BIKING UPPER GLEN FESHIE

The Cairngorms were blessed with some lovely sunny skies today and a lovely temperature for some more biking. It's been donkey's years since I've been through upper Glen Feshie and I wanted to recce out the new paths and tracks that have recently been upgraded for some guided bike tours around The Cairngorm Mountains. From Achlean at the road end there is now a superb trail following the East side of The River Feshie. It was beautiful riding and sunshine through out. I had a quick stop at the Ruigh Aiteachain Bothy which sits amongst the beautiful Caledonian Pines. There was a work party in there and they're doing a fine job on the repairs and upgrade. I carried on to where the landslips occurred a while back, there is only a short section which is unrideable and only a couple of hundred metres of easy pushing. I was tempted to ride all the way through to Braemar today. A great run back down, the best way for  'The Tour of The Cairngorms' is clockwise from Aviemore. Only a couple of other sections to investigate before a 'real run'.

THE 3 PEAKS CHALLENGE

After a bright start to the day the cloud was soon heading up north but in The Cairngorms we missed any rain. A strong SW wind and quite hazy. Karen and I had a late morning, actually lunch time, start on Meall a Buachaille's 3 tops, the challenge bit is getting down  to catch the bus back home. Which we did with plenty time for coffee and cake in the wonderful café in Glenmore.

CAIRNGORM HEAT

It was the hottest day so far this year in The Cairngorms. This morning there was beautiful clear skies and superb visibility with a lovely light breeze. I've been on the Two day MBLA  Trail Cycle Leader training course at Glenmore Lodge yesterday and today. Really good course and lots of fun on some of  the best biking trails in the UK. Unfortunately temperatures will drop again tomorrow.

BEN MACDUI & CAIRNGORM ON A FINE DAY

Antony enjoying the sun and snow in Coire an Lochan

The cloud breaking up again on Ben Macdui summit

Loch Avon & Shelter Stone crag

Still a full cover of snow on the Cairn Gorm plateau, looking over to Braeriach

Fiacaill Ridge

It was a glorious sunny morning in The Cairngorms. Antony was out with me today wanting a brush up on some winter skills and with plenty of snow on the hills this was easily achieved! He was wanting an early start so we set off shortly after 6am. Despite the forecast of 70mph winds we headed up into Coire an Lochan and then played it by ear. The winds were only a 'Cairngorm breeze' and so we headed over to Ben Macdui. The  temperature was well above the summits so soft  snow and no need for crampons. A bank of cloud moved over and almost white out from the lochans' so it was map and compass work again. Just when we thought we'd had the best of the weather the cloud quickly broke up and for the rest of the day we enjoyed blue skies and Spring sun. We headed over to Cairn Gorm after wandering over to the fab view point looking into the Loch Avon basin. The winds did seem to increase on our way down Windy Ridge from Cairngorm but we were soon down and finished by 1pm. A grand day.

COLD, SNOWY, WINDY. CAIRNGORM BIKING PLAN B

Utsi's Hut for a cuppa

The odd snow bank to negotiate

The reindeer saying hi

Looking a bit more like Spring

Still winter up high

Another windy day on the tops after looking at the various forecasts so I went for plan B and a bike ride through the Rothiemurchus. It was  a good adventure starting with Loch an Eilean, across to Loch Morlich then finding some 'highly technical' biking, ie pushing, carrying, bog squelching after visiting a great wee spot in the trees, Utsi's Hut . A new bit of ground for m then hitting a snow bank before eventually getting up close and personal to the Reindeer herd  above the Sugar Bowl. At last back on the bike and down to Lochain Uaine and Ryvoan. Another carry up to the upper track and back down to Glenmore. It started raining in the afternoon and I guess more snow up high. Off early tomorrow for another last minute 'winter' booking. Another climb up into the attic for hire axes and crampons!

ORKNEY

It's been another unsettled week, staying cold and with high winds for quite a few days along with snow on the higher mountains and it was even  snowing down to Aviemore level this morning. Not quite May weather! Karen and I were away up north this week, we had a few days break up in the Orkney Isles. A wonderful place of striking cliffs, beaches, wildlife, archaeology and history. Looking like another cool and windy weekend with the best of the weather over in The Cairngorms- we may even get some sunshine.

BRAERIACH ON A GLORIOUS WINTER'S DAY

After yesterdays big effort on Macdui in full winter conditions the guys were all up for another big day in The Cairngorms and when  mentioned how wonderful Braeriach is they were soon fired up. We had glorious sunny spells from the word go. There had been fresh snowfall overnight right down to the Sugar Bowl car park and so it was beautiful snow underfoot. The hill was once again very quiet, apart from big groups coming through the Lairig Ghru. Th guys loved the whole day and this was their biggest hill day in Scotland, so far...... ! There is still full cover of snow on the plateau's and ridges, and the temperatures are not getting much higher into next week so looks like May will be winter on the top too!

