RUNNING UP THAT HILL

Coire an Lochain 

Swimming with icebergs

Female ptarmigan

swimming circles

Coire an Lochain free of ice, almost

Spring like and sunny down in the strath

Snow bridges just holding out

Male ptarmigan

Snow still holding out on the Great Slab

Icebergs

Everyone loves icebergs

This week has been a typical spell of April showers mixed in with bright spells of sunshine. Temperatures dropped again from the mini heatwave of last week (which we missed). It was nice to be back home and on the local hills after our Spanish holiday. Today Karen was back in training. She ran from the house up to the Coire Cas carpark where I met her ( you don't think I'm going to run up there do you?). We then continued together up to Coire an Lochain. The ice has now all but gone from the lochan but the coire is still holding a lot of snow and will do into early summer. Despite it being Spring and above freezing, it was still a bit chilly in the water (I took Karen's word for it).
The ptarmigan are a treat this time of year, the male and female plumage very different and easily distinguished. The Cairngorms are now much quieter now winter is almost over. This is the last weekend for skiing. I still have one more winter course before 'my winter' season is over. Out tomorrow for some more axe and crampons and fun in the snow.