What is a Powder Monkey?

Originally, powder monkeys were the poor unfortunates forced to pass filled cartridges of powder [gunpowder] and shot [cannonballs] to the gun crews during action on nineteenth century man-o-war. If you were lucky this would be in one of the Royal Navy’s finest ships of the line. If you weren’t, it could be a Spanish, Dutch or, God forbid French vessel.

Latterly a Powder Monkey has come to signify one who searches out, rides and revels in deep powder snow, the kind usually found off-piste in the worlds greatest mountain ranges and the Cairngorms.

But why a Powder Monkey?

Well Powder as in powder snow. Yes, obviously, but also hinting at the explosive nature the original nineteenth century substance. Perhaps the evocative image of an expert rider carving dusty rooster tails on a virgin slope, or the thunderous avalanche, chaotic destroyer of the mountains. That explains it.

What about Monkey then, where does that come from? Well, the gravity defying agility would be a good starting point. Five prehensile limbs that allow your average simian the ability to hang on to its environment like a tramp hangs on to a bottle of cider. Look beyond that and there’s the confidence, the mischievousness, the essential disobedient impishness of a monkey. Oh yes, Monkey says it all. Also, some of them have big red bums.

So then, we call ourselves the Powder Monkeys for all of the above reasons. Odd really, given most of our abilities, Slurry Penguin might be more apt. Hey ho, we do our best. If you can think of a better description, please post.

Find out more about Powder Monkeys below.

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