AN TEALLACH & THE CAIRNGORMS (AGAIN)!

Lord Barkeley's Seat in the murk

The resident high altitude goats on An Teallach

Some beauty in between the clag

Dave finds some snow

Sgurr Fiona summit views

Not so many blue skies recently in this Autumnal period. On Wednesday Dave and I headed NW to that most beautiful of mountains, An Teallach. My favourite mountain and for Dave a recee for some future winter climbing. The weather forecast looked reasonable, dry with cloud base above the tops occasionally. What we got was very different. Cloud covered above 800m for most of the day and frequent rain showers. There had been a light dusting of wet snow overnight but the temperatures had risen by the time we reached the tops. We saw no one all day. More wildlife than humans. Wild goats, ptarmigan, ravens and roaring stags. Not a single person. By the time we reached the road again we had received a good soaking and a good test for Dave's brand new Paramo jacket. No the best of An Teallach's traverses for me but good banter for 8 hours in cloud.

The goats are heading down, to drier ground!

The odd glimpse of Toll an Lochain

Today (Thursday) I took a wander into the Northern Corries. It was a fine morning with cloud in the glen and clear skies high up on the hills. It was mainly dry but some annoying drizzly spells and a strong wind. Despite the conditions it was a good day for wildlife. Nice to see the ptarmigan back in their usual locations where I observe them. They are just going into their winter plumage.

Female ptarmigan going into winter plumage

Male ptarmigan

Cloud lingering in Strathspey

Mountain Hare

Meall a' Bhuachaille

Changing plumage

He'll be white soon