski-tow gully. I’m soon at the bottom, swapping board for snowshoes once again. 

I start the long slog returning to the summit, occasionally pocket munching on a packet of Irn-Bru chews.

At the top, lunch consists of mini pork pies and a celebratory Scotch egg. I packed up after lunch and picked my way across the summit ridge to the top of Spring Run.

I take in the views then strap on. This slope provided nice turns until the buttress at the bottom, where I had to unstrap, then strap on once more for my last patch at the bottom.

As I take off my snowboard for the day, I couldn’t help think how privileged and fortunate I am that I was able to celebrate this milestone here at Glencoe Mountain Resort. Love you dad.