WINTRY AT LOWER LEVELS

A much colder day with snow falling to lower levels and settling at 500m. I took a run up to the CIC Hut this afternoon and a strong chilly wind was blowing. Forecast is for even stronger winds but warmer temperatures tomorrow and then cold again Sunday. The long term forecast is for much more snow at the end of the month and into December. Winter at long last!

...........AND FINALLY WINTER!

It was a stunningly beautiful winter's morning in Lochaber. Just a small weather window to appreciate what is to come for winter. There was a temperature inversion today with the top of the cloud at about 250m and above clear skies. The rain last night had turned to snow above 850m in the cooler temperatures and a light dusting of quite icy snow looked fabulous. The Carn Mor Dearg arete had a good coating of rime ice in places and was passable with care and without crampons. The cloud did roll in in the afternoon as another weather front was coming in from the SW. The Southerly wind whipped up too and there was even loose snow getting blown about. A windchill today with freezing level around 1000m I would say, all in all a grand winters day. Forecast for much more by the end of the month.

FROSTY GLENCOE

It was a fine clear morning in Lochaber, there had been an overnight frost and it really felt like a winter's morning at last. Paul and I had a day over in Glencoe on Stob Coire nan Lochan & Bidean nam Bian. It was a latish start and by mid day the cloud from the south started rolling on the stiff breeze. There was some ice higher up and even some rime ice on some aspects. I was just thinking back to this day last year when we had over one metre of snow on the North face of The Ben! The cloud broke up again as we descended into Coire nan Lochan and a fine sunset was developing.

ALMOST TWO WEEKS OF SUN!

Unbelievably we have had almost two weeks of  long sunny spells and dry weather, in November! The temperatures were high once again and the sun shone merrily most of the day in the west. The big high pressure sitting over most of Europe is producing SE winds and holding back the Atlantic fronts as well as bringing in warm air.  It was a bit breezy along Ledge Route today but there is plenty of rock to hold on to and it made it a wee bit more exciting. The visibility was really clear, Skye in the distance looking good. There as been a bit of controversy the last couple of weeks regarding the marker post at the top of No.4 Gully. Apparently someone had uprooted it and chucked it partway down No.4 Gully a few days ago but today it was re erected. The John Muir Trust had recently announced/proposed an consultation about it being  removed in keeping with their policies on 'wild land'. I guess someone wanted to do the job for them. I suppose there isn't going to be an answer to please everyone. It was a very pleasant walk down, so quiet and such beautiful weather. Even the ptarmigan know it's getting quiet as I spotted a couple just off the Pony Track. A couple of more nice days to come  in the West Highlands before the South  Westerlies return with rain, hopefully snow if the temperatures drop. Make the most of it, get out and enjoy it NOW!

CORRYHULLY

With a forecast of more sun and blue skies in the west today I tok the bike and myself onto the train over to Glenfinnan. I hadn't been on the two Munros of Sgurr Thuilm and Sgurr nan Coireachan for a while and a bike saves a lot of road walking up Glen Finnan. Unfortunately the River Finnan is getting damned and an hydro electric scheme is under way, at the moment it is a big building site! The bridge over the Tollaidh river as been removed too but with no rain for a while the crossing was not a problem. Thankfully 300m up the ridge the noise and clutter down below was soon out of earshot and some lovely ridge walking, peace and quiet and nice views for the rest of the day. There was a stiff SE wind and a couple of light, brief showers through the day but the tops were clear. Not very good light for photographs today. On the way back along the bulldozed track I had a chat with the estate manager. Apparently the power will be switched on in 3 weeks and the ugly track is to be restored back to it's former narrower track. A lovely sunset at Glenfinnan monument waiting for the train back to FW and a beautiful full moon tonight. Mild again today, hopefully these frustrating warm SE winds will  end soon and something colder to come.

MILD, SUNNY WEATHER CONTINUES

Castle Ridge

Exploring below Tower Ridge

The cloud bubble on The Ben

The sun was shining and it was quite mild again in Lochaber today. There was a stubborn bubble of cloud plonked right on top of The Ben all day. Out to the west was best today with the hills toward Glenfinnan  basking in the clearer skies. Forecasts are for mild conditions over the next few days so no sign of snow yet.

BALMY ON THE BALLACHULISH HORSESHOE

The beautiful crescent ridge between Sgorr Bhan & Sgorr Dhearg

The scramble on the North ridge of Sgorr  Bhan

The Glencoe hills from Sgorr Dhearg

The view from Sgorr Dhonhuill

The long weekend of beautiful dry and sunny weather continued and today saw even  better conditions. Completely clear skies and warm sun after a cold night/early morning with very little wind. I had a walk around the commonly named 'Ballachulish Horseshoe' ridge above Ballachulish village. The two Munros of Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonhuill stand in wonderful isolation above Loch Leven and give superb views. The best way I like to do the walk is by using the excellent bus service from The Fort to West Laroch and ascending Sgorr Bhan's north ridge which gives some nice easy scrambling and continues onto the Munro of Sgorr Dhearg. Just as I was scrambling along the narrow ridge  6 ptarmigan took off from their perch all dressed up in  white plumage, ready for winter except there isn't any snow! This was the only living thing I saw all day (apart from ravens, sheep, deer), not a soul about on such a beautiful November day? Across to Sgorr Dhonuill and another fab view point looking across to Loch Linnhe as the sun was waning and the full moon rising. Down to South Ballachuilish and well timed for the bus home A stunning day, don't get much better than this for November, well some snow would be good.

