sNOw!

I Well, spoke too soon, as we now have a blanket of snow at our front door again! Spring is on hold. Lovely jaunt in Abernethy forest today.....this is a great part of the Cairngorms, very tranquil and timeless. Just quick phone pictures today I'm afraid.

Is Spring here.......?

Depends where you are! The birds are moving, the snow drops are out and everything suddenly seems lighter and brighter. Up in the mountains it's still deep winter, but down in the glens you could be forgiven for thinking that winter is on its last legs. Plenty of beefy showers forecast from the west today so we headed east (funny that!) for a spin on the bike around the excellent Moray Monster Trails at Fochabers. It's been a while since I was out on the bike, and no matter how fit you think you are for other activities mountain-biking always comes as a bit of a shock. Great to be out though, and to feel warm sun on the face for the first time in what seems an age. No rain either! Moray Monster Trails have just been awarded £100,000 to improve and extend the trails---it will be great to see what happens here.  

Meall Chuaich

High pressure still firmly in charge, at least in the Eastern Highlands, so a great day to get out. I took a jaunt up Meall Chuaich, a Munro to the  east of the A9 at Drumochter. At the weekend ease of access and a high starting point means these hills are very popular, today I met only one other person on the hill, but many ptarmigan and hare! We have had a thaw of low lying slow over the past few days, but still plenty on the hills. Meall Chuich had much less snow than the surrounding hills, what there was was excellent spring snow, with a soft top centimetre or snow. Good for walking, would be easy snow for skiing as well at the moment. Feels like Spring in the sunshine in the glens, but winter still firmly in charge higher up.......on the walk in today I was overheating and glad I had remembered sunglasses, but towards the top I was in the usual Goretex suit of armour, goggles, and navigating by compass and pacing! Looks like the weather will revert to the usual Highland winter norm later this week, so make the most of the sun if you can!

Snow+++!

Large volumes of snow to all levels just now, meaning the possibility for fun is endless----walking, sledging, snowshoeing, climbing, skiing, all possible! Higher up there has been significant movement of snow on the strong winds, so check the avalanche forecast carefully (www.sais.gov.uk) before heading out. This morning we went for a snowshoe in the forest en famille. One of those beautiful midwinter days when one can strap on skis or snowshoes at the door and head out into the woods or hills. Beautiful crisp sunshine, forests more redolent of the Alps in winter given the volume of snow.

Forecast to stay cold all week. Enjoy!

Winter Navigation Workshop

Yesterday I was a delegate at the Mountain Training Association (MTA) winter weekend, hosted at Glenmore Lodge. I attended the Winter Navigation workshop as part of my Continuing Professional Development. We had a great instructor, Nick, and we spent the day navigating around some of the lower slopes on Cairngorm, looking specifically at how to 'winterise' navigation. In the evening there were two excellent talks, one on the history of navigation (really interesting), and one on decision making in avalanche terrain. Only a couple of hasty phone pictures from the day-----too busy concentrating! Many thank to the MTA and Glenmore Lodge for putting on such a great event for MTA members.

Northern Corries tour

A short tour around the N Corries and into Lurcher's gully today. Stronger winds than forecast, with lots of snow movement going on, lots of wind slab and wind blown powder, definitely glad to be on easy angled slopes today.  A new variation on the raised footprints theme.....dog prints today! Plenty of folk out on the hill, either skiing, walking or learning winter skills.  Lots to go at at all levels at the moment, the snow shows no sign of leaving us just yet. The hills and forests look so beautiful just now....proper winter. Long may it continue!

Snowshoe Scotland

Deep drifts of snow at all levels just now, we're in a winter wonderland. I took advantage of a few hours between other tasks to get out on the snowshoes in Rothiemurchus. Knee deep drifts in places, skis or snowshoes a definite advantage. It's apparent that this is all heavily wind blown as some slopes have been stripped bare of snow almost, whilst the lee slopes and sheltered spots are groaning under snow. Getting to the start of the day was fun, and would have been impossible without a 4x4! More storms tonight but there should be some great off piste skiing to find when things settle down a bit!