A FEW MORE ALPINE SCENES

Just a few more recent images from The Alps. Weather is set to continue to be fine. Nothing more to be said really!

A LETTER FROM THE ALPS

It's superb weather here in the Valais with high temps, blue skies and settled conditions. I've been leading groups on The Tour of The Matterhron circuit which as a great variety of scenery and terrain through out the eight day tour.

ALPINE SUMMER

I will be away working in The Alps from 11th June until 12th September 2008.

For all enquiries and bookings please email me at:

gary@tarmachan-mountaineering.org.uk

ALPINE FLOWERED MOUNTAINS

It was a very pleasent day and once again no rain here in the Southern Highlands. There was a refreshing and welcome strong Westerly on the tops today. I was in the Cam Chreag area of the Tarmachans and looking at the wonderful array of Alpine flowers on the crags and gullies. Amongst the multitude of plants and flowers were: Common Rock Rose, Rose Root, Moss Campion, Starry Saxifrage, Mossy Saxifrage, Cloudberry, Mountain Sorrel and Wood Sorrel. Of particular interest and not at all common is Rock Cress and Alpine Mouse ear. The summit block on Meall garbh is cloaked in moss campion and rock cress.

All this Alpine stuff leads nicely into saying farewell to The Scottish Mountains for a couple of months as I am working in The Alps untill Mid September.

All enquiries please email me at:

gary@tarmachan-mountaineering.org.uk

NOT ANOTHER SUNNY DAY!

It was yet another fabulous sunny and very warm day after some early high cloud in The Highlands. Lo and I were on the four Munro's North of Glen Lyon today. We did some navigation training and were also treated to Golden Plover and Ptarmigan on the traverse of the hills. We also saw lots of Moss Campion, Mountain Pansies and Trailing Azalia has just started flowering.

THE BEN, AGAIN

Another marshalling/guiding event again on The Ben today. It was quite pleasent being a Friday as not so many folk on the hill. Very warm again but thankfully a nice breeze higher up. Last group off didn't get down till 10pm so we enjoyed lovely views out to the West as the sun went down.

MOUNTAIN OF PANSIES

Another superb sunny and very warm day here in The Highlands. A nice breeze too so not a midge in sight. Peter and I went up the South ridge of Carn Gorm in Glen Lyon. The highlight of the walk was the amazing amount of mountain pansies from about 450m right up to 850m. There were also carpets of Moss Campion all over the hillside. We saw no one all day as this is not a Munro baggers usual route. Other flowers and plants of note were heath spotted orchid, cyphal, mountain everlasting, yellow saxifrage and thyme

HIGH ALTITUDE MIDGES!

A low level of cloud today on the mountins.

Ian, Don and myself went over to Beinn Chreachan near Bridge of Orchy. It was very warm, no wind, perfect for midges. The midges were up to 850m!

AONACH EAGACH

Another schorcher again in The Highlands. It was a beautiful clear morning in Glencoe. Laurence and I traversed The Aonach Eagach ridge. Wonderful ridge walk, very exposed in places with scrambling up and down wee chimneys, blocks and slabs. Today was far more pleasent in the light breeze. The heatwave continues!

SCORCHER ON THE BEN

It was yet another scorching hot, windless day on The Ben again. I was marshalling/guiding for http://www.mountainandglen.com/ . Lots of charity events this weekend, a group for Marie Currie Cancer Care who got to the summit in wheelchairs! Unfortunately one of our group had heatstroke, not very pleasent. Keep drinking!!

HAT & GLOVES?

Kim and I were on Meall nan Tarmachan today. It was fine and sunny in the morning with some high cloud later on in the day. There was a cool, strong Easterly and it was hat and gloves weather on the tops. Not many folk about today. A welcome wet spell on Wed & Thurs thankfully as the burn that feeds my water supply to the house is looking a wee bit dry just now. Back to Sunny weather at the weekend.

KELTNEY BURN

It was another cracking weather day again in The Highlands with blue skies and very warm temperatures. Kim and I were looking for Orchids in the Keltney Burn Nature reserve near Aberfeldy. A lovely spot with 5 variety of Orchids although only noted the birds nest orchid in flower so far.

CLEAR & SUNNY ON THE BEN AGAIN

Another beautiful blue sky day in The Highlands again. Max and I were on The Ben enjoying the great views despite the amount of folk on the Pony Track. For Max it was the highest place he had walked up to and enjoyed all the views and fantastic weather.

We headed over tothe Western Carn Dearg summit for some solitude from the crowds and of course that wonderful view of Tower Ridge & North face.

NAVIGATION WEATHER!!!

Trudy and Lynne were on a Navigtion course today. We were on the Eastern side of Meall nan Tarmachan away from the crowds and paths. We descended into the Cam Chreag corrie. Both did excellently, navigation was so good they found Lynnes' camera which she lost!

Weather wasn't playing well today as it was blue skies and warm sunshine!