BEN MACDUI, FULL WINTER CONDITIONS!

Patrick and friends booked last minute for two days of Munro bagging in The Cairngorms. They were expecting Spring like weather and conditions but they had the sense to keep checking weather and snow conditions beforehand and of course it is still winter on the hills. Today we headed up to Ben Macdui and right from the word go had a full on winter adventure. There was constant snow showers and a brisk northerly wind. Poor visibility and the plateau as more neve and ice than I've seen all winter! It was map and compass work for much of the day, we saw not a soul and just the odd ptarmigan for company. We return via the northern corries and down to a deserted Coire Cas ski area. A great day out and it felt more like a January day in the hills!

WINTER HANGING ON STILL

It's remained relatively cold for some time now and due to get even colder next couple of days, at least. We have snow showers forecast down to 600m tomorrow. I have had some late winter work for the weekend. Will Tarmachan Mountaineering be doing ice axe arrests in May? Watch this space :)
Meanwhile on the same winter theme I have just received a nice wee message from Jen & Harry-brother and sister team who came out with me on a snow hole trip back in March. Here is Jen's excellent  take on what is involved in spending a night out in the white stuff:

 http://shegetsaround.co.uk/surviving-sleeping-in-the-snow/

I don't think I'll be taking any more snow hole trips on this winter, but then again............

BIKING GLEN EINICH IN THE SUN

This snowdrift was banked out right across the track last week, recently been ploughed

The northern corries of Braeriach

Loch Einich & Sgorr Gaoithe

The wonderful stalkers path that heads up to Braeriach's plateau is still well banked out with snow

Just as the forecast suggested it was a lovely sunny afternoon in The Cairngorms. I had a good blast up the lovely Glen Einich below Braeriach. The strong winds had eased off. Looks like another cold blast of weather for the coming weekend and fresh snowfall over the tops.  There is still plenty of snow in the corries and on many slopes above about 800m and will be for some time to come.

WINDIER, CLOUDIER, WHITE

Starting up Alladin's Couloir

Climbers heading up to Patey's Route, Alladin's Mirror to the right

Plenty of snow being blown down by the Fiacaill Buttress

The Goat Track still well banked with snow

Not much sunshine today, despite an early start for blue skies and to beat the winds forecasted later in the day. It did brighten up by mid day but the winds were quite strong and a lot of snow being blown down into Coire an t-Sneachda. I was planning to head over into Loch Avon and climb Castlegates Gully but the winds around Alladin's Couloir didn't inspire me to continue any further! Looks like staying cool and even more snow forecast into next week.

WINTER-IF YOU WANT IT

Coire an Lochain - The Couloir on the left & No. 4 Buttress to the right

Coire an Lochain

Cairn Toul & Sgorr n Lochain Uaine

Sgorr an Lochain Uaine & Breariach

Full cover of snow looking across to Ben Macdui & Cairn Toul

A stunningly beautiful day in The Cairngorms. Just when everyone thought this week was going to be a major thaw, it actually snowed overnight. The Cairngorm plateau has full cover, the corries and gullies are full and the sun was out. Oh yes, light winds all added up to another wonderful 'winter's day'!

BRAERIACH TO CAIRN TOUL - FINAL WINTER TRAVERSE?

Sgurr an Lochain Uaine and Ben Macdui

Garbh Coire Mor

Ben Macdui from summit of Sgurr an Lochain Uaine (Angels Peak)

Looking west from summit of Cairn Toul

Angels Ridge

With a small weather window before more wind and showers and cloud I headed up Glen Einaich today and in pursuit of possibly my final 'winter' traverse of Braeriach to Cairn Toul. This is the finest high level mountain walk in the UK and even more so in winter conditions. The high winds this morning were due to ease so with the bike in to Loch Einich this killed some time to let the gales die. The cloud soon broke up by mid morning and the forecasts were spot on, mid morning and there was a definite easing in the SW  winds. So a 'Cairn Gorm breeze' of about 40mph was just tolerable. There was some rime ice on the exposed rocks but in general the snow was pretty soft making it hard going but as always an absolute joy on this high level roller coaster. Still a good covering of snow and Cairn Toul was easy, rather than the summer conditions of boulders to negotiate. I saw no one all day, only a couple of stags jumping across the Einich track in front of the bike! So with warmer and wetter conditions maybe this will be the last full 'winter travesre' for me, this season.