All language subtitles for The.Mountain.2015.S01E05.1080p.iP.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-HiNGS_track3_[eng]

THE MOUNTAIN
SAI A702N/01
HSG011328

This is the Cairngorm National Park,
Scotland's greatest winter

wilderness,
where snow is a way of life.

Yeah, snow's amazing. We love snow.

Through the depths of winter,
we'll be following the lives

of the people who depend on
Cairngorm for their very survival.

Can't see where we're going,
but we just go anyway.

We'll witness their battles to keep
the mountain open,

whatever the weather.

Every day is different,
so some days we'll come here,

you could use a leaf blower
to get rid of it

and then the next time,
it's like concrete.

Hi, guys...

We'll get to know the struggles
of the businesses of Aviemore,

serving thousands of tourists,
attracted by the snow

and the stunning landscape.

If there's snow up there
and it's good snow, there's thousands

and thousands of people can turn up.

And we'll meet the remarkable people
who inhabit this very special world.

Everybody's always happy.

May all your children
be as cute as the piper!

You've just got to try
and be as happy as you can.

Welcome to winter on the mountain.

The mountain team have spent months
dealing with hurricane force

winds and tonnes of snow.

Have you seen this? Pictures
of the Ptarmigan this morning.

Completely covered in snow.
Oh, wow! The pressure's on.

Got 40-50 volunteers coming in to
help dig the track.

And the people of Aviemore have had
to help dig the mountain team

out of trouble...

Ah, she lives!

..in time for the next big hit -
Easter and competition season.

It's late March and while skiers
and snowboarders carve up the

slopes, Cairngorm is still groaning
under the massive weight of snow.

The team are working hard to clear
the buried Ptarmigan ski lift.

Jim Cornfoot is overseeing the work.

You think normally,
this is like a big bowl.

Probably about eight
metres of snow in there.

Making good progress, Rory?

Aye. Getting there, eh? Yeah?

The pressure is on to get the lift
operational again.

In a week's time, it will be needed
to carry hundreds of snowboarders

to a series of competition
jumps at the top of the hill.

Grand Canyon, we've got in here now.

We've got all these big competitions
coming up, so there's more snow than

we've ever had to build these jumps,
so it should be quite impressive.

The snow excavated from the buried
lift is being used to build

the huge snow jumps
for the snowboard competition.

Just going to move a bank of snow
the digger's taken out of the lift

line this morning.

Move that over cos he's now moving
over, widening this trench,

so all this snow here,
he's taken out this morning.

The mountain team is keen to bring
the world's snowboarders to

Cairngorm. And the freestyle
competitions where they get to

show off their skills are designed
to attract the best.

There's a competition in April, but
it's another couple of weeks away.

This park,
they want built for next week.

Away from the thrills of building
ski jumps, the Cairngorm

infrastructure is beginning
to feel the strain of winter.

There's a real, real loud labouring
sound coming from the motor.

All ten tows across the mountain
are maintained by a squad of five

mechanical fitters.

And today, they're dealing with
a problem on one of the main

ski lifts. The return wheel
responsible for feeding

the 2km of cable around the lift
system has failed.

It's no surprise that this tow
has broken down.

These lifts face the harshest
elements on Cairngorm -

100mph winds and massive ice build
ups push them to their limits.

Managed to get it on the trailer,
Tom? Might be better if you back up.

One of the hill's most trusted
mechanical fitters,

Iain Pentland, or P-Man,
gets called into action.

I am a mechanic by trade.

So a lot of the stuff,
you kind of learn in college,

kind of doing your mechanic's
course, you know?

And then, the rest of it,
you just read all the instruction

books or pull things to bits
and find out how it works.

But in the harsh
environment of Cairngorm,

college training only
gets you so far.

Up here, it's word of mouth.

There's no instruction
manuals for it cos it's that old.

It's passed down like that.

From one grease monkey to the next.

Anchor it down and away you go.

