NAVIGATION COURSES

Yesterday I was running a navigation course for Jim. We were on the north side of Meall nan Tarmachan. It was quite a cool day and cloud cover on the tops. Down lower today we were checking out the Orchids near Glen Lyon. We spotted lots of Marsh Orchids, Fragrant Orchid, Bird's nest, White and Heath Spotted Orchids.

SKYE

SCORCHING ON SKYE

Last week I was away guiding on Skye in absolutely wonderful weather. It was hot & sunny for the whole five days, guiding Louise & Geoff on various parts of the island. Also been guiding on Ben Nevis again, several times including the 3 peaks challange events for charity. That is Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike & Snowdon ( highest peaks in Scotland, England & Wales). The teams raised money for The Antony Nolan Trust which was set up in the 1970's for blood marrow donors.

BEN NEVIS

I was guiding a group of Japanese folk in Glencoe & Ben Nevis last Tues & Wed. We had winter conditions on the Ben plateaux Tuesday, fresh snow lying at 1200m, deep near the summit area, below freezing and poor visibility. They did very well getting to the summit with the eldest guy at 75 and youngest at 64! On the plateau there were a lot of ill equiped folk out, as per usual, will they never learn?

We saw Snow buntings around and lower down the flowers are excellent, Starry saxifrage as just started flowering and the bluebells are superb at the moment.

TORRIDON

I've been away up in the NW Highlands and torridon on a training weekend with the British Association of International Mountain Leaders of which I am a member. We were doing CPD on flora/fauna & security on steep ground. We traversed Liathach on Sunday, it was a terrific day, sunny and clear views, apparently the best weather in Britain that day.

On Monday we were on Beinn Eighe and had some snow showers above 900m.

TARMACHAN

On the East slopes of Meall nan Tarmachan again today, the weather was much better than forcast with lots of sunny spells and clouds above the tops, warm too but strong winds on the tops.

Lots of Early Purple Orchid spotted again at over 600 meters, looks like it will be a great summer for flowers and plants on the hill. Billberry bumble bees around too.

ORCHIDS

A cahnge in the weather pattern, much cooler the last 2 days, Sunday there was snow showers and strong W winds above 900m. I was leading Derrick & Grant on Tarmachan from the East. We spotted a couple of Early Purple Orchids at about 600m aswell as lots of flowering Blarberry and Wood Anomene.

BEN LAWERS IN BLOOM

Great weather continues. Today I was out on Ben Lawers, up the S/SW ridge from Tombreck. The plants & flora are superb just now, the last week or so things are starting to come into flower. Lower down there is milkwort, lousewort, butterwort, sundews. The stiff sedge is also in flower. At the 1000m level I spotted the first of the moss campion and also at that altitude the flowering stage of bearberry. As well as the usual clubmosses and lots of alpine ladys mantle, though not in floweer yet. In the wetter ground there were some beautiful marsh marrigolds at 1000m too.

HIGHLAND HEATWAVE

Its been amazing weather all over the Highlands the last week, virtually clear skies and very warm days all week.
Yesterday John & I were over in Ardgour scrambling on Garbh Bheinn's Pinnacle Ridge. Great route. Ardgour is a wonderful place to visit, mountains are quiet as no Munro's!
Clear very warm weather looks set to continue till Sat evening, make the most of it!

AN TEALLACH & LIATHACH

It was wintery for a couple of days up north. Keith, Iain & I were wandering & scrambling about in Torridon on Liathach and on An Teallach on Thursday & Friday. There was a dusting of snow and some ice about.

This is a wonderful part of the Highlands.

WINTER OVER

Well looks like the winters over, been very warm for a couple of weeks now, almost like summer. The hills of Lawers and Tarmachan have lots of Purple saxifrage and wood anemone.

BEN LAWERS

A busy and beautiful sunny day today on Ben Lawers. I was guiding Ainya & Karen on Ben Lawers. Only snow left at all is in the East Corrie. The purple saxifrage as just come out on the hill this past week, looks like Spring as arrived, but don't be putting away the winter clothing just yet as there will be cold and snowy days in April no doubt.

BEN NEVIS

John, Keith & I were climbing on Ben Nevis today. We did Raeburn's Easy Route, grade 2. Still plenty of great snow on the North Face of The Ben at about 900m, the freezing level was about 1100m but great neve high up. It was a dry, windless day with great views.

BEINN HEASGARNICH, NAVIGATION

I was on Beinn Heasgarnich today doing a navigation course for Fiona, David & Jake. It was a beautiful clear skies and warm afternoon with superb clarity.

2 APRIL, BEN NEVIS

Another excellent day, virtually clear skies again. John, Jim & I scrambled on the East ridge of Carn Dearg Meadhonach then onto Carn Mor Dearg and the arete onto Ben Nevis. Warm and with wonderful views of the Ben. This is the best walking route onto The Ben, superb views of the north face. Great snow & ice conditions above 1100m.

1 APRIL, BEN LAWERS EAST CORRIE

Woderful warm weather, unbroken sunshine. Walked into Lochan nan Cat below Ben Lawers and climbed the Eastern Corrie direct to the summit. Superb snow & neve for 300 metres. Descended the SE/E ridge back to Lawers village