A SPELL OF SUNNY AND DRY WEATHER!

The fun bit on Ledge Route and a rare shot of yours truly

Looking back at the exposure

The ladies of the Ciste Corrie

At last the beginning of a few days of dry and sunny weather ahead. Today my fiancee and I had a very nice day on Ledge Route. The only company we had were a few hinds and a distant stag in the Ciste Corrie, looking very relaxed and photogenic at our presence. There was some lovely warm sun and not a breath of wind as we headed on up the hill. The cloud did come and go somewhat and no views on the top but we did enjoy lovely sunset views on our way down to the Ben Nevis Inn. 

TOO WARM

Another dry day, we are so privileged! The winds had strengthened and gone back to SW so it was back to very warm temperatures. I collected my bike from the Steall Falls carpark (where I left it from yesterday's jaunt) then had a quick run up onto Carn Beag Dearg. The winds weren't too strong to walk in and the ground seemed a lot drier than of late. No sign of the temperatures dropping this week unfortunately.

THE SUN, AT LAST

A beautiful sunny day at last. After all the wet and windy weather recently it was such a nice feeling to have the sun on my face and no waterproofs. I had a wander up Aonach Beag & Aonach Mor from Upper Glen Nevis. This is the finest walking route up to this Munro, taking in the south tops along the way.  The colours are beautiful at the moment and with the sun out it was even better. There was a stiff breeze and feeling cooler than the last few days. The cloud kept coming and going through the day for atmosphere. When I got down to the bealach between the two hills I spotted a few rucksacks just down in the gully on the East face. It must only be someone measuring the surviving snow patch I thought, sure enough Atila and his sons were down at the patch. It looks like it could well disappear this year if the cool weather and some snow doesn't arrive soon. I had a good chat with Atila on the way up to Aonach Mor summit where we got a brief snow shower. Then it was all downhill to the bottom of the Nevis Range Gondola. A fine beginning to November.

LEDGE ROUTE, BEN NEVIS

Kelly and Robin were out with me on the Ben today. This was Robin's Birthday present from Kelly but unfortunately it wasn't a particularly nice day. We headed up onto Ledge Route for some excitement and had it to ourselves. There were some showers and drizzle most of the time with wet snow falling near the summit. There was some breaks in the cloud, especially late afternoon on the descent. The Pony Track was relatively quiet. Quite a chilly SW breeze today and definitely a wintry feel.

BREEZY ON THE BEN

Gill & Andy were out with me today on The Ben. The weather forecast for today was for early rain easing off and the gale force winds easing through the day. As we headed up the Allt a' Mhuillin there was hardly a breeze so we decided on a day up Ledge Route and then down via the CMD arete. The cloud was lifting and breaking through the day and high up on Ledge Route we got lovely glimpses. We saw no one all day until the summit, even here there were less than a dozen folk. Then as we headed down to the CMD arete we had the SE winds in our faces but the strong winds did shift the cloud. It was a tad breezy along the ridge and  as we got closer to Carn Mor Dearg the cloud lifted completely for a time. We got back to the NF carpark just before dark, just over 9 hours-a good day out and well done to Andy & Gill, their first time on Scottish mountains.

A FINE AUTUMN MORNING

This morning saw some lovely sunny spells to show off the Autumnal colours, a welcome break from the rain and cloud. I had a morning bike ride along he West Highland Way, visiting  Dun Deardail  en route above Glen Nevis. A fine viewpoint looking across to The Ben. Then a great run down the other side and back via the Lundavra Road. Much nicer views now a lot of tree plantation as been harvested.Just back before the clouds came in from the south and some rain this afternoon. Temperatures quite mild just now.

THE DOLOMITES

Just back from a week in the beautiful Dolomites, Northern Italy. We based ourselves in the delightful village of San Candido/Inchinnen  which is at the eastern end of the Val Pustertal. The mountains we explored are in the Sesto/Sexten range and the area is probably most famous for the striking Tre Cima/Drei Zinnen, in English 'The three peaks' I guess. This region of The Dolomites has two languages, Italian and Germanic. We were blessed with superb weather, clear skies for much of the time and once the sun got up it was warm and summer like. The views were superb in the very clear air, a great time to go to The Alps. We saw hardly anyone out on the mountains and indeed we seemed like the only tourists in the village! It's unfortunate that virtually all the huts are closed by the end of September but that doesn't mean the mountains aren't accessible. With a good bus service up most of the major valleys you can get into some great mountain walking and via ferrata areas. This was my second visit to The Dolomites this year and I'll be sure to be back again, wonderful place.

 Meanwhile back at home it's been a bit wet and windy, a shock to the system! Brian was out working for me today on Ben Nevis with the Simmonds family. Unfortunately they had a bit of a soaking and strong winds on the top.