TARMACHAN MOUNTAINEERING: SNOWSHOEING & WILDLFE COURSES

Mike & Mike on a snowshoeing day, Friday

A fine spell of weather and some great snow conditions over the weekend. The winds had calmed down, the sun appeared and below freezing temperatures, even at low levels. The hills now looking more like January. For some reason I have had many snowshoeing enquiries and bookings this winter. I usually only get one enquiry in a 'normal' winter. I'm not sure if it's a backlash from the deep, deep snow last season, an 'easier' way to go winter hillwalking, new people to the hills and think axes/crampons are for climbers or it's on a list of 'Top 10 things to do in your life' kinda thing. Maybe it's just my website that's doing a good job :) .

On Friday morning I was just about to head out the door when Mike and his pal, another Mike, called me last minute to see if was free to take them out snowshoeing for that day. I shelved my plans of a hill day on my own and said a definite 'yes'. I love snowshoeing.

FRIDAY 7 JANUARY

I met up with the guys in town, sorting out snowshoe hire for them. The great thing about snowshoeing is you don't need a full on winter mountain boot, no need for crampons or ice axes. Obviously the snowshoes are not for anything technically steep. Knowing the limits of any equipment or clothing in the outdoors is essential. Same goes for the person using them. We had a quick chat about various routes for the day, the Mike's absolutely fine with whatever I thought was going to be a nice tour and hopefully some views. The high Cairngorms still looked breezy and had a cloud cap over them. It was glorious blue skies and sun over the Monadhliath. They fancied some sun! Me too!

Snowshoeing

Great conditions and weather

Getting up after sitting down takes getting use to!

Views

Within 10 minutes of leaving the carpark we donned the snowshoes. The snow was down to 350m so perfect. We soon got off any trodden paths and off-pisted up the hill.

Powder snow

Windy at times

Big feet

Perfect conditions for them above 500m

Above 500m we got some perfect snow conditions for the big feet. The ideal snow is a crust on top of soft stuff. Your weight gets distributed across the surface and you can almost float along.

Now we're talking

Brilliant!

Cairngorms in cloud

Shoes with a view

We took a beautiful route across the hills, avoiding everyone, we had the mountain to ourselves. Just before reaching one of the tops we had a wonderful encounter with a beautiful Mountain Hare. I purposely went to an area for the guys to see them. We spotted at least 4 on our journey.

We headed down mid to late afternoon with some wonderful light. Love winter light, especially at the end of the afternoon.

Beautiful afternoon light

Below freezing

Golden hour

A brilliant day and great company. Looking forward to more snowshoeing this season. If you fancy a day of this, the details are on my website.

SATURDAY 8 JANUARY

Keen landscape and wildlife photographer, Jackie and her family friends, Jane & Atholl were out with me for the Mountain Hares. My Mountain Hare Photography workshops are becoming increasingly popular. The morning was a bit wet and damp but by the time we set off it had dried up.

Fresh snow above 400m

Hard going breaking trail

Freezing levels low

Although there had been a temperature rise we had a fresh top-up of snow overnight, so much so that it was back to trail breaking at 400m. It was a beautiful mid morning though, the clouds were above 700m and the hills looking wonderful. Some sizeable drifts above 500m.

Trail breaking

Hard going

Sunshine, hares, camera!

It wasn't until early afternoon that we had the privilege to photograph one beautiful hare. Perfect timing with the light. This hare had been sitting in an exposed spot and had a dusting of snow over him. Brilliant for photography.

Snow covered, no bother

Waking up to the sun

A good stretch

It was fascinating watching him eventually popping out of his form and stretching before waking up properly and looking around. We obviously were no threat and he had already been keeping an eye, or two, on us.

Shaking off the snow

Food

Keeping a look out

Are you still there?

Eventually he had enough and wanted some privacy, bounding away up the hill. Beautiful.

In motion

Close enough for a phone photo

Jackie was so pleased with her first encounter of a mountain hare and what precious moments she got to capture the private life of these beautiful creatures in winter. We walked back down the hill, stopping off at my old friends form. He was sitting pretty and looking as though he was settling in for the night.

My old friend in afternoon shade

Yawning, bed time. Home time for us

A stunning end to the day, mountain hare wise and mountain wise. Beautiful light as dusk finally arrived for the last 30 minutes down the track.

No boundaries

Rime iced fence

Afternoon light fades

Alpenglow

Dusk

SUNDAY 9 JANUARY

A glorious morning in Strathspey with blue skies and sunshine. A frosty start but once in the sun it felt (relitively) warm. Another day up the Monadhliath for some more mountain hare photography.

Blue skies, empty track

Wonderful

By the time I reached 700m it was midday and some light cloud drifted over the hill. I spent 30 minutes with one mountain hare as the cloud came and went. As I gained some more height the sun broke through the clouds and a glorious view unfolded.

Some light, drifting cloud at midday

Clearing again

The Cairngorms revealed

There was almost the makings of a Fog Bow as the clouds finally drifted away to leave completely clear skies overhead.

Nearly a Fog bow

Last of any cloud

The final hour of my day was spent with my old friend at his usual form. Although earlier on in the morning his whiter coloured pal was occupying it!

Waiting

Food time?

Just as I thought he was settled in for a while he nipped out for a stretch and mooch about. It's wonderful that some individual hares seem completely at ease around humans. Gaining their trust is a major part of photographing these gorgeous animals.