Dalguise

[frog]

Sorry folks. If the area was flatter we might have gone ahead despite the snow, but it's probably our steepest section of forest, particularly the lower slopes, with several streams in deep gullies to cross.
Hopefully the sun will shine on our new date of 11 April (the weekend after the JK)

[graeme]

Shame, but like you say, it's a very steep, rough area and not likely to be much fun in the snow. I'm sure we're not alone in having pretty much decided not to come up this weekend.

Will it still be the CompassSport Cup in April?

(Anyone worried about the BNC/Scottish Sprints weekend: none of the areas are anything like as prone to bad weather as Dalguise, and I'm sure will go ahead)

[frog]

Don't know, it's a possibility as nothing else on that weekend. I'll ask Paul C and the rest of the team. Will have to check PGL will be happy with bigger numbers that weekend, although last Sun of Easter hols folk should be going home.

[Big Jon]

Maroc's event at Bell Wood near Aboyne has been postponed 2 times now and is scheduled for 7th March, but given the snow over the last 2 days in Deeside it might be postponed again unless we get some serious thawing!

[frog]

Just noticed Maroc have an 11 April local event, didn't see that yesterday. I presume we'll have to check with you whether or not we can upgrade to regional and CSC.

[Grahame N]

Have been for a 'run' over Birnam Hill this evening, only a couple of miles from Dalguise. Snow is 50cm deep and where exposed to the wind the drifts are chest high (and I'm 6'3")!
Frog - I believe you put the controls out last weekend, those in depressions or re-entrants will be well buried. Dont bother trying to retrieve them until there's been a good thaw.

[andypat]

Not too surprising given the state of the A9 yesterday. Its good to see youve rescheduled rather than just cancelled. With only 6 SOSOLs this season, losing this one would have played havic with the best 4 system!

[frog]

Drat, it won't be 11/4 as there's a horse event in that area of Craigvinean then. It's so rare for there to be a clash of events there that I went for the date before getting confirmation from FC. Looking at alternate dates but looks like it's going to be taking one of our existing Tay dates of either 14/3 when the snow might not have melted or 27 June.

[frog]

We're negotiating with the horsey people and they're being more accommodating than I thought (having lots of horsy people prejudices!) so it may occur on the 11th. Hopefully can give definite date in next few days.

[frog]

It can't really be fitted in with the horse event without general chaos so we're swapping to 27/6 just before the summer holidays.
I may have regained my enthusaism for walking up that hill again with a load of controls by then, or better still the forest roads will be passable.
Means I can also concentrate on our Easter Sunday event for those not heading south with lots of Easter eggs, prizes for best decorated hard boiled egg and any other easter related competitions I can think of ( think I'll give the fancy dress a miss this time, although could lead to an interesting mix of religious, bunny/egg and spring solstice costumes).

[SIman]

Poor TAY.
I have heard that they have had to put off the event again as a Tetrao urogallus has been found in the area and there is no access for orienteering until after late July.
It looks likely that the event will form part of the 2010-2011 SoSOL instead.

[pyrat]

Tetrao urogallus - its just a big bird. Considering it was only introduced in Scotland in 1837, its hardly a native species?

[frog]

The FC biodiversity guy was adament we couldn't use the area until Mid July though. Unfortunately he seemed to be the last guy to get the note about our event from FC weeks after they'd provisionally OK'd the date.
I'd feel less pissed off if I'd spotted one whilst I was in there. At least Hilary got to see the Inschriach beast!

[ryeland of doom]

Re-introduced and there is no evidence that it became extinct in the first place.

Looks like the blighters are returning from a dip in their population.

[Meat Market]