ANOTHER WINTERS DAY

Still cold wintery weather here in the Highlands. Ian, Bill and I were on Meall Corranaich today, we went up the shallow gully from Coire Odhar which finishes directly at the summit. The ground wasn't frozen despite the sub zero temps. Some deep accumulations of snow in places as we descended. There was a very cold Northerly, moderate wind feeling like mid winter on the tops.

EARLY WINTER!

It felt more like mid December than October today. I was on Tarmachan's Cam Chreag area, Broad Gully. There was ice on the crags and a few centemetres of snow above 800m. There was even pockets of windslab about here and there. Looks like cool temperatures the next few days and some nice dry weather too.

WILD, WET BEN & GLEN

It was a bit wild on The Ben today. We struggled up to Lochan Meall an t-suide where the winnds were blowing at 60mph. So we retreated and I took my group up to the spectacular Steal Falls at the top end of Glen Nevis. The colours are beautiful at the moment and there were waterfalls cutting across the path up! It's the most water I've seen flowing down the gorge. Next week looks like a wintery spell. Back home here in Killin and there is snow on the tops.

LAKELAND RIDGES

I've been south of the border last week, in The Lake District. Busy on the hills there, weather a mixed bag, Wind, rain and sunshine.

ALL QUIET FOR 65th BIRTHDAY ON THE BEN

Cousins Howard & Howard were celebrating Howards 65th Birhday on the Ben today. They were also raising money for MacMillan Nurses. It was a quiet day on the hill, we had the summit to ourselves as Howard popped the cork on the champagne in the driving snow. It was a rather wet day with constant showers, turning to snow at 1200m.

WHAT PRICE POWER?

I was on two wee hills near Loch Shiel, Ardgour today - Meallan Damh & Glas Bheinn. Great views over to the big hills further north. Unfortunately the day was spoied by the ugly new hydo development at Callop. The walk in alongside the Allt na Cruaiche used to be delightful, now a new hydro access track as been bulldozed all the way up.

DRUIM FADA

In complete contrast to yesterday I was on the totally pathless hill above Loch Eil, Beinn Fada. This is the obvious hill you can see from Fort William. It was a bit wet underfoot but great views of The Ben.

SHOPPING ON BEN NEVIS

Kim and Sue had a great day on The Ben today. They were both doing it for charity and this was their first big mountain. They used all their newly bought hats, two pairs of gloves and extra fleeces on the hill. Good shop at the Visitor Centre for getting kitted out if you ever forget your going on a mountain!

PLEASENT AUTUMN DAY

It was nice to have a dry, sunny day today after the hills were shrouded in low cloud and very wet yesterday. We were right on the borderline of the sunny weather today on Tarmachans. Out to the West it looked showery with low cloud whilst Perthshire basked in lovely sunshin on the tops. Colours are just changing and looking very nice.

WEATHER MAN WRONG AGAIN

The weather forecast was wildely out today. Instead of sunshine and views I got low cloud and steady rain by mid day. I was on Ben Lawers, from Tombreck up & doen the wee ridges on the South side of the hill. Still a fair bit of snow lying on the Eastern Corrie and last 50m to the summit. It'll be warmer soon so won't last long.

TALL MOUNTAIN & TALL TALES

Ashley, Kirstine and Bridget summited Ben Nevis today in challanging conditions. The morning was heavy rain and 40mph Southerly winds. Above Lochan Meall an t-Suidhe the winds eased but by this point we were soaked and it was below freezing at the summit. Windchill was a big factor today and several ill- equiped parties were heading down from the snowline, which was about 1000m. We heared from several people about 80mph winds and knee high snow which was obviously not the case wheen we arrived at the top. Still at least most folk had sense to head down when they realised they weren't clothed or had the navigational skills to cope.

We were treated to beautiful sunshine late afternoon as we descended. The hill was very quiet too.

Well done to the girls for coping with the conditions and for their great achievment. I think they're off to buy some gloves as they used up my supply!

PINK RIB, GLENCOE

John and I were on a wee scramble: Pink Rib, Beinn a' Chrulaiste in Glencoe today. It was a fine, bright afternnon with fresh snow on the high tops from the cold NW over the last day or so. The scramble has great views down The Coe and especialy looking back to The Buachaille.

ROARING STAGS & SNOWY SUMMITS

It was definately a Wintery feel on the tops today. Ian, Peter and I were doing a round of Meall Corranaich and Ben Lawers. The stags were roaring in the glens to the North and we had lots of showers through out the day, turning to snow & hail above 800m. looking forward to a good Winter again.