On High Hills is run by Mountaineering Instructor Jonty Mills. We offer mountain guiding and instruction throughout the Scottish Highlands. This blog is a diary of what we've been up to, whether work or play......
Yesterday I had the pleasure of guiding new client Mary Ellen. She is a fit and capable hiker, and wanted a good hike on decent tracks, with the opportunity to see some of the remnant native Caledonian woodlands. We chose to go to the incomparably beautiful Glen Affric, and enjoyed an 11-mile hike with around 1000ft of ascent, around Loch Affric itself. We had no rain, and only a few midges were seen whilst booting up in the car park. By mid-afternoon the sun was breaking through and feeling really warm, highlighting the wonderful arrays of colour on the hills; the first golden fronds of autumn bracken, the rich greens and reds of the mosses, and the swathes of purple Ling heather so characteristic of this time of year in the Highlands. Glen Affric has seen some enlightened conservation work over recent decades, with an attempt to regenerate the woodland and allow natural afforestation to take place. This has been done partly by using fences to keep the deer away......the difference is really remarkable, on one side of the fence not a sapling or young tree in site, on the other lots of Scots pine taking hold and creeping their way up the hillside---marvellous. I have linked below to a short film highlighting some of this work........worth a watch for the beauty alone! Thanks Mary Ellen for a lovely day.
For Emily's last day out with me we planned to look again at some specific skills. After yesterday's efforts a shorter day was called for, and we headed into Coire an t Sneachda. We looked at building emergency snow shelters, and had a go with the Bothy Bag---these can be lifesavers in winter. The weather was wilder than forecast with strong SE winds funnelling over the Cairngorm plateau; lots of new snow being deposited, with windslab forming readily. Plenty of spooky "shooting cracks" too, so check the avalanche forecast carefully and remain aware of which aspect and what gradient of slope you're heading onto!
For Day 2 of 3 with Emily, we went for a bit more of a journey, doing a lovely circuit of Sgorr Gaoith, a Munro above Glen Feshie, on the western side of the Cairngorms. Today we focussed on navigation whilst we were journeying, with Emily taking us from point to point using map and compass. We looked particularly at the importance of having a system to use for each and every leg, so you can be confident of how far you have come on your compass bearing, and what to expect from the ground underfoot. On the way down from the cloudy summits we were treated to some of what Scotland does best, that magical winter light that is simply breathtaking. A brilliant day out!
Glorious
A holiday snap for Emily
Hard work but fun
Looking across Gleann Einich to Braeriach
Cornices---not a place to get your navigation wrong!
Emily was out with me today for the first of three days, aiming to learn and consolidate winter skills. She is over from Australia for a short holiday and keen to make the most of her time. Winter has made a welcome return to the Highlands with plenty of snow. We started with a discussion of how to interpret weather forecasts and avalanche forecasts then it was straight onto the hill. We covered footwork and use of the winter boot, kicking steps etc before looking at the ice axe as a tool for security and to stop a slip. We found some hard snow on the side of the Fiacall a Choire Chais which allowed us to do some crampon work up onto the ridge. We finished the day with a look at how to use avalanche safety equipment; transceiver, shovel and probe to effect a companion rescue. With just 30 minutes of training Emily was already looking competent----being also keen on backcountry/off-piste skiing these will be really important skills for her.
Sherri and Barbara had set themselves the target of climbing Schiehallion on Wednesday as part of their My Peak Challenge. Schiehallion is a Munro (mountain over 3000ft in the Scottish Highlands) in the Perthshire Highlands, and is a popular objective. Although we didn't quite make the summit in very difficult conditions, they should both be really proud of themselves. If the weather had been kinder they would have cruised it without a problem. Well done both, and thanks for a fun day out. The short video clip shows what the ladies were up against, as they hid inside a bothy bag whilst taking a breather. Well done both of you, really impressed with all you have achieved.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of introducing some American visitors to the beauty of our corner of the world. The plan was for a lovely Spring walk, but the weather had other ideas! When we left the car down in Glenmore the grass was green. By the time we returned we had to scrape thick snow off the car-----winter was back with a vengeance! In between we enjoyed some lovely bits of forest, chatting about everything from politics to lichen. We spotted the reindeer, which really cemented the Arctic atmosphere of the day. Conditions above the treeline were pretty hostile for those unused to them: a "snow in your face" kind of day. They all did really well, and it was a pleasure to guide them. Enjoy the rest of your holiday folks, hope to see you again.
Over the last few days or so we have had a settled, consistently cold spell of weather, with temperatures in the Glens dropping to well below freezing each night. This has been accompanied by some lovely long spells of sunshine, and that rarity: light winds. Keen to make the most of this I had a cracking day out on the Fannaichs, in the North-West Highlands. Waking at 6am to a clear, starlit sky, and a frost on the car so heavy that opening the door was difficult, the omens were good. What followed was hard work physically, ploughing through calf deep snow for much of the day but with magical views. Tendrils of cloud flouted around the summits as I went traversed the three Munros of Meall a' Chrasgaidh, Sgurr nan Clach Geala and Sgurr nan Each, before plodding back down next to the Allt Breabaig to reach the car just after dusk. Magical
Out today doing the round of two of the west Drumochter Munros----Sgairneach Mhor 991m & Beinn Udlamain 1011m. Hard going through deep drifts and lots of new windslab, with plenty of evidence of significant recent redistribution of snow. Gorgeous weather to compensate though! I had chosen these hills as offering gentle slopes, given the large amounts of windslab on all aspects in the avalanche forecast, and I was glad I did. Looking at the map last night it looked like a safe descent should have been possible from Beinn Udlamain into Coire Dhomhain, but in reality the slopes looked too steep to be on today, so we came back the way we had come, sticking to low angle slopes. A cracking day out.
First view of our two hills for today. Wow!
Lots of evidence of snow movement--raised footprints
Looking at the mountain forecast last night, the only weather hazard mentioned was risk of sunburn---I can cope with that I thought! Indeed, it has been a beautiful day up in the high mountains, Ros and I were up above the world to the top of the Cairngorms on Beinn Macduibh, and then to some nooks and crannies of the plateau---including the best afternoon tea view in the world (??) Great fun showing others how wonderful these mountains are, and the sun is always a pleasure!
Quick round of Geal Charn via the Altt Ruadh today, starting in Glen Feshie. This lovely hill used to be a Munro, but was demoted and now languishes (rejoices?) in relative obscurity. Tinder dry, crisp windswept vegetation a joy to walk on. After a cloudy start the sun came through and by the afternoon was beautiful and warm. Sections felt like walking in the south of France, with the heady scent of warm, dry pine filling the air.
Out with Alex today to do some navigation training. I set him a mixture of legs on the quieter side of Cairngorm, which he accomplished well. We looked at some techniques and little things that can help a lot. As an interval we visited the El Alamein Refuge. This is tucked well away and not marked on any maps, and although in disrepair still has a great atmosphere. It is one of two huts (the other being the now dismantled St Valery) built in the Cairngorms to commemorate the 51st Highland Division. Weather was overcast and drizzly, but not much wind. Burns all in spate after the recent heavy rains, glad no river crossings required today.
