THE ARCTIC TIMES

It was another beautiful, clear, crisp and cold day here in the Highlands. Anita, Peter and I were out on a wee hill East of Schieallion - Meall Tairneachan. The snow was at all levels and we were treated with wonderful views all round. Yet another wonderful sunset. Winter conditions are set to continue for the next few days at least.

FORGOT TO PACK THE SUNGLASSES

It was an absolute stonker of an afternoon here in the Highlands after two days of stormy, snowy conditions. There was a full cover of snow down to 300m as I traversed from Meall Greigh to Meall Garbh on the Lawers range. I had another lazy noon start just timed right as the high cloud drifted off the tops leaving blue skies and bright sunshine. There wasn't a breath of wind on the summits so it was bliss strolling along the tops and a beautiful lowereing sun on the final summit looking across to An Stuc. Lots of windslab forming on Southern aspects, the snow cover is substantial. Doesn't get much better than today on the hills.

CAM CHREAG

It was another fine day on the hills. I was in the Cam Chreag corrie on Tarmachan and went up one of the gullies. The temperature rose in the afternoon sun, which was very pleasent but late afternoon there was some cloud on the tops. Looks like mild temperatures and some rain next couple of days, then cooler over the weekend so shaping up to be good wintery conditions again.

SNOWY SLOPES & SUNSETS

It was a fabulous afternoon here in the Highlands. I had a late start to catch the best of the weather, taking in one of the wonderful wee gullies in Tarmachan's Eastern corrie. There were pockets of windslab on top of ice and frozen turf. Strong, very cold Northerly winds on the top. A beutiful sunset on the way down, the sun sinking inbetween Ben More and Stob Binnein. Magic. Another cold and dry day is forcast for tomorrow before a milder spell on Wednesday.

NICE ICE, CREAG LOISGTE

It was another very cold day with sub zero temperatures on the hill. I found some wonderful ice up in the Creag Loigste area on Ben Lawers. The grade 1 gully was a great place to be, quiet and feeling remote plus sheltered from the Northerly winds again. Excellent water ice up the runell and frozen turf. More snow on the way tomorrow and staying cold, excellent.

THE NORTH WIND DO BLOW AND.................

There were constant snow showers today all the way down to 300m. I was well sheltered from the NW winds in the Cam Chreag corrie of Tarmachan. Gullies were filling up nicely with snow. It was a steady 30mph wind on the tops, just enough for a healthy glow at the end of the day. With graupel, frozen ground and the final steep path to Tarmachan's summit well iced up, winter is definately here.
More snow and high winds on the Northerly airflow is forecast over the next few days, take care out there. Tarmachan Mountaineerings' winter skills courses are now up and running
http://www.tarmachan-mountaineering.org.uk/ and I am receiving bookings.

BRRRRR

It was a beautifully sunny day today but a biting NE light wind on the tops. There is just a few patches of snow around and a dusting of new snow above 900m on Ben Lawers. What snow there is is well frozen. Very pleasent on the descent in glorious blue skies.

SNOW HANGING ON

It was a bit wild on the tops today with 50mph+ Westerly winds. The weather forecast didn't quite manage what we got, it was mostly cloudy and drizzly showers much of the day. I found a stretch of snow sttill in Beinn Ghlas's Northern corrie. There was over half a metre of snow in places which should be there for the rest of the winter.