If this lift can't run,

they're reliant on the train to get
the customers to the upper

slopes, meaning long
queues at the ticket office.

So, it's vital P-Man gets
the part fixed quickly

and installed
before the competition weekend.

BAGPIPES PLAY

In Aviemore, Spud the piper has
a busy couple of days ahead of him.

Today,
he's piping at Katie's wedding.

We tried to see you last time
we were here,

but you were busy playing, so
we just kind of stood and watched.

I'm Katie. Nice to meet you. Are you
all right, aye? I'm good, thank you.
Good.

You seem very relaxed. I'm doing OK.

The only thing that sets me off is
when anyone else goes

and cries, so I'm OK at the minute.
So, are you going to leave soon?

Yeah, we're literally leaving...
I think at one. Mum?

Weddings are Spud's bread
and butter.

He performs at over 50 every year.
Hi, Mum! Look at you!

I've got this one...
You certainly do! You look lovely.

Katie, can that go in your bag?

BAGPIPES PLAY

At the church, Spud has his own
way of keeping abreast of events.

Mum and Dad are going up the now.
And the groom's looking happy.

And the minister's looking solemn.

It's a bit sore...

This one is turning out to be a bit
different for Spud.

After their big day is over,
he's been asked to pipe the bride

and groom down Cairngorm
the following morning.

HE PLAYS
How's that going to work?

I've got another dress.
I've got a wedding dress to wear.

So I'm going to wear that,
plus put salopettes on underneath..

so I'll put the dress on, I'll take
some ski stuff up with me cos I
don't know how cold it will be.

I've got my purple ski jacket
and things.

And then...
< Whose idea was that?

BAGPIPES

CLAPPING AND CHEERING

On Cairngorm, P-Man is busy fixing
yet another lift that's broken down.

This time, it's the car park tow.

We're trying to open this tow, like,
but there's a piece of T-bar

cord now obstructing the wheel,
stopping it from turning freely.

And it's caused the rope to burn
a flat through the top of the wheel.

All right?

P-Man gets the jammed
wheels down for a closer inspection.

That cord there, look.

This T-bar cord, jammed in here.

And it's caused a massive
flat there.

And then, it's off back to the
warmth of the workshop.

To infinity and beyond!

The offending article.

Just give it a quick pump
of grease all over like, you know?

Just help it along its happy way.

That'll do.

We're the quick fix fitters!

We're like Musketeers.
One for all and all for one.

Do you want the mini guns
to lift that?

A quick fix, a splurge of grease,

and the wheels are ready to
roll again.

Thank you.

And rolling up the hill is this man.

After a busy day
piping at Katie's wedding,

Spud the piper is making a rare
visit up the mountain.

Oh, you're a brave man! I know!

I have got the long johns on today,
that's for sure! Aye!

Today, he's piping off the bride
and groom,

as they celebrate the marriage,
Cairngorm-style.

As you're piping, start walking up
there. Is that all right? You just
go to the top of the nub there

and then it goes down up
there, so you won't slip up.
What? Piping, like?

Yeah. What if I slip?
Jesus, see if I flip on my arse!

BAGPIPES

It's very cold. It's the coldest
I've felt since I was in Siberia.

My fingers have gone totally numb,
so probably not the best!

So I'd rather stop now!

I think it's a good time to
go for a coffee.

For 15 years, Spud has worked
as a Highland piper, supporting

his wife Karen and son Euan
with his magical fingers and pipes.

Well, Euan's autistic, so, you know,

we're not having any more, so

we're happy with just Euan and, you
know, we'll just progress with him.

Let's go and see Maggy! Good boy!

You do go through
a kind of a grieving process cos

when you expect a child,
you have all these hopes

and dreams of, you know, he'll be
a piper, and maybe follow Spud,

but that's not going to happen,

so it's a different of acceptance,
but we love Euan.

He's a lovely, gorgeous boy.
Show me.

I want crisps! Wahey!

As well as dealing with
Euan's autism,

Spud and Karen have had to accept
that Euan is non-verbal.

It's really getting over everyone
else's problem with

disabilities, really. You kind
of look at Euan and he looks normal.

And you can understand,
to a certain extent,

why people don't get it as well.

But it does make life
so much harder cos you're having to

get into Euan's world
and see how he sees things.

To help Euan develop his social
skills, Karen

and Spud have organised for him
to have ski lessons on Cairngorm.

It's an ideal chance for Mum and Dad
to check out Euan's progress.

How cool is that!

It's just unbelievable.

Everything's a bonus.
Anything that you... He does...

Little steps are great for us.

We don't look for big steps,
we look for little steps.

And every little step is fantastic.

He's away! Look!

THEY LAUGH

Everything that he needs,
like patience and waiting...

I mean, these are all massive
things for Euan and it's just...

Oh, it's brilliant! It is amazing!

Chuffed to bits. Delighted.
Absolutely delighted.

It's just being able to experience
what other children

and other people do. Aye.

He is autistic, but he's still
a little boy, at the same time.

He's a seven-year-old little boy
and I'm just

so chuffed to bits that he's getting
a chance to enjoy this.

Here he comes.

SHE LAUGHS

A huge smile on his face.

It was just absolutely fantastic,
wasn't it?

That was so cool. Stop crying, Spud.

SHE LAUGHS

I never thought I'd see him
do that, to be honest.

That was absolutely amazing.

I thought they would be holding him
or something, you know? Yeah.

He's very good at copying, so... And
his balance is really good. Mm-hm.

It's time for some
feedback from the instructor.

And it includes a suggestion
that's news to Spud.

He might eventually be able to
go in a group. That's something
for the future, isn't it?

With his friends or skiing with Mum
and Dad. Aha. Yeah.

When they have some lessons...
Mum and Dad?!

KAREN LAUGHS

After a repair off site, the return
wheel is ready to be installed.

It's going to take a few hours to
put that back together.

Now, it's time for P-Man to get
the big guns out

and get the lift operational.

Just getting some tools together.

We broke a socket, so we had to buy
a new socket set, just a wee one.

That was it!

You need to make sure you take all
the tools with you,

take all the oil with you, you've
got to take everything with you.

Before you even start...

You can't just keep nipping
back to the workshop.

For this job, the entire fitting
squad will be required.

Manhandle it. It's...
It's the only way.

Swing it right round.

That'll do.

The squad need to get this lift
running as soon as possible.

Don't throw them.
Brian'll drop them.

The return wheel is responsible
for feeding the 2km of cable

around the lift system and it's a
complex operation to repair it.

That's OK.
Put the ropes back on this tower.

Don't turn it now. And then, go down
to the bottom, pull the slack down.

Put the rope back on the drive
wheel.

And then come all the way
back up here

and turf it back up to where
it's meant to be.

Up she goes!

In Aviemore, Sandra Neck is also

preparing for the
competition season.

What a beautiful day!

Manager of the Ski-ing Doo bar,

Sandra's hosting the after-party
for the snowboard competition.

So, I've been on to the people
this morning

and can I just sort it out what's
going to happen over the weekend?

How many people are coming,
when the barbecue is.

We're coming in for a staff meal
the night before.

So I've just got to sort
all that out.

What I'm going to do today actually
is just go through and do my

figures because this year is my first
year when I can see the differences.

February, with the skiing,
it was fantastic for us because there

wasn't much skiing, although it was
really nice, they couldn't ski.

So, from my point of view,
when I looked at the figures,

it was like - wow, what a difference
that's made to our lunchtime trade!

Because there were far more people
in the village that weren't skiing,

although it wasn't very
good for them, for us,

it had a fantastic impact.

A former finance controller,

Sandra has lived in Aviemore on
and off for 29 years.

She returned 20 months ago to manage
her friend's bar and restaurant.

