Topsy Turvy and Happy 2017

 Happy  New Year, thanks to all those that have shared the hills with me in 2016 and here's looking forward to 2017.  It's been a strange December, with a few colder spells, but none that really lasted, "blink and it's gone". Now to start the New Year an Arctic blast has brought something more seasonal, and the Cairngorms are already starting to look much better. There is still relatively little snow, and it is of course unconsolidated, but it's an improvement. There is a suggestion of colder weather further into January too, so hopefully this is the start of the  "proper" winter.

Fannaichs Video

Here is a short clip from last week's journey in the Fannaichs. This is taken approaching the summit of the Munro Sgurr nan Clach Geala 1093m, the finest of the peaks of the Fannaichs. The weather has remained cold since then (minus 12 deg C overnight last night!) and conditions for winter walking and mixed climbing are looking good. Plenty of people out on ski as well, though I would keep the speed down-----there is no real base to the snowpack yet and plenty of rocks to catch you out. Even the resorts such as Cairngorm Mountain are opening for piste skiing this weekend. A great start to the Winter!

A wee jaunt to the Fannaichs, NW Highlands

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

Student safety

Slightly belated write up of a day out last weekend working as a volunteer instructor for Mountaineering Scotland (MCofS) at Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms. This was the annual Student Safety weekend, where lots of students from Scottish university climbing and hillwalking clubs get the chance of a heavily subsidised weekend of mountain skills. I was helping run the Mountain Skills day, and had students from Dundee and Edinburgh in my group. We spent a couple of hours learning/refreshing the basics of map and compass work---taking a bearing off the map, sighting and following a bearing, before adding in some pacing and timing. It was then off onto the hill to do it for real, with everyone showing they had a good grasp of the skills.  We were below the freezing line so although we had some wintry showers, nothing was settling for long at our altitude. Higher up snow was accumulating quickly from the looks of things, with some beefy showers being pumped in on a cold Northerly.  We then headed down, chatted through what equipment to take as a group on Scotland's hills, and practised what to do in case of an accident. This weekend is a great resource for Scotland's university clubs, and it was a pleasure to help out and pass on some skills.

Winter is here!

Over the last week winter has arrived with a bang in the Scottish hills. The first outing in winter is always a bit of a shock to the system, as you remember how to stay warm, comfortable and deal with all the extra paraphernalia that winter brings with it! I had fantastic day yesterday in the Caingorms fighting my way up Bynack More 1090m in strengthening winds, poor visibility and wind-blown snow. Fantastic! From the summit some compass work and pacing was required to locate the Barns of Bynack (massive granite tors) which provided some shelter before descending via Bynack Beg and back to Strathnethy. hard going in the early-season conditions; although some snow is consolidating, much is unconsolidated on no base, or worse---breakable crust! Follow the link to a wee video that gives some idea of the conditions on the hill.

Autumn Gold

Autumn can be a funny time of year. On the one hand there is a tinge of sadness that the long, warm days of summer are drawing to a close. On the other there is the excitement of snow-covered hills and the challenge of the winter mountains. The weather can often be pretty poor at this time of year, but we have just had a lovely October, with lots of dry, bright weather. The colours have been fabulous too. I have been enjoying lots of mountain biking recently, a great choice at this time of year. When will the first winter snow arrive?

Rain and shine

Two days out recently guiding Chris & Clay from the USA. For our first day we had storm-force winds and torrential rain forecast, so we wisely agreed to go mountain biking rather than hiking, which was a good choice. Although we got very wet everyone was still smiling at the end of the day. A mid-bike trip to the Carrbridge Kitchen cafe helped! The following day could not have been more different, with no rain, lots of sunshine and light winds. We headed up Sgor Gaoith from Glen Feshie, then the wonderful romp along the undulating ridge all the way to the Argyll Stone. We then headed down through beautiful pines and birch-woods (lots of blaeberries to feast on, otherwise know as bilberries to the English or huckleberries to our American guests) to finish with tea and cake at the Potting Shed tea-room at Inshriach! Our friend and trainee Mountain Leader Alex Cowan was along today too to help build up his experience.