I used to live in Blackpool.

My mum always rings me up and says,
it's beautiful down here,

and I honestly think she's kidding me
and winding me up every time.

Now, 350 miles from her first home,

Sandra's long shifts mean
she doesn't get back very often.

The last time I saw her was November,

so I'm probably very
family-orientated,

but I spent Christmas
with my daughter, who is in Perth.

So, really,
I don't get to see them that often.

You can tell it's getting towards
the end of the day, eh?

The ski slopes are now
closed for the night,

but the fitters are still battling
away to get the lift operational.

Oh, yeah!

Hell, yeah! That's the rope done.

Erm... There's a wee
bit of damage to the rope.

Just needs a clamp put on it
and straighten up a few strands

and that. A bit of a kink in it.

Erm... But apart from that,
we've been pretty lucky, like.

Brian!

You want to head up the line, have
a look, make sure the ropes are on?

It is!

I've checked it already!

And then you can go up
and start turfing it, if you want.

As night falls on the valley,

in the Ski-ing Doo, Sandra
has family on her mind.

All right, honeybun.
I'll call you later, if that's OK.

All right. Love you. Bye.

Sandra's mum hasn't been
very well lately.

Oh, all concerned about me mum cos
she's coming out of hospital today.

Hopefully she'll have a good
night's sleep.

She's been in hospital about ten
days now, so a bit of worrying time.

But it's not easy
when you live up here

and your parents are five
hours away.

With family so far away,
and her mum just out of hospital,

Sandra's thinking hard about her
future in Aviemore.

That's the only thing about being
up here, really.

Probably more so,
now she's been poorly.

But on the mend and...

You just have to live your life,
don't you?

You know? Basically. I suppose.

As another long day comes to an end,

Sandra knows she's got
a decision to make.

OK,
ready for the guys in the morning.

Long hours can be
a fact of life in Aviemore.

It's now 11 hours since P-Man's team
started to repair the return wheel.

This is a counter weight.

It's probably about two
and a half tonne of concrete here.

When more people go on the tow,
the weight can move up and down,

so it keeps the tension in the line.

Just need it off the deck a wee bit.
I'll be happy.

Right up, come on.

The team just need to get
the counter weight off the ground.

It's up, it's up. Well done, men.

That's you off the deck.

That's it.

Off the ground.

Work here is done.

They've done it.
The longest repair of the season...

BANGING

..is finally over.

Oh, yes!

Going to go home, have my dinner,
take the dog out...go to bed.

Watch telly.

ENGINE ROARS

It's just 48 hours to go
until the season's most prestigious

competition and Adam's almost
got his freestyle park into shape.

It's getting there,
it's taking shape.

Everything looks
a bit of a mess just now,

until tomorrow, we'll start really
tidying everything up and...

I think by tomorrow afternoon,
it's going to be looking pretty good.

I believe for the competition
on Saturday,

there's over 200 people
entered in it,

so it's quite a big deal.

So I just hope we get a clear day
for it on Saturday.

Inspired by his son
Euan's success on the slopes,

Spud has decided to take up skiing.

Euan, for him to ski down these
slopes is absolutely mind-blowing.

I was just blown away,
I have to be honest.

It's something
I never ever thought I would see.

A wee autistic boy that's no
speaking, skiing down there.

I was greeting my eyes out.

We're going to
go for a little safari.

Despite living in Aviemore
all his life, he's never
before got the skiing bug.

Looking up. Good.
Standing tall, that's it.

Good, nice big snowplough.

Round we go. That's it. Good, good,
good. Keep coming. More, more, more.

Brilliant! Well done! Which
brings us on to our next challenge.

Him with learning disabilities
and stuff like that, for him

to learn this is unbelievable,
isn't it?

But fair play to him, he did it.

And if it's what he likes, well,
I'll try my best to do it for him.

Stand tall. Stand tall, that's it.

He loves it so much up here.

To watch him and to watch me
must be like night and day. Argh!

That's all right. Oh, Jesus!

It might be easier playing
the bagpipes,

but Spud keeps going
and the going gets good.

Open up that snowplough.
There you go.

It's good craic, eh? Good fun.

Nice and slow, big snowplough.
That's it.

I'll definitely keep it going
because, you know,

I got on better than I thought
I would do, you know?

It's just learning how to
use your legs and your knees,

keeping them apart and that and...

Good, well done.

You know, Euan's got an added
difficulty.

He can't talk to anyone,
so it must be so difficult for him,

but he's cracked it.

It's getting there.

Good! Right.

I'll be definitely back to try and
get as good as my wee boy, you know?

I want to see you guys
ripping around next season.

I'm sure you will. Something to look
forward to, you know?

The day has finally arrived.

It's the morning of the freestyle
competition.

Adam is doing some final
tweaks to the jumps.

Been up all night.
Cutting pipes and transitions.

Stuff like that, so...

Now that daylight's come in,
everyone's appeared

and we're just going to start
moving the banners

and all the rest of the crap
that goes with it.

With these competitions.

Tired later on, probably.

But there's been too much going on,
so it kind of keeps you busy,

you know?

And the organisers have thrown him
a curveball.

A truck carrying the DJ's equipment
needs to be moved to the

top of the mountain.

It's a job only one man
and one machine can handle.

You want me to pull you right round?

It's not easy.

Adam has soft springtime snow
to deal with,

as well as the organisers.

Can you get that folk out my way,
Euan.

After bulldozing tonnes of snow,
building massive jumps,

and moving a DJ truck,

Adam can safely hand his freestyle
park over to the competitors.

And head of operations is pleased to
report a change in the weather.

The sun's starting to peek out
there. It's all looking good.

My glass is half full.
And they're off!

The fight to be crowned Freestyle
Champion of Cairngorm can begin.

There must be a bit missing
out of their brain somewhere.

Oh, yeah. That was...
Yeah, some money for that.

Told you it was going to be sunny,
didn't I?

Jumps are on. Everybody's happy.

Pretty big jump, wasn't it?

So the competition found
a break in the weather.

And down the hill
at the Ski-ing Doo, Sandra's getting

ready for the after-party.

We've just been doing bits and pieces
all day. We're having a barbecue
about half six,

but apparently,
it's finished early up the hill,

so we're not sure quite how quickly
they're all going to come down,

but there's a fair few just
coming off the hill now.

The long hours and commitment needed
to manage this business,

coupled with her mum's illness,
mean Sandra's come to a decision.

I have made the decision to move on,
actually.

I've been up here for nearly
20 months now.

My mum's not kept so well
and I think that...

I don't want to make them a date
in my diary. I want to be there.

If anything does go wrong,
I spend five and a bit hours

driving down the road to see my mum
and actually,

I can't do that all the time.

On my days off, or whatever.

This is, I have to say, very,
very, very hard work

and if I was to stay here I think
probably I would burn myself out.

It's long hours.

It is
a culmination of just everything,

but I'll be very sad to go.

Don't make me cry!

I will be very sad to go.

The competitors
come down off the hill.

And Adam and the team can enjoy
the afterglow of having delivered

a successful competition.

It's good that everyone had
a good day and finally,

the sun came out for once.

Everyone seems to have
enjoyed what we did.

This is best unsponsored,
and it goes to Alex Rooney!

THEY CHEER

Prizes are given out to
some of Scotland's most talented

snowboarding prospects, ending
a successful day on Cairngorm.

So, we can enjoy our night off now.
And party on.

Next time on The Mountain,
the end is nigh for the ski season.

What we're doing now,
we're going to save all this snow,

put it in the fridge freezer
all summer,

and then we'll bring it back out
again and we can start the tow again.

And there's a pipe...and a piper.

Whose idea was this?!

I should have had ski boots on today,
but hardy boys,

the Highlanders